TDSB & Me is a new staff storytelling series that celebrates the people who help our schools and workplaces thrive. Each profile recognizes the everyday leadership, creativity, and care that shapes our system and supports student success.
Marina Moro
Assistant Curriculum Leader
York Memorial Collegiate Institute
Every day, students walk into Marina’s office carrying questions, worries, and dreams. Some are finding their way in a new school, while others are thinking about life after graduation. No matter their story, they leave feeling seen and supported.
Marina Moro became a Guidance Counsellor after working as a classroom teacher for almost ten years. She loved helping students succeed one-on-one. Her first guidance role focused on supporting newcomer students, something deeply personal because she came to Canada as an English Language Learner. She knew the challenges these students faced and wanted to make the transition smoother.
“My students inspire me to do my best work every day,” she says. “I feel very privileged to be doing my dream job.”
Marina credits her Grade 9 and 12 Geography teacher for shaping how she works with students today. She remembers feeling valued and genuinely cared for in those classes. “Those experiences taught me the power of relationships,” she explains. “I want my students to succeed just as much as I want success for my own children.”
Over the years, Marina has grown into her role, learning to balance support with high expectations. Each student brings unique goals and needs, and every day is unpredictable. She thrives on helping students explore possibilities and seeing their excitement when a plan clicks. Collaboration is central to her work, and she partners with teachers, student support staff, and administration to create the strongest network of care.
Some people may think guidance counsellors only help with course selection or postsecondary applications. In reality, Marina’s work goes far beyond that. She supports students through transitions, connects them with mentorship and volunteer opportunities, guides them through academic and personal challenges, and provides a space where they can be truly heard.
Looking back on her first year of teaching, she says she would tell her younger self that every school brings new opportunities to grow and form meaningful relationships. She has worked in seven high schools since then and carries lessons from each experience into her practice today.
Reflecting on her work, Marina says, “The connections we build with students are at the heart of what we do. Those relationships keep students coming back, whether they are seeking support, wanting to share their successes or simply to say hello.” For her, being a Guidance Counsellor is more than a job. It is a privilege, a responsibility, and a chance to make a real difference in students’ lives.
