Celebrating National School Counseling Week

Happy National School Counseling Week! Our counselors play a vital role in supporting the social-emotional growth, mental health, and college and career planning of students across the city. To close out this special week, we’re introducing you to four of our newest school counselors. Get to know them more below!

Meet Mr. Oscar Urbina, School Counselor at Senn High School

Mr. Urbina says that he is known for the positive energy that he brings to his school. A CPS graduate himself, his approach to counseling involves creating the right combination of maintaining a welcoming and approachable environment while still being honest with his students in a way that pushes them to be their best selves.

“I love learning and asking questions, so, this year, I want to be more involved in the classroom with my students,” he said. “I want to be there for them regarding their social-emotional needs, which is huge right now, and also help them think about different postsecondary pathways to find the one that is right for them.”

Has your role as a school counselor been what you expected?

In some ways, it has been, because I knew the type of work that I was going to be doing. At the same time, I’m dealing with situations and am having to find solutions to problems that I never thought I would face. I am always encouraging people to follow this profession because it’s phenomenal to be the point person who can provide supports for students.

What is your message to your fellow school counselors for National School Counseling Week?

My message is to stay strong. I think that we’re all having a very difficult time, but we need to keep in mind that we are not alone. There are so many groups of counselors supporting each motivating each other and sharing strategies because we don’t always have all the answers.

Meet Ms. Donna Dortzbach, School Counselor at New Sullivan Elementary School

Ms. Dortzbach brings years of experience as a social worker and a CPS parent to her role as a school counselor. While that perspective has certainly helped her hit the ground running in terms of communicating with parents about how to best support their students, she’s quick to share that this year has been a big learning experience.

“Many of the teachers at New Sullivan have been around for a while, and I’ve definitely learned about patience from them,” she said. “They see some of the hard stories just as I do, and they never seem overwhelmed or bitter. They come here and are ready to accommodate students every day.”

What has been a success story from this school year so far?

I love getting eighth-graders ready for high school. I’ve had three of my own kids go through the GoCPS process, so I knew how it worked as a parent. I love meeting with teachers and parents, and, of course, the students themselves to strategize and determine the high school that will be the best fit.

What are your long-term goals as a school counselor?

I would love to stay at the same school. I want to be all in and do everything I can to make New Sullivan a better place for our students. I could see myself still being here even 20 years from now.

Meet Mr. Jeremy Solomon, School Counselor at Westinghouse College Prep

Mr. Solomon believes that there are many common threads within education, but the one that is most central to his role as a school counselor is building relationships. While his approach includes getting to know the unique stories of the students he serves, he also notes that counseling should be a team effort between staff members, especially at the high school level.

“I’m so lucky to be at Westinghouse where any member of the counseling team will step in and support a student as needed,” he said. “Especially as a new member of the team, it’s important to not put pressure on yourself to know everything in your first year because your colleagues are always a resource.”

What has been a highlight of your current role?

There are already some students here who I feel like I’ve known for years. I’ll never forget one of my students saying to me: “This is the first time I’ve ever talked to a counselor in all my years of school.” And that was really special because our conversation wasn’t really even about school. We were just having a conversation and getting to know each other.

What advice would you give to someone considering school counseling as their career? 

Even though authentic is an overused word, I would say that you need to be true to yourself and your style. At the same time, it’s more than okay to borrow good ideas from other people. This is a role where you often act as a facilitator, so it’s natural to see someone else doing things a certain way or using a certain resource and want to do that too.

Meet Ms. Margarita Santamaria, School Counselor at Kenwood Academy

Ms. Santamaria, a CPS graduate, initially thought her way of giving back would be to become a music teacher. But, as she discovered more about herself, she realized that school counseling would better connect her with her goal of shaping young minds in positive ways.

“As a counselor, I’m always thinking about my own experiences as a first-generation college student, as I really needed support and guidance about the opportunities that were out there,” she said. “I want to explore all options with my students so they can create a plan for the future rather than just going through the motions.”

What is a typical day like as a school counselor? 

It’s definitely different every day. Right now, I’m working on credit recovery enrollment with a lot of my students, and I also have a lot of seniors on my caseload, so I’m helping them figure out their next steps. I also have a lot of one-on-one meetings with students, such as helping them process grief or other emotions, and those are very close to my heart.

Is there anything you’d like to tell your fellow school counselors? 

I want to remind them that they are making an impact. Our students will remember us, even if we don’t know exactly which interaction is going to be the one that they’re going to think of. We just need to keep up the good work and treat every student with kindness and compassion.