Counseling Services
Meet Maria Gross, the Innis School Counselor.
Hello! My name is Maria Gross, and I am the School Counselor at Innis Elementary School.
This is my 29th year with Columbus City Schools. Before becoming a counselor, I spent 15 years as an elementary school teacher in the district. My background in education allows me to view each child through both an academic and developmental lens, helping me better understand and support the whole child.
I enjoy engaging with students in a variety of ways. I visit classrooms to teach lessons, lead small focus groups, and meet individually with students for solution-focused counseling. Creating meaningful connections with students is truly the best part of my work.
One of our favorite monthly traditions is Birthday Bingo, a fun lunchtime celebration where students join me on the cafeteria stage to enjoy birthday-themed bingo and a positive break in their day.
I also facilitate weekly yoga sessions during recess. Trained through the Youth Yoga Project in Schools, I guide students through relaxing yoga poses followed by a calming visualization story. Participation is voluntary, yet it has quickly become a popular and well-loved activity.
Each month, I partner with Seeds of Caring to lead a community service project with one classroom at a time. These projects give students the opportunity to build empathy, practice kindness, and make a meaningful impact in our community.
In addition to counseling, I serve as the PBIS Coordinator, 504 Plan Coordinator, and Panorama Survey Coordinator for Innis Elementary. I am always happy to support our students, families, and staff through these roles.
Please feel free to reach out anytime with questions or ways I can support you and your students.
Kind regards,
Maria Gross
