A Conversation with Connecticut School Counselor of the Year Eileen Melody
By Kurt Daigle, CSCA Professional Recognition Chair | May 2026
Eileen Melody meets with a student in her office. Each year, the Connecticut School Counselor Association recognizes more than a dozen school counselors, administrators, support staff and students at our annual CSCA Awards Gala.
Over the past few decades, school counselors in Connecticut have become full-service providers, tending to the academic, social/emotional and career development needs of all students. As our profession has grown and continues to grow, you may recognize the name Eileen Melody – she has not only worked in the profession for the last 25 years; she helped shape it.
Eileen is a giant within the school counseling community in our state. From her early days as an English teacher to her transformative leadership as chair of the Connecticut School Counselor Association, Eileen has served as a champion for her students, families, school and profession.
Eileen, a school counselor at Mansfield Middle School, was recently named 2026 Connecticut school counselor of the year. We sat down with Eileen to discuss her career and the evolution of counseling during that time.
Why did you become a school counselor? In what ways have you seen the profession change throughout your career?
I made the career choice to be an educator when I was 20 years old. My first job was as a high school English teacher. But this didn’t last long! I found that the conversations I enjoyed most with students were not about grammar, vocabulary or Shakespeare; but rather about their goals, self-awareness and relationships. I realized there was a job I was better suited for – one I could grow into over time. That was school counseling.
School counselors are full-service providers. We are the “hub” of our buildings– the keepers of records, the holders of trust and the conveyors of sensitive data. We connect with every stakeholder. It is an exhausting role that requires energy, creativity and empathy – but I love that feeling of being tired from caring so much.
From your perspective, what are the biggest challenges facing students today? How do school counselors help?
I have been a school counselor for 25 years across several high schools and middle schools, public and private, in various socioeconomic areas throughout our state. I’ve lived through the shifts: COVID, a rise in social media, the spike in anxiety and depression, the reality of food scarcity – just to name a few. As school counselors, we have the opportunity to support students by bridging gaps and creating welcoming school environments. We do this by proactively connecting with families who are new or marginalized in our communities; creating systems and equitable practices that allow all students to be recognized for their potential. I firmly believe that we all rise when we lift up everyone.
How has your time with CSCA allowed you to develop your counseling skills? In what ways does advocacy show up in your daily work?
I have to thank Lorrie-Anne Monte, who called me out of the blue in 2015 and asked me to get involved. At that time, I felt like I was plateauing in my career, and I needed a boost. Working on the Governing Board allowed me to learn from the Connecticut school counseling giants.
Whether it was chairing the Conference Committee, or leading the board during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, these experiences taught me the power of camaraderie. Today, I cherish my role as a mentor to student interns. Advocating for our profession is a priority because our role is still so misunderstood by legislators, and even some colleagues. If a school counselor isn’t at the table, we miss the chance to be the system change agents our students need.
As the Connecticut school counselor of the year, what advice do you have for fellow school counselors or those thinking about entering the field?
A school counselor must continue to grow, adapt and evolve just like our students and the communities we serve. I have grown my practices, mindset, and even my office! A clunky metal desk, bare walls, and uncomfortable chair has morphed into an inviting space where I can hold student mediations, lunch groups, focus groups and one-on-one counseling sessions. When a student enters my space, they enter a place of calm welcoming that says: “This is your time to reset. And I am here to help you do that.”
Over the past few decades, school counselors in Connecticut have become full-service providers, tending to the academic, social/emotional and career development needs of all students. As our profession has grown and continues to grow, you may recognize the name Eileen Melody – she has not only worked in the profession for the last 25 years; she helped shape it.
Eileen is a giant within the school counseling community in our state. From her early days as an English teacher to her transformative leadership as chair of the Connecticut School Counselor Association, Eileen has served as a champion for her students, families, school and profession.
Eileen, a school counselor at Mansfield Middle School, was recently named 2026 Connecticut school counselor of the year. We sat down with Eileen to discuss her career and the evolution of counseling during that time.
Why did you become a school counselor? In what ways have you seen the profession change throughout your career?
I made the career choice to be an educator when I was 20 years old. My first job was as a high school English teacher. But this didn’t last long! I found that the conversations I enjoyed most with students were not about grammar, vocabulary or Shakespeare; but rather about their goals, self-awareness and relationships. I realized there was a job I was better suited for – one I could grow into over time. That was school counseling.
School counselors are full-service providers. We are the “hub” of our buildings– the keepers of records, the holders of trust and the conveyors of sensitive data. We connect with every stakeholder. It is an exhausting role that requires energy, creativity and empathy – but I love that feeling of being tired from caring so much.
From your perspective, what are the biggest challenges facing students today? How do school counselors help?
I have been a school counselor for 25 years across several high schools and middle schools, public and private, in various socioeconomic areas throughout our state. I’ve lived through the shifts: COVID, a rise in social media, the spike in anxiety and depression, the reality of food scarcity – just to name a few. As school counselors, we have the opportunity to support students by bridging gaps and creating welcoming school environments. We do this by proactively connecting with families who are new or marginalized in our communities; creating systems and equitable practices that allow all students to be recognized for their potential. I firmly believe that we all rise when we lift up everyone.
How has your time with CSCA allowed you to develop your counseling skills? In what ways does advocacy show up in your daily work?
I have to thank Lorrie-Anne Monte, who called me out of the blue in 2015 and asked me to get involved. At that time, I felt like I was plateauing in my career, and I needed a boost. Working on the Governing Board allowed me to learn from the Connecticut school counseling giants.
Whether it was chairing the Conference Committee, or leading the board during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, these experiences taught me the power of camaraderie. Today, I cherish my role as a mentor to student interns. Advocating for our profession is a priority because our role is still so misunderstood by legislators, and even some colleagues. If a school counselor isn’t at the table, we miss the chance to be the system change agents our students need.
As the Connecticut school counselor of the year, what advice do you have for fellow school counselors or those thinking about entering the field?
A school counselor must continue to grow, adapt and evolve just like our students and the communities we serve. I have grown my practices, mindset, and even my office! A clunky metal desk, bare walls, and uncomfortable chair has morphed into an inviting space where I can hold student mediations, lunch groups, focus groups and one-on-one counseling sessions. When a student enters my space, they enter a place of calm welcoming that says: “This is your time to reset. And I am here to help you do that.”