When students need extra care, the team at Willoughby-Eastlake Schools is there

By Patricia Nugent

The job of a high school guidance counselor can oftentimes be thankless. A modern-day counselor has a lot more to deal with than testing and preparing students for careers beyond high school.

Recently, a counselor at North High School got a nice surprise in the form of a thankful email and bouquet of flowers for going above and beyond the job requirements.

According to the email sent by Sheri Rupsic:

“Our son, Jacob, is in the 11th grade at North High School. In September of 2019, a week after school started, our daughter Karli, who is now 25, was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer. Karli had half of her left lung removed in October and we have been seeking out oncology specialists since, trying to come up with the best treatment plan as it has spread into her lymph nodes and adrenal glands.

The reason for my email is to tell you that Lindsay Phillips has been nothing short of amazing. I called her after Karli’s diagnosis. She helped calm me and gave me confidence that she would carry Jake under her wing and help him through this awful time. Without Lindsay, I would have been so worried and panicked about Jake and school. He told me he is comforted knowing he can go to her office at any time.

We will forever be grateful that she is in our son’s life and a true role model.”

Sheri reports that the family is currently going forward with treatment in Columbus, mentally dealing with “the new normal.”

Lindsay was surprised and delighted by the recognition and reports that she was just doing her job.

“It wasn’t just me giving Jacob support,” she says. “It was all of his teachers and friends. We came together as a school and all did our part.”

She says that, nowadays, a big part of a guidance counselor’s job is helping students deal with issues such as anxiety and depression, as well as overall self-esteem.

“We meet with each student individually at some point in the school year to focus on their well-being, as well as with seniors, to make sure they have a goal or plan after high school is over,” she says.

Look for these monthly stories to cover topics from grades K-12 in the Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools System. For details, visit WESchools.org.