President’s Letter: Our Advocacy Can Help Anxiety

My name is Michelle Grimm, and I am excited to take on the role of OSCA President. Prior to entering the presidential track, I have served the OSCA board as an at-large representative for two years. I am in my 29th year in education – my 19th as a school counselor at Dover High School. I have lived in Dover, Ohio, my entire life. I married my high school sweetheart 30 years ago, and we have two children and a son-in-law. 
 
I love advocating for our incredible profession and I have had the opportunity to sit on various committees in an effort to ensure that every student in Ohio has a school counselor. Some of my advocacy work has included contributing to the development and writing of the newly adopted Social and Emotional Learning standards and the school counselor standards and evaluation. I have also served on the OSBA Safety Summit development group for 2020. I am currently a member of the graduation requirements and high school redesign task force. I love this meaningful and encouraging work.
 
One of the most exciting initiatives for school counselors today is the introduction of HB 367. This will require the Ohio Department of Education to create a recommended school counselor job description with 80 percent direct and indirect student services and at least one liaison for school counselors at ODE. In an effort to champion this bill, we have met with various local and federal representatives and our Lieutenant Governor. It's a great time to be a school counselor, and I am humbled and proud to represent and serve school counselors across Ohio. 
 
With all that being said, an area of concern is the anxiety facing our young people. I truly believe that many of these initiatives will help lessen the anxiety we are seeing. Development of the state's social and emotional learning standards provides a framework to develop comprehensive programs with intentional interventions to address students' needs. The goal is to help children become resilient and develop a proper growth-oriented mindset. Collaboratively, as an organization and working with parents, students and other stakeholders, we can make a difference.
 
I wish everyone a great start to 2020.
 
Contact Michelle Grimm, OSCA president, at michellegrimm@ohioschoolcounselor.org.