Retiring in June, Director of Counseling Oren Iosepovici Reflects on 19 Years at an Exceptional School

Director of Counseling Oren Iosepovici will retire in June, after 19 years in ScarsdaleAfter nineteen years on the job in the Scarsdale High School Guidance Department, Scarsdale’s Director of Counseling, Oren Iosepevici, has announced his retirement at the end of the school year. Always cheerful, supportive, and optimistic, he has been instrumental in shaping the mood of the school and encouraging students to fully engage in all that Scarsdale High School has to offer. He has helped make SHS a destination in its own right—not simply a stepping stone to college admission.

Now that we’ve finally learned how to spell his name, he’s leaving us! Here are some wise words from someone who has influenced generations of students and parents who were fortunate enough to know him.

We wish him all the best in his next chapter.

Here are some parting thoughts:

How many years have you worked in Scarsdale and how have your responsibilities changed over the years?

I’ve spent the past nineteen years at Scarsdale.  I was the Dean for both high school students and the Alternative School for my first nine years here,  and have served as Director of Counseling for the past ten.  Prior to Scarsdale, I worked for twelve years in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District on Long Island.

My responsibilities at Scarsdale evolved as my position changed, but ultimately the one constant has been the wonderful students and families I have worked with.  We are so fortunate to work with students who are bright, thoughtful, creative, and so engaged in everything they do.  The parent population is incredibly supportive, and I could not be more positive about my experiences here.  The past nineteen years have been wonderful, and I have been so fortunate to have spent so many meaningful years here.

During your tenure, what’s the same and what’s changed about student guidance – and college admissions?

From my first day at SHS, it was clear that the pressure to get into a “good” college was on top of most students’ minds. For the counselors here, however, focusing on the student’s overall high school journey has always been the overarching theme of our work.  This has certainly become more complicated for the same reasons that the world overall feels more challenging - social media, the pressure to succeed, uncertainty about the future, etc…That translates in one way or another to students here, but our focus was always on developing relationships with students, recognizing their attributes and talents would allow them to be successful regardless of their ultimate destination.

In terms of college admissions, I’d say the biggest difference from when I first arrived is the greater uncertainty with respect to the college process.  Many students feel a need to be perfect and to do more, and we see that in how they approach their work and extracurricular pursuits.  Still, we continue to remind our students that they are teenagers, and that mistakes are okay.  As long as they continue to focus on developing their skills - seeking out support, become a more confident self-advocate  - and just as significantly take care of their mental and physical well being, they will absolutely flourish and find their path.

What were some of the most memorable moments of your time at SHS?

There are too many to articulate in a short response, but like many in our profession I value those times when former students reach out to connect.  It means that we were a meaningful part of their high school experience, and there is nothing more memorable than that for an educator.  I was invited to a former student’s wedding last year, and aside from celebrating all that is good in life, it was such a highlight and a reminder of what this work is all about.

How is the current political environment impacting work in your office?

We do our best to remain grounded in our work, and though some of that may be impacted by larger forces beyond our control, the reality is that the vast majority of teenagers are focused on what is in front of them, and the challenges they may face that day.  In a community where academic pressure and outcomes often rule the day, we find that our students (and the professionals who work with them) focus on supporting them within that context.

We often hear that getting into college is getting more and more difficult? Is that true in Scarsdale?

Yes and no.  I often say that when I first arrived at SHS nineteen years ago, admission may not have been guaranteed at those schools students perceive as the most selective, but there were simply not as many of those institutions (with under a 10 or 20% admit rate).  There are considerably more schools that fall within that category now, and for reasons that are too complex to express here, it is true that admission to many of those institutions has become more challenging.  At the same time, our students continue to do remarkably well in this process.  We see this at the end of every year, and also in conversations we have with colleagues across the region and country in terms of how our students perform as compared to peers elsewhere.   Ultimately, the vast majority of students who choose to continue on to college do so at a place they are happy and excited to attend.  I’d argue that is the true sign of success.

For  a host of reasons, some are suggesting that there are other routes to success instead of a 4 year college degree. Your thoughts?

We have never defined success as a particular destination or path.  While the majority of students at SHS do choose to continue their education at a four year university, there are others who choose a different path, and we celebrate that as well.  There is no doubt there are conversations in our community and the broader world about the definition of success and whether a four year degree is “worth” it, especially in light of the AI revolution.  We’d argue that any path that allows an individual to maximize their potential, broaden their horizons, gain valuable skills, and achieve their goals is the definition of success.

Why have you decided to retire now – and what will be doing when you leave us?

As many individuals in my life know, I have been commuting from my home on Long Island for the past nineteen years.  I absolutely love SHS and this community, but the often two hour drive home finally had me considering a different path.  So…I felt this was the right time to have more time to focus on other aspects of my life, and perhaps spend a bit less of that time commuting.  It was a difficult decision for sure, and one that I’ve spent significant time thinking about.  The poor people in my life that have had to listen to me - my family and colleagues - have certainly heard it all, and I’ve appreciated their wisdom and willingness to provide me with the space to make a decision that was right for me and my family.  While I did not make a decision to retire with any future plans set, I had a desire to continue this work in some capacity.  To that end,  over the past few weeks I have been fortunate to be offered an opportunity to work at an independent school much closer to home.

Parting words?

Having worked in different types of schools throughout my career, I’d say that SHS is an exceptional place.  The students are absolutely incredible, and as educators we cannot ask for more support from our parent community.  From the bottom of my heart, I want to express my gratitude to my students and parents for allowing me to partner with them, and to have been a small part of their high school experience.

I also want to take some time to highlight how fortunate I was to be surrounded by the brightest, most motivated, caring, and unbelievably dedicated staff anyone could ever hope for.  I recognize that there are many out there who focus on the academic opportunities here, but I’d argue the work for the professionals at SHS extends far beyond that.  The staff at SHS cares about its students, much more than the grades they receive or the postsecondary opportunities they pursue.  We care about them as human beings first and foremost.  I’ve been amazed by the time and energy our faculty and staff dedicate to students, recognizing that at their core they are teenagers simply trying to navigate all these years.  Our administration is incredibly thoughtful, and my time here would not have been the same without their friendship and support.  The faculty is top notch, and I wish that our community would see the effort they put in behind the scenes.  And of course, my colleagues in the Counseling Department and Psychology and Social Work Department, as well as the wonderful assistants we work with are absolutely the best at what they do, and it is difficult for me to imagine not seeing all of them on a daily basis.  Retirement is certainly a time for reflection, and most importantly an opportunity to express my appreciation for the wonderful individuals that have supported me during my time here.  I couldn’t have asked for anything more.