Keeping up with schoolwork, balancing practices and extracurricular activities, maintaining an adequate sleep schedule and having a social life are all things that high school students are concerned about.
Managing all of these responsibilities may seem quite overwhelming to the ordinary student but there is one thing that’s more challenging: managing and guiding hundreds of these students all year long.
Every year, FCPS recognizes a counselor who stood out among the rest of his colleagues around the County. This year’s recipient, Jeff Stahl, has attended to thousands of students over the course of his nine-year career. The award displays his commitment to his craft and how willing he is to assist any student.
“I feel like I really just try to form good relationships with my students; it’s a part of being a good counselor.,” Stahl said. “Making connections, getting out of the office and being visible are the best ways to get to know them.”
Stahl is known for his superior interaction with not only his own students, but with students who also reach out for help. Always excited to be honored and recognized, he is still constantly searching for ways to improve his skills and ensure that he can maintain that level. Stahl utilizes every interaction with individuals to help expound on what he already excels in.

“I think every year I look for opportunities to learn more; like professional development, learning more will help me become better at helping people,” Stahl said. “I try to be open to feedback from students and other people in the school to see how I can do a better job.”
Maintaining a packed schedule of meetings and clubs such as the National Honor Society and serving as the class sponsor for the Class of 2015, all while students file in and out of his office all day long is part of the reason why Stahl has found so much success here. His behemoth schedule enables him to multi-task and complete all of his requirements for the day, and while it may be more rigorous, it is where he is most comfortable.
“I just like the school atmosphere. I always have. Taking on clubs and sponsoring others allows me to connect with students on a deeper level,” said Stahl. “The reason why I took on clubs like NHS was because I wanted to make high school a better learning environment.”
Another aspect that Stahl brings to his job is that he is still easily accessible even after school hours. He is active on all of his social media accounts in order to send messages regarding his office hours, commending students for their accomplishments and keeping the senior class updated on notable events and activities.
“I probably think about my job too much. I’m pretty invested in the school and even when I’m home I am still thinking about the school. I got my Twitter so that I can tweet whatever I am thinking about at the time,” said Stahl.
Stahl aims to always give meaningful advice that students can take into consideration and apply to their own lives. He never shares advice that he does not believe in; everything he shares is something that he applies to his own life or is something that his experience has taught him.
“I think that you have to practice what you preach. I try to model what I tell my students to my own life because adults in high school should be role models and that is what I try to be,” said Stahl.
Regardless of the recognition and feedback from the whole WS community, Stahl aspires to continue to play a positive role along with the rest of his colleagues in the lives of all students. Even though students will continue to come and go, he hopes that his message will endure.
“I remember my counselor being someone I could go to and someone I trusted. That’s the way I want my students to feel and hopefully look back and remember me the same way,” said Stahl.