Stepping into the role of a high school counselor is not just a job for Teresa McElhinney– it is a calling shaped by years of experience, a passion for student support, and a drive to make a real difference. McElhinney, the new counselor for students with last names Li through Ri, spent seven years as a teacher at the Student Opportunity Center (SOC), where she discovered her love for building relationships with students.
“Being at the SOC and the relationships I built with students there, I love that part of teaching,” McElhinney said. “That made me want to go back and get my degree in counseling, which I did.”
While working for her degree in counseling, McElhinney focused on Licensed Professional Counseling (LPC), where she worked with victims of domestic violence. She hopes that this experience prepared her to provide further support to students going through similar issues.
“Though it was difficult, it made me feel good to be able to be there and do something like that,” McElhinney said. “But that also made me want to help students who have also experienced some kind of trauma.”
Although she has only been in this new position for three weeks, McElhinney already has a clear goal on how she aims to help her students.
“We have to be able to find that balance between being a motivator and advocator but at the same time being somebody that helps push students academically,” McElhinney said.
While she wants to ensure that all of her students live up to their full academic potential, McElhinney also recognizes that supporting her students emotionally is equally as important to their success.
“I definitely want students to feel like they can come in and talk to me,” McElhinney said. “No question is a stupid question. I want my students to know that they can come to me.”
As she continues to grow in her role as a counselor, McElhinney hopes to make meaningful relationships with students by supporting them during the often stressful time that is high school.
“I know that I want to make a difference, I want to be that counselor that students do remember when they leave,” McElhinney said. “ I want to make a good impact on their lives.”
