The Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center (MOESC) has been awarded the Speech-Language Pathology & School Psychology Consultant Grant for the 2025–2026 school year. The funding will expand support for districts across central Ohio, with a focus on both service quality and compliance.

Supporting Students and Practitioners

Eric Turlo, MOESC Director of Student Services, said the grant recognizes the essential role of consultants in this work. “Our consultants are instrumental in supporting current SLPs and School Psychologists while also raising awareness about the critical need for personnel in these fields,” Turlo explained. “With their guidance, we’re better equipped to support our districts and students and ensure that this will continue into the future.”

The program continues with experienced consultants Johanna Gilland, Speech-Language Pathologist, and Kylie Dennison-Rebon, School Psychologist. Together they will work with school districts in alignment with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s Four Pillars: Literacy Support, Accelerating Learning, Workforce Readiness, and Student and Staff Wellness.

Areas of Focus

The consultant team will target several key areas:

• Regional access: Consultation across multiple counties, ensuring small and rural districts benefit from expert support.
• Special education compliance: Training for general and special education staff to remain in line with state and federal requirements.
• Recruitment and retention: Addressing the statewide shortage of school psychologists and SLPs through mentoring, professional development, and workload management.
• Support for isolated practitioners: Providing vital connection and guidance for professionals who serve alone or across multiple districts.

New Resources and Initiatives

To keep professionals connected, the consultants publish a regular newsletter that links to a dedicated website, monthly compliance-focused webinars, virtual office hours, and direct contact information.

They also lead a Network Series, a monthly virtual forum tackling timely topics such as ETR/IEP compliance and the use of artificial intelligence in education.

Other initiatives include:

• High School Mentorship Program: Introducing students to careers in speech-language therapy and school psychology.
• Mentoring new professionals: Providing one-on-one guidance to ensure a strong start for those new to the field.
• Workforce Think Tanks: Bringing together higher education, practitioners, and state leaders to address workforce shortages and strengthen the pipeline.

A Regional Resource

MOESC provides specialized services to 13 districts and more than 20,000 students in Crawford, Morrow, and Richland Counties, including Galion City Schools. Districts rely on its team of consultants, teachers, and therapists for expertise in areas ranging from special education to curriculum development.

The new grant underscores MOESC’s role in helping schools meet challenges today while preparing the next generation of professionals for tomorrow.