Evelyn Lauer sits down with Anthony Gliffe, a career counselor at a suburban high school in the Chicago area. They discuss trends in career counseling and his role to support students in their journeys toward non-traditional paths.

Beyond the Bell is a college-and-career counseling podcast designed to provide students with tools and tips to look beyond the bell of their high schools into their futures (be it, college, careers, trade schools, or gap years) where bells do not exist. Beyond the Bell is hosted by Lauer, who has worked in education for nearly 25 years, serving primarily as a high school English teacher, but also assuming roles as an instructional coach, college writing instructor, workshop leader, and journalism/media advisor. Lauer is also currently a graduate student at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago where she is studying school counseling. She is a mother to two sons, who are in 10th and 7th grade. She also serves on the board of Friends of Amundsen High School. Topics discussed will include: college admissions, college essays, trade schools, gap years, finding one’s passions and future careers.

Host Evelyn Lauer reflects on the reasons why she is certain to she wants to counsel teenagers. She highlights lessons she's learned in a Children & Youth in Schools and Family Systems course this semester, including various play therapy techniques.

Beyond the Bell is a college-and-career counseling podcast designed to provide students with tools and tips to look beyond the bell of their high schools into their futures (be it, college, careers, trade schools, or gap years) where bells do not exist. Beyond the Bell is hosted by Lauer, who has worked in education for nearly 25 years, serving primarily as a high school English teacher, but also assuming roles as an instructional coach, college writing instructor, workshop leader, and journalism/media advisor. Lauer is also currently a graduate student at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago where she is studying school counseling. She is a mother to two sons, who are in 10th and 7th grade. She also serves on the board of Friends of Amundsen High School. Topics discussed include: college admissions, college essays, gap years, and finding one’s passions and future careers.

Host Evelyn Lauer interviews parents who are going (or who have gone) through the college application process and transition to college with their child or children. Parents will speak of their personal experiences and offer advice.

In this third episode of the series, Lauer interviews the mother of a high school senior who has recently committed to her first-choice university.

Beyond the Bell is a college-and-career counseling podcast designed to provide students with tools and tips to look beyond the bell of their high schools into their futures (be it, college, careers, trade schools, or gap years) where bells do not exist. Beyond the Bell is hosted by Lauer, who has worked in education for nearly 25 years, serving primarily as a high school English teacher, but also assuming roles as an instructional coach, college writing instructor, workshop leader, and journalism/media advisor. Lauer is also currently a graduate student at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago where she is studying school counseling. She is a mother to two sons, who are in 10th and 7th grade. She also serves on the board of Friends of Amundsen High School. Topics discussed include: college admissions, college essays, gap years, and finding one’s passions and future careers.

Host Evelyn Lauer interviews parents who are going (or who have gone) through the college application process and transition to college with their child or children. Parents will speak of their personal experiences and offer advice.

In this second episode of the series, Lauer interviews the mother of a college freshman at the University of Iowa.

Beyond the Bell is a college-and-career counseling podcast designed to provide students with tools and tips to look beyond the bell of their high schools into their futures (be it, college, careers, trade schools, or gap years) where bells do not exist. Beyond the Bell is hosted by Lauer, who has worked in education for nearly 25 years, serving primarily as a high school English teacher, but also assuming roles as an instructional coach, college writing instructor, workshop leader, and journalism/media advisor. Lauer is also currently a graduate student at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago where she is studying school counseling. She is a mother to two sons, who are in 10th and 7th grade. She also serves on the board of Friends of Amundsen High School. Topics discussed include: college admissions, college essays, gap years, and finding one’s passions and future careers.

Host Evelyn Lauer interviews parents who are going (or who have gone) through the college application process and transition to college with their child or children. Parents will speak of their personal experiences and offer advice.

In this first of the series, Lauer interviews the mother of a college freshman.

Beyond the Bell is a college-and-career counseling podcast designed to provide students with tools and tips to look beyond the bell of their high schools into their futures (be it, college, careers, trade schools, or gap years) where bells do not exist. Beyond the Bell is hosted by Lauer, who has worked in education for nearly 25 years, serving primarily as a high school English teacher, but also assuming roles as an instructional coach, college writing instructor, workshop leader, and journalism/media advisor. Lauer is also currently a graduate student at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago where she is studying school counseling. She is a mother to two sons, who are in 10th and 7th grade. She also serves on the board of Friends of Amundsen High School. Topics discussed include: college admissions, college essays, gap years, and finding one’s passions and future careers

Host Evelyn Lauer interviews Jacquelyn Bengfort, a program marketing specialist for Scholarship America, a nonprofit founded in 1958 and the nation's largest scholarship administrator. If you are a school counselor and you are interested in receiving a newsletter with updates on scholarships, you can sign up here.

Prior to joining Scholarship America, Bengfort worked as a creative writing instructor at the University of Iowa, a freelance writer and marketing consultant, and a naval officer. She has received scholarships and fellowships from the Rhodes Trust, the Truman Foundation, the Rona Jaffe Foundation, and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

Beyond the Bell is a college-and-career counseling podcast designed to provide students with tools and tips to look beyond the bell of their high schools into their futures (be it, college, careers, trade schools, or gap years) where bells do not exist. Beyond the Bell is hosted by Lauer, who has worked in education for nearly 25 years, serving primarily as a high school English teacher, but also assuming roles as an instructional coach, college writing instructor, workshop leader, and journalism/media advisor. Lauer is also currently a graduate student at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago where she is studying school counseling. She is a mother to two sons, who are in 10th and 7th grade. She also serves on the board of Friends of Amundsen High School. Topics discussed include: college admissions, college essays, gap years, and finding one’s passions and future careers

Host Evelyn Lauer interviews Jennifer Finetti, a college finance expert at Scholarship Owl, an AI-powered platform that connects students to the right scholarships that enable them to graduate debt-free.

Beyond the Bell is a college-and-career counseling podcast designed to provide students with tools and tips to look beyond the bell of their high schools into their futures (be it, college, careers, trade schools, or gap years) where bells do not exist. Beyond the Bell is hosted by Lauer, who has worked in education for nearly 25 years, serving primarily as a high school English teacher, but also assuming roles as an instructional coach, college writing instructor, workshop leader, and journalism/media advisor. Lauer is also currently a graduate student at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago where she is studying school counseling. She is a mother to two sons, who are in 10th and 7th grade. She also serves on the board of Friends of Amundsen High School. Topics discussed include: college admissions, college essays, gap years, and finding one’s passions and future careers.

Host Evelyn Lauer interviews Gretchen Stauder, a post-high school counselor at New Trier Township High School in Winnetka, Illinois. Gretchen is a member of the Illinois Association for College and Admission Counseling, Illinois School Counselor Association, and the Gap Year Association. She has spent more than 25 years of guiding students in their journey about discovering post-secondary paths that match their academic, social, and financial needs. For the past 10 years, she has coordinated one of two Chicago Gap Year Fairs through Gooverseas because she has seen the transformational benefits of a gap year experience for students who choose this option.

Beyond the Bell is a college-and-career counseling podcast designed to provide students with tools and tips to look beyond the bell of their high schools into their futures (be it, college, careers, trade schools, or gap years) where bells do not exist. Beyond the Bell is hosted by Lauer, who has worked in education for nearly 25 years, serving primarily as a high school English teacher, but also assuming roles as an instructional coach, college writing instructor, workshop leader, and journalism/media advisor. Lauer is also currently a graduate student at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago where she is studying school counseling. She is a mother to two sons, who are in 10th and 7th grade. She also serves on the board of Friends of Amundsen High School. Topics discussed include: college admissions, college essays, gap years, and finding one’s passions and future careers.

To register for the Chicago Gap Year Fairs (Oak Park River Forest 1/24/25 and New Trier is 1/25/25), please visit https://www.gooverseas.com/gap-year/usa-fairs/schedule