Phoenix High School to Add Mental Health Counselor
The school is hiring a third counselor to support students following discussions on campus safety and well-being.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Secondary Education
Live Poll
Should your local schools prioritize hiring more mental health counselors to support students?
Senator Ron Wyden visited Phoenix High School to discuss student mental health resources following rising community anxiety. As a result of the dialogue, the school is preparing to expand its student services team to better support campus safety and well-being.
Why it matters
Students and families in Phoenix are increasingly concerned about school safety and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on social development. Strengthening counseling services addresses these local stressors by providing more direct mental health support on campus.
Phoenix High School currently employs two licensed school counselors who provide mental health lessons to the student body. The school now plans to hire a third counselor to address student needs, though the official timeline for this addition remains unknown.
The players
Ron Wyden
A U.S. Senator serving as the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee who monitors national health policy.
Phoenix High School
The local secondary school facilitating mental health partnerships and student-led hiring for support services.
La Clinica
A community health organization that partners with local schools to provide additional mental health support.
City of Phoenix Police Department
The local law enforcement agency that manages the on-campus school resource officer program.
The details
To manage student mental health, Phoenix High School utilizes a collaborative model that pairs in-house counselors with external support from La Clinica. Counselors conduct school-wide lessons designed to identify students who may need individual intervention. The school also involves students directly in the hiring process for these support roles to ensure the chosen candidates meet the specific needs of the student body.
Timeline
Senator Ron Wyden visited the campus on October 23, 2026.
The Home Front
This staffing expansion follows national discussions regarding student mental health conducted through the Reimagining Health Care in America meetings. It reflects a broader trend of schools integrating clinical partnerships to mitigate the social isolation stemming from the pandemic.
Parents should stay informed about these upcoming student service changes by monitoring updates from the Phoenix High School administrative office. Families can also reach out to current counselors to discuss existing mental health resources available to students today.
The takeaway
Expanding student support services is a critical step in addressing youth anxiety and school safety concerns. Families should note the school's commitment to student-led hiring for the new counselor position, which provides an opportunity for direct feedback on school resources.
Further reading
Learn more about local school support systems in our Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2.
Live Poll
Should your local schools prioritize hiring more mental health counselors to support students?
