MOESC receives a grant from the Richland County Foundation for its mentoring program

MANSFIEELD – The Mid-Ohio Educational Services Center (MOESC) is pleased to announce that it has received a $30,000 Richland County Foundation grant from the Connections Fund for the MOESC High School Speech-Language Pathology Mentoring Program.

This innovative program addresses the growing shortage of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in educational settings by inspiring and preparing the next generation of professionals in this critical field.

“On behalf of the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center Board and Administration, I would like to thank the Richland County Foundation and the Connections Fund Advisory Committee for supporting the high school speech-
Speech Language Pathology (SLP) Mentoring Program,” said Kevin Kimmel, MOESC Superintendent.

“We are excited to reach all Richland County schools and share information with our students about rewarding career opportunities in the SLP field. Our goal is to give our students the opportunity to learn what an SLP does to help students succeed in school.

“We have a very talented group of SLPs who do incredible work in our districts, and we want them to serve as mentors and role models for the next generation of SLPs.”

The High School SLP Career Mentoring Program offers juniors and seniors 60 hours of immersive career preparation experiences, including mentoring with local SLPs, SLP/Educational Aide Licensure-specific curriculum, and career path counseling.

The program focuses on students with aptitude and interest in the health sciences, providing them with hands-on learning and professional development in ESC school districts in central Ohio.

With a projected 27% increase in the number of SLP positions in the education industry in Ohio by 2030 and nearly 40% of current SLPs planning to retire in the next 6-10 years, the need for qualified professionals is growing.

The goal of this program is to fill this gap by identifying and nurturing students’ potential, providing them with structured career preparation and mentoring.

The program will serve 10 high school juniors and seniors, offering career readiness skills and credentials while engaging more students at each Richland County high school in grades 9-10 in Lunch & Learn events about SLP careers.

Elementary students benefit indirectly through informal interactions with high school students under the supervision of certified SLPs.

Jennifer Crum, director of student services, said, “The support of the Richland County Foundation allows ESC of Central Ohio to strongly establish the initial phase of the SLP Development Program, which includes SLP mentoring at a high school in Richland County.

“I am very excited to seamlessly support our community of students interested in SLP careers in Central Ohio from high school through college!”

The grant was designed to directly support the Business Advisory Board’s mission to provide students with meaningful career paths. Although the program is a job shadowing program, it will offer students a paid internship.

Participants will be compensated for their time and will work closely with an SLP to design and implement a project with real-world relevance, culminating in a final presentation. This structure reflects the real responsibilities of the professional community.

Amy Wood, director of grants and special projects, who convenes the Business Advisory Council, noted, “By combining career mentoring with an authentic project approach grounded in industry-recognized credentials, we expect students will be prepared for admission to an undergraduate program in speaking , work in an educational institution, or both.

Beginning in January 2025, the program will include one-on-one mentoring with practicing SLPs, 20 hours of job shadowing, and regular coaching sessions. Participants will complete asynchronous online classes consistent with the SLP Aide license and the Ohio Work Readiness Seal.

The program aims to inspire students to pursue a career in speech therapy, address workforce shortages and increase schools’ access to services, while equipping students with valuable skills for the future.

The Richland County Foundation is one of the largest private grantmaking sources in Richland County, managing more than 430 charitable funds established by individuals, families and businesses.

The mission of the Richland County Foundation is to improve and elevate the quality of life in Richland County through strategic philanthropy and community leadership.

Mid-Ohio Educational Services Center provides specialized academic and support services to 13 school districts and more than 20,000 students in Crawford, Morrow and Richland counties.

Client districts utilize the services of curriculum advisors, gifted and special education consultants, speech therapists, psychologists, special education teachers, occupational therapists, and physical therapists.