Her Story
About Ashley
Ashley Schott serves as a school counselor in Chicago Public Schools, where she supports students through individual counseling, group work, and art therapy. With a background that includes seven years in education, she began her career as a kindergarten teacher before earning her master's degree and transitioning to counseling to better address how emotions and behaviors affect academic success. Schott is a member of the American School Counselor Association and the Illinois School Counselor Association. She has received an award for five years of service at her school and finds particular success using art therapy to connect with her primarily Hispanic student population. Schott attributes her drive to her son and values honesty, commitment, understanding, and grace in both her professional and personal life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ashley
01What do you attribute your success to?
Life isn't easy for anyone, and I think a lot of counselors go into the profession because they've been through stuff. I would say my success is my son. Honestly, he and I have gone through some pretty hard times together, it's just me and him, and he's my motivation to keep going, whether it's with him, or school. He's so smiley, he loves talking to people, nothing really gets him down, and he's my reason to keep going.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
It's always changing, that you may go to school for one thing, go do that for a few years and find out you don't like it, but you find something else that you like, and everything happens for a reason.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You're gonna mess up, you're not gonna know all the answers, but that's the part of growing and learning, and trust who you are, that imposter syndrome can be pretty rough, but trust your training, trust your passion, and as long as you're there for the kids and loving them and supporting them, you're doing everything you need to do.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Biggest challenges is just the state of the world. It's affecting so many people, including my students, and finding them the mental health support that they need, it can be pretty challenging. Just supporting them in a time that's pretty uncertain, and for them, they are Hispanic, some of them have come here directly from a different country, and so the fear of ICE, the fear of losing parents, that whole situation is pretty hard right now, across CPS.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, commitment, understanding and grace.
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