Black History Month is a time to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future. It is a month dedicated to recognizing the contributions, struggles, and achievements of Black individuals throughout history and within our communities.
At the School District of Lancaster, we take this opportunity to highlight voices that are making a difference every day, voices like Hallie Orlowski, a school counselor at Martin School who is shaping the lives of students through advocacy, representation, and support.
A Counselor Who Shows Up
At the heart of Martin School, Hallie Orlowski exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated school counselor. To her, the role is not just about guiding students through academics or helping them navigate social-emotional challenges, it is about presence, about listening, and about showing up in ways that leave a lasting impact on their lives.
Orlowski, who has been a counselor at Martin since 2019, takes a hands-on approach to her work. She doesn’t wait for students to find her; she meets them where they are, whether in classrooms, hallways, or the cafeteria, engaging with them in ways that make them feel seen and heard. “If the kids weren’t here, I wouldn’t be here,” she says. “I owe it to them to be where they are.”
Her commitment extends beyond middle schoolers. Though she primarily works with students in grades 6-8, her office is often visited by younger students, her “Golden Girls” in fifth grade, and even fourth graders who come to her simply because they trust her presence.
Orlowski’s energy is magnetic, pulling in students who see her as more than an authority figure, but as a mentor, a supporter, and at times, a friend who genuinely cares. She makes it a priority to remember the small details about her students, their interests, their families, and their dreams, so that every interaction feels meaningful.
She has become a constant in their lives, someone they can count on, not just during their time at Martin, but for years after they leave.
A Journey Shaped by Experience
Orlowski’s path to school counseling was shaped early in life. She was adopted as an infant into a white family and grew up in a predominantly white community. She recalls realizing she looked different from her peers only when another child in first grade pointed it out. That moment sparked a lifelong awareness of identity and representation.
Being the only Black student in many of her classes, Orlowski felt both pride in her identity and a deep longing for representation. She did not have Black teachers or mentors in school, and much of what she learned about Black history came from her own curiosity rather than the curriculum. These experiences fueled her determination to be a guiding force for students who, like her, needed to see themselves reflected in the spaces around them.
Her high school counselor was absent when she needed guidance the most, leaving her to navigate college applications and career planning on her own. That experience shaped her philosophy as a school counselor. “I never wanted to be the counselor that I had,” Orlowski reflects. “I wanted to be someone who was there when they needed me.”
Her older brother, Davin, now a counselor at McCaskey, played a pivotal role in her career path. In ninth grade, he invited her to shadow him at work, giving her a firsthand look at what it meant to support students. That experience solidified her decision: she wanted to be a school counselor who made a difference, who walked alongside students instead of merely advising from a distance.
Representation Matters
Black History Month, for Orlowski, is about action. She ensures that students see themselves celebrated, from the bulletin boards she puts up in the hallways to the conversations she has with them about culture, identity, and the achievements of Black figures past and present.
“I tell my students, ‘It’s Black love this month. We uplift each other. We don’t tear each other down,’” Orlowski says, reinforcing messages of pride and empowerment. She encourages conversations around Black literature, history, and even the music that students listen to, finding ways to connect their lived experiences to a broader understanding of Black excellence.
Her own journey, being adopted, navigating predominantly white spaces, and later finding empowerment in her identity, gives her a unique perspective on the importance of representation. She credits mentors like Dr. Shelby Cunningham and Mrs. Demetra Welters for shaping her confidence, showing her what strong leadership looks like, and encouraging her to stand firm in her identity.
In addition to her work as a counselor, Orlowski actively fosters a sense of school pride and cultural awareness. She spearheaded a school-wide initiative to adopt a mascot, rallying students to vote and ultimately create an emblem for Martin. For her, instilling a sense of identity and belonging in students is essential.
She also ensures that Black History Month is not just a temporary focus but a lasting presence. “It’s not just about celebrating Black history for a few weeks,” she says. “It’s about making sure that our students know their worth, their strength, and their potential every single day.”
A Legacy of Connection and Care
The legacy Orlowski wants to leave at Martin is one of connection, visibility, and unwavering support. “I hope that I was always someone kids could talk to,” she says. “Whether it was about school, personal struggles, or just needing someone to listen.”
Her impact is visible in the relationships she builds, in the trust she fosters, and in the students who keep coming back—even after they’ve moved on to high school. She measures her success not just in academic achievements or behavior improvements, but in the moments when students feel safe enough to be their authentic selves around her.
She believes in meeting students where they are, both physically and emotionally. Whether it’s a student struggling with self-doubt, a young girl questioning her identity, or a middle schooler who just needs a snack and a listening ear, Orlowski ensures that her office, and her presence, feels like a refuge. She often reminds students, “If you want to do something, pop off and do it. Talk it out, get people behind you, and go for it.”
For Orlowski, Black History Month is about honoring the past while building a future where every student, regardless of background, feels like they belong. Through her work, she ensures that the lessons of history, about resilience, strength, and unity, are not just remembered, but lived. And with every student she supports, she is shaping a legacy that will outlast her time at Martin, a legacy of representation, encouragement, and the power of simply showing up.