Within the jam-packed hallways in the reserved corners of Edison High, there lies a key department of the school: the Counselors Office. Here, students can work with adults who are ready with open arms to provide them with comfort, advice, and opportunity. Ms. Rachel Rotella, who is one of the leading counselors, comes to school every day, typically meeting with students, teachers, administrators, and parents.
Rotella works as an instructor and leader, supporting new students and leading others to their success. It is significant to have counselors as they support students and allow the community of EHS to be peaceful, safe, and productive for students and their peers.
As the mainstay of the guidance office, counselors have various responsibilities, some of which change as various needs evolve at the high school. Rotella was once a coach for football and competitive cheerleading. She has run the ACES program as well, allowing her to to work with many student organizations that contribute to the overall school community.
Every day she interacts and talks with students through email and in-person to talk about social, academic, and emotional aspects of their lives. At times, she goes out of her way to talk with parents and provide students with the best solutions and advice for their struggles or conflicts. Like other counselors, she tries to make sure the people around her, including colleagues and students, are comfortable through tone of voice and listening.
Being a guidance counselor isn’t the first job that comes into many people’s minds. Rotella was first a project manager for a toy company and changed her job to be a business teacher. Many experiences led her to become a guidance counselor, but one experience in particular stuck with her, propelling her to change her career path.
“I was helping one of my students with an assignment that he was exceptionally frustrated with because of something personal that was going on with him,” said Rotella. “By the end of the class period, he was super excited and proud of the work he produced and the fact that he was able to shift his focus and energy into what he could control at that moment: his work versus his struggle. He thanked me profusely. At that moment I knew I was suited to support students one-on-one versus in a classroom setting and without disciplining students and management of staff.”
From there, Rotella got her Master’s degree in school counseling and applied for school counseling at a state level, a requirement needed to become a school counselor.
Being a counselor and having the opportunity to participate in the EHS community has allowed Rotella to get a better understanding of other people’s feelings.
Rotella and the other counselors and their support staff can be found next to room 139, in the same hallway as the Main Office, Small Gym, and Nurse’s Office.
