Margo Bristow, an OPRF counselor popular among kids and parents for her work with drug- and alcohol-addicted teens, will resign at the end of the school year to focus on her private practice.
Hired seven years ago, Bristow was the first ever substance abuse counselor at Oak Park and River Forest High School. She’s practiced in the field for more than 30 years and is an Oak Park resident. She spends five days a week at OPRF, 201 N. Scoville Ave.
Bristow said she’s leaving mainly because her current position doesn’t pay enough and, that “it’s time to start looking at my future. I’m not getting any younger and I need to start looking at my retirement.”
Bristow said she’ll be able to take on more clients in her practice, which will help bring in more money. Her last day at OPRF is June 10.
Bristow, along with four other resource managers, are contracted staffers at the school through Oak Park’s Thrive Counseling Center. According to Bristow, the high school plans to continue contracting for a substance abuse counselor. But Bristow feels the school should hire a permanent person on-staff. That, she noted, would require the school to cover the costs—salary and benefits. But it’s a cost Bristow believes is worth absorbing.
“I think the school needs to own this position,” she said, noting that Thrive and the high school have worked hard to address OPRF’s student substance abuse problem.
Bristow, though, said the position needs someone with institutional knowledge of the high school and community.
“I was here for seven years. But bringing in someone new from an outside agency, they really do not understand the needs of the community, and the pay is not one that can sustain a person long-term.
“There’s a learning curve for any job,” she added. “And instead of listening to the problem, that person will end spending a lot of time learning the community and residents. It’s like they’re trying to play catch up.”
The pay for Bristow is about $34,000 annually, and is the same for each of the other Thrive staff working at the school, she said.
Her departure also coincides with the year-long anti-drug campaign, spearheaded by parent members of the Citizens’ Council—the volunteer community group of Oak Park and River Forest High School residents. At various forums sponsored by the group, parents have clamored for the school to hire additional substance abuse counselors. They’ve also supported having the school hire Bristow directly.
Bristow herself said she’d consider the job full-time if the school pursued it.
“The only reason why I stayed is because of the kids and the community.”