Ebony Gilbert

Why do you want to serve on the ISCA Board of Directors?

As a professional school counselor, I work tirelessly to ensure that students have the support and resources they need in order to reach their potential. I want to be a part of the board because I want to be able to use my passion and position in order to advocate for bettering the field of school counseling for all counselors in the state. This not only involves continued advocacy and awareness of our profession, but also working with others to make sure those doing the work everyday are equipped with the resources, and support that they need to do the work for our students. I want to be able to continue advocating for equity in education for ALL students and this starts with making sure those who are in school buildings around the state feel seen and heard and that they have what they need to effectively educate our students.

What experience, skills, or qualifications do you have that would benefit ISCA?

For the last 8 years I have been actively involved with ISCA by participating in various committees, attending conferences, helping serve during the state conference as well as the national conference. I have served on the Awards Committee, participated in the Emerging Leaders Program, and currently am serving as chair of the Ethics/DEI committee. I have also served as a conference ambassador at ASCA, as well as attended the national conference for several years. I’ve completed trainings in the work of Ethics/DEI, was part of the Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship through ROX. In my current school, I advise students in several clubs, as well as facilitate the ROX program for girls.

All of these experiences have contributed greatly to my ability to gain insight and wisdom regarding best practices within the profession, as well as how to effectively advocate for change through providing opportunities that enhance the experiences of students. I also currently serve on the board of the YWCA of Greater Lafayette which has given me great wisdom and insight into being part of a governing board for a large organization.

What are your goals for ISCA if elected to the Board?

I believe that school counselors in the state of Indiana are incredibly hard-working professionals who in the light of so many changes that we have and are currently experiencing need to feel supported and that they have the power to be the change agents that our role encourages us to be. If elected to the board, I plan to use my ability to connect with others through meaningful conversations and serve the counselors around this state. I want to help ensure that we can continue to inspire a pipeline of people who want to enter the profession in order to impact our students and provide support for those who tirelessly do this work every single day. I want to continue to ensure that we are able to be a respected voice in our communities as well as within the state as a whole.