Independence Local Schools is pleased to welcome Rachel Barbiaux as a full-time career counselor through the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center (CVCC), further strengthening the district’s commitment to career exploration and workforce readiness for students at all grade levels.
Barbiaux will support students as they explore career pathways, develop employability skills, and plan for postsecondary success. In this role, she will provide individualized career coaching, classroom presentations, and targeted programming designed to connect students with careers, college options, and real-world learning experiences. She will begin her role on January 12.
Barbiaux brings a diverse background in career development, education, and business. She currently serves as a career services specialist at Cuyahoga Community College, where she provides one-on-one coaching in career exploration, résumé development, interviewing, and networking, and delivers career readiness presentations to large student groups. She has also worked as a K–5 substitute teacher, gaining experience supporting students in classroom settings across multiple grade levels.
In addition to her education experience, Barbiaux spent more than a decade in marketing and leadership roles with national and global organizations, managing large-scale projects, budgets, and cross-functional teams. Her professional background provides a strong foundation for helping students understand workplace expectations and develop skills that translate across a wide range of careers.
“I’m excited to work with Independence students as they explore their interests and begin to envision their futures,” said Barbiaux. “My goal is to help students discover pathways that align with their strengths while building the skills and confidence they need to succeed beyond high school.”
Barbiaux holds a Master of Business Administration from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University, where she studied anthropology and French. She also holds an Ohio substitute teaching license.
“The addition of a full-time career counselor reflects the district’s ongoing commitment to preparing students for life after graduation,” said Superintendent Kelli Cogan. “We are deeply grateful to Amanda Jaronowski, who has served as our part-time career specialist through CVCC for many years. Through her dedication and expertise, she opened doors to countless opportunities for our students and made a meaningful impact through career guidance, exploration, and empowering students to make informed decisions about their futures.”
This position aligns with Independence Local Schools’ Strategic Vision by empowering the whole child through expanded exploration of career pathways, equipping students for future success, and preparing them to contribute to a strong, inclusive school community. Through meaningful experiences and real-world learning, the district continues to design valuable opportunities that prepare students for success in a rapidly changing world.