MANSFIELD, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center (ESC) kicked off its inaugural High School Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Mentorship Program on January 13, 2025. The event, held at the Mid-Ohio ESC, saw participation from district superintendents, student services directors, and SLP mentors.
The program, developed by the Mid-Ohio SLP Mentorship Development Team, aims to support the professional growth of district SLP mentors and selected high school student mentees. Superintendent Kevin Kimmel emphasized the initiative’s role in enhancing recruitment and retention in the SLP field. The program will provide mentees with exposure to the role of speech-language pathologists, opportunities to shadow mentors, and exploration of career opportunities with local higher education institutions.
Madeline Collins, a graduate of the SLP Graduate Development Program, shared her experiences and advice with the mentees. The 2025 cohort of SLP mentors includes professionals from various local schools, while the mentees represent schools across Crawford, Morrow, and Richland counties. Each mentee will have the chance to earn a $500 scholarship from the Mid-Ohio ESC Board of Governors and the Richland County Community Connection Grant.
Mid-Ohio ESC serves over 20,000 students across 13 school districts, providing specialized academic and support services.