How to Write a Eulogy for Your School Counselor - Eulogy Examples & Tips

Writing a eulogy for a school counselor can feel strange at first and also very important. School counselors live in that sweet awkward space between teacher, therapist, mentor, and friend. They know students in ways other staff do not. This guide gives you a clear, usable plan plus real examples and fill in the blank templates you can adapt. We explain terms you might not know and give delivery tips that actually work. Read through, pick a template, and start writing with confidence.

Who this guide is for

This article is for students, parents, teachers, administrators, and staff who have been asked to speak in memory of a school counselor at a funeral, memorial, celebration of life, or a school remembrance. Maybe you were the student who always stopped by for a check in. Maybe you partnered on student interventions. Maybe you are a principal asked to say a few words. There are sample scripts for short tributes, longer memorials, and notes to read aloud at school gatherings.

What is a eulogy

A eulogy is a speech meant to honor someone who has died. It is personal. It is a story about who that person was and why they mattered. A eulogy is not the same as an obituary. An obituary lists basic facts like dates and service info. A eulogy shares memory and meaning. It is okay for it to be imperfect and human.

Terms and acronyms you might see

• School counselor A professional who supports students academic, social, and emotional development. They often help with course planning, college and career guidance, crisis support, and connecting families with resources.
• IEP This stands for Individualized Education Program. It is a legal plan for students who qualify for special education services. Counselors often help coordinate IEP meetings or supports.
• 504 plan A 504 plan is a formal set of accommodations for students with disabilities so they can access school. It is different from an IEP but both aim to support students learning.
• SEL This is social emotional learning. It means skills like managing emotions, building relationships, and responsible decision making. Counselors often lead or support SEL work.
• Faculty The teachers and academic staff at a school.
• Staff Non teaching employees of a school, like counselors, office staff, custodians, and paraprofessionals.
• Memorial A gathering to remember and honor someone who died. Memorials can be formal or casual and can happen at school, a funeral home, or online.

How long should a eulogy be

Short and focused usually works best in a school community setting. Aim for two to five minutes for tributes at a school memorial. For a funeral or public memorial you can do three to seven minutes. If multiple people will speak, confirm total time with the organizer so the event stays within plan.

Before you start writing

A little prep will save time and make your words clearer. Use this quick plan.

• Ask about time and tone Check with the family or organizer about how long people should speak and whether they want a formal service or a casual remembrance.
• Decide the audience Will you be speaking to students, staff, family, or all of those groups? Tone changes depending on who is in the room.
• Gather material Collect memories, nicknames, favorite sayings, and small stories. Ask a few colleagues or students for one memory each.
• Choose two or three main points Pick the few things you want people to remember about the counselor. Two or three ideas keep the speech from wandering.

Structure that works

Good structure gives you permission to be brief and honest. Use this simple shape.

• Opening Say your name and why you are speaking. Offer one line that sets the tone.
• Role and life sketch Describe their role at the school and one or two facts about their career or life outside school.
• Stories Share one or two short anecdotes that reveal character and show impact.
• Lessons and legacy Say what the counselor taught people or what people will miss.
• Closing Offer a final line of thanks, a call to remember, a short reading, or an invitation to share memories.

Collecting memories and quotes

Because counselors touch diverse parts of school life, seek memories from different groups. Ask a student for a small story about a time the counselor helped. Ask a teacher for an example of how the counselor supported staff. Ask a parent for a note about communication or advocacy. These varied viewpoints will make your eulogy feel fuller and more accurate.

Opening examples you can borrow

• Hello. I am Jordan, a junior. Ms Rivera was my counselor and many of you know her as our safe person in a noisy hallway.
• Good afternoon. I am Principal Lee. I am speaking today because I worked alongside Alex for seven years and I want to say what an enormous difference they made at our school.
• Hi. My name is Priya. I am a school counselor at Jefferson Middle School and I stand here because Taylor was my mentor and my friend.

How to write the life sketch

The life sketch should be short and human. Mention where they worked, how long, and one or two roles or passions. Avoid listing every position unless that is important to the family.

Life sketch templates

• [Name] joined [School name] in [year] and served as our school counselor. They loved supporting students through big moments like college applications and small moments like finding a safe space in the school day.
• [Name] began their career as a counselor in [city] and later worked across elementary, middle, and high school. Outside school they loved hiking, cooking, and cheering for their local team.

Anecdotes that matter

Stories make the person real for listeners. Keep them short with a clear payoff. A good memory has a setup, an action, and a line that explains why it mattered.

Examples of short anecdotes

• One winter, when our bus was cancelled, Ms Patel showed up at school anyway and set up a hot chocolate table in the counseling office so students could warm up and talk. She made sure no one felt stranded.
• Mr Owens would text students on test day with a single message that read You got this. The message meant nothing to some and everything to others. Those texts were his small acts of faith.
• She ran a lunchtime group for anxious students and always brought stickers. The stickers were silly but they became a quiet club symbol that made asking for help feel less strange.

Addressing professional and ethical boundaries

Counselors have confidential relationships with students. When speaking publicly, avoid sharing private counseling details or anything that might break trust. Focus on observable actions, public support, and the ways they made school safer and kinder.

Safe ways to honor confidentiality

• Talk about the counselor being available, kind, or steady rather than telling specific therapy content.
• Share stories that students and family have cleared for public telling.
• If you want to recognize students growth, do so generally by saying things like Many students told me they felt stronger because of [Name].

Examples you can adapt

Example 1: From a student, 2 to 3 minutes

Hello everyone. My name is Sam and I am a senior. Ms Flores was the person who would open the counseling office door and make space for whatever was happening. One afternoon last year I walked in five minutes before class to ask about college forms and I left with a clear plan and a sticker that made me laugh. She had that way of making big things feel manageable. She taught me that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is a strategy. I will miss her calm voice in the hallway and the way she remembered small details about each of us. Thank you for everything, Ms Flores.

Example 2: From a colleague, 4 to 5 minutes

Good morning. I am Marissa and I am a school counselor at Lincoln High. I had the privilege of working with Daniel for six years. He was the sort of person who showed up to staff meetings with a notebook full of ideas and left them with the kind of quiet follow through that changed things. He led our peer mentoring program, advocated for students in IEP meetings, and taught us how to listen so students could find their own answers. One memory I keep is an early morning crisis when a student needed immediate support. Daniel quietly coordinated the team, checked in with the family, and then stayed late to make sure the student had a plan. He never wanted praise for that work but it saved that student time and again. His legacy is the students who learned how to say I need help and the staff who learned how to make space for hard conversations. We are better because of him.

Example 3: From a principal, short and formal

Good afternoon. I am Principal Gomez. For nearly a decade, Erin shaped our counseling program with vision and heart. She believed every student belonged and she built systems that made that belief real. Today we mourn and we honor. We will continue the work Erin started and we will carry her commitment forward in every counseling session and every staff meeting. Thank you.

Example 4: Light and personal for a school gathering

Hi. My name is Marcus and I teach English. If you ever met Joanna you know she had two rules. Rule one was be kind. Rule two was bring snacks to staff meetings. Her snacks saved many long nights of grading and her kindness saved us on longer days. She made the staff room a softer place. We will miss her cookies and her patience and the way she celebrated small wins with an oversized high five. Let us keep celebrating those small wins in her memory.

Fill in the blank templates

Copy a template and fill in the brackets. Then read it out loud and trim anything that feels forced.

Template A: Student short

Hi, I am [Your Name] and I am in [grade]. [Counselor Name] was my counselor. They helped me when I felt stuck and they taught me how to break big problems into small steps. One thing I will always remember is [short story]. Thank you for helping me and so many others find our way.

Template B: Colleague or staff

Hello, I am [Your Name] and I worked with [Counselor Name] for [number] years. [Counselor Name] led [program name] and always made time for students and staff. One memory that shows who they were is [short story]. They taught me [lesson]. We will miss their quiet leadership and steady presence.

Template C: Principal or administrator

Good [morning afternoon evening]. I am [Your Name]. As principal I saw how [Counselor Name] shaped our school. They built systems that supported students and they modeled compassion for staff. In honor of [Counselor Name] I invite you to [action for memorial such as light a candle share a story donate to a fund]. Thank you.

Delivery tips that actually help

• Keep a printed copy Use large font and clear spacing. Phones can drop calls or be distracting. Paper is low tech and reliable.
• Use cue cards One or two lines per card keep your place and reduce the chance of losing your train of thought.
• Mark emotional beats Put a bracket or underline where you want to pause and breathe. Pauses look intentional and give the audience space to feel.
• Practice out loud Read the speech three or four times to get comfortable with pacing. Practice helps your throat and your emotions.
• Bring tissues and water Small comforts matter. A sip of water can steady a shaky voice.
• Have a backup Arrange for one person to be ready to step in briefly if you need a moment. They can read a closing line or two to help you finish if needed.
• Be mindful of microphones Keep it a few inches from your mouth and speak slowly. If there is no mic, project calmly to the back row.

When you might cry and what to do

Crying is normal and acceptable. If tears come pause and take a breath. Look down at your notes and slow your pace. If your voice cracks that can be powerful. If you cannot continue ask your backup person to read a final sentence or two. People will wait and they want you to succeed.

Including students in a memorial at school

If the memorial will be held on campus let students be part of planning in age appropriate ways. Students can write letters, draw, perform a short reading, or collect memories for a memory book. Make sure activities respect privacy. Avoid asking students to share private counseling details.

Logistics and permissions

• Confirm with family what is appropriate to share and whether they want school gatherings.
• Talk to your school district or administration about protocols for memorials on campus.
• If you plan to record or post a speech online get family permission first.

How to share the eulogy after the event

People often want a copy. Offer to email it, include it in a school newsletter, or place it in a memory book with photos and student notes. If families want privacy do not post it publicly. If you share a recording make sure the family knows where it will be available and for how long.

Glossary of useful terms

• IEP Individualized Education Program. A legal document that spells out special education services and goals for a student.
• 504 plan A plan that provides accommodations to students with disabilities so they can access learning. It is not the same as an IEP but it serves a similar purpose.
• SEL Social emotional learning. Teaching skills like managing feelings, building relationships, and making decisions.
• Faculty Teaching staff at a school.
• Staff All employees at a school including counselors, office staff, custodians, and aides.
• Memorial A gathering to remember and honor someone who has died.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start a eulogy if I am a student and nervous

Begin with your name and grade and your relationship to the counselor. A short sentence like Hello, I am Alex from tenth grade and Ms Kim was my counselor gives everyone context and buys you a breath to settle. Practice that opening until it feels familiar. It will steady you at the microphone.

What if I want to say something honest about a difficult interaction

Be truthful but kind. You can acknowledge complexity by saying something like Our relationship was not always easy but I learned from the way they kept trying. Focus on growth or a lesson rather than private struggles that belong in confidential spaces.

Can parents or students speak at a public funeral

Yes if the family and funeral organizer agree. Check with the family about what they feel comfortable sharing and whether they prefer certain people to speak at the funeral versus a school memorial.

How do I include a poem or song in a school memorial

Choose short readings or song snippets. Check copyright for recorded music if you will play a track publicly. Keep pieces brief so speakers can flow and confirm the selection with family and administration.

How long should a tribute from staff be

Two to five minutes works well for a school gathering. For a funeral or public memorial three to seven minutes is a good target. Coordinate with other speakers so no one runs too long.

Is it okay to use humor when remembering a counselor

Yes, gentle earned humor usually helps people breathe. Avoid anything that might embarrass the family or students. Light stories about snacks, office quirks, or the counselor s laugh are often safe and welcome.

Should I share counseling details when I speak

No. Maintain confidentiality. Share public acts of kindness and support but not private session details. Protecting trust honors the counselor and the students they helped.