Grayslake District 127 has launched a new, dedicated college counseling program at both Grayslake North and Grayslake Central High Schools—an effort designed to provide more targeted, individualized support to students on their journey after high school.
This initiative is a direct response to feedback from students and families, who voiced a clear need for more personalized guidance in navigating the college process. In previous years, college advising was just one of many responsibilities held by generalist counselors. Now, with new full-time college counseling roles at each high school, students have access to specialists whose sole focus is helping them explore, prepare for, and apply to college.
“No matter our role in D127, acting student-centered fuels our daily commitment," said longstanding Grayslake Central school counselor Barry Goldman, who is now stepping into the newly created role. "I applaud our students and the community for using their voice to advocate for more support. I’m so appreciative to the board and administration for listening and making this happen.”
The goals of the program are twofold:
To ensure students and families receive timely, grade-appropriate support as they prepare for college.
To free up time for school counselors and social workers to focus on students’ social-emotional needs, which continue to grow in scope and complexity.
Goldman’s counterpart at Grayslake North is Jennifer Stroh, who brings a deep background in both counseling and post-secondary advising. After beginning her career as a social worker and generalist counselor at D127, she spent the last eight years focused solely on college and career advising before returning to the district in this new role.
“This new program reflects exactly what we want for District 127—listening to our students and families, and then responding with solutions that put students first,” said Superintendent Dr. Mikkel Storaasli. “College and career planning can feel overwhelming, and our goal is to make sure every student leaves D127 feeling prepared and supported for whatever path they choose.”
All 2,500 students across all four grade levels at both high schools will now have access to college counseling through Goldman and Stroh. While juniors and seniors will receive the most targeted individual support, including college essay workshops, one-on-one planning meetings, and application coaching, the counselors emphasize it’s never too early to start.
“Freshmen and sophomores may not be filling out applications yet, but they’re absolutely building their path,” Stroh added. “We're helping them think about their interests, their goals, and how to start exploring the world beyond high school. That early exposure is huge.”
The program is both proactive and personalized. At each school, they are developing schoolwide programming for underclassmen, leading small group sessions for juniors, and providing individualized support for seniors.
“Every student is different, and every journey is different,” Stroh said. “Whether they’re the first in their family to apply to college or they’ve been dreaming of it since middle school, I want them to walk out of my office feeling confident. They should know what to do next, and where to go if they need help.”
They are also working to strengthen family communication through email newsletters, parent-facing resources, and evening in-person and virtual events to make sure families feel informed without feeling overwhelmed.
“I thoroughly enjoyed making connections as a school counselor at GCHS. Students & families face complicated decisions as they evaluate post-secondary options beyond high school. At times, misinformation causes more confusion and stress. I’m excited to work with all our Rams as they plan for the future and strive to be accessible and responsive to their needs.”
This programming and collaboration across the district to provide more personalized college planning support is bound to be a game-changer for Knights and Rams alike.
“At the end of the day, this is about better service and better support,” said Stroh. “We’re not just helping students get into college—we’re helping them figure out who they are and where they’re going.”