Samantha (left) at work with her colleagues on "Anything But a Cup" Day
When Samantha Gronn talks with students at PEP Therapeutic Schools, there’s an immediate sense of trust. She listens carefully. She doesn’t rush. And when students say, “You don’t get it,” she can gently and honestly say, “I do.”
Samantha joined PEP in November 2024 as an associate teacher counselor (ATC), one of the members of the PEP Therapeutic School classroom team focused on students’ mental health and emotional regulation. In her role, she helps students develop strategies to stay regulated, build social-emotional skills, and better understand their mental health. It is work that feels deeply personal to her.
That’s because, years earlier, Samantha received services through PEP Connections, PEP’s care coordination program designed to support young people with complex mental health needs and help families navigate systems of care.
As a young person, Samantha struggled with intense anxiety and depression that made school and daily life feel overwhelming. While academics often came easily, the emotional toll of simply getting through the school day was heavy. She moved between schools, experienced frequent absences, and felt increasingly isolated in environments that weren’t equipped to meet her needs.
But, everything began to shift when Samantha was paired with a PEP Connections care coordinator.
“She didn’t try to put words in my mouth,” Samantha recalls. “She listened, she heard me, and she supported me.”
For the first time, Samantha felt understood. Her care coordinator helped her learn practical coping strategies and hands-on tools that supported emotional regulation and made hard moments feel more manageable. Just as importantly, that relationship offered consistency and trust. Even during periods when Samantha needed more intensive support, her PEP Connections care coordinator stayed involved, visiting her and reminding her that she wasn’t alone.
After starting with her care coordinator at PEP, one goal stayed front and center: graduate and keep moving forward.
With sustained support in place, Samantha did just that. She graduated high school with a 3.5 GPA, which was a dramatic turnaround from earlier academic struggles. She even earned a physics award along the way. More than the grades, she gained confidence in herself and, after years of feeling stuck, began imagining what her future might look like.
“I started thinking mental health might be a good career path for me,” she says.
Samantha went on to study psychology at Ithaca College before completing her bachelor’s degree at Cleveland State University. Coming from a family of educators, she knew she wanted to work in education, and when she learned about PEP Therapeutic Schools, it felt like a natural fit. The strengths-based philosophy, trauma-informed approach and emphasis on the whole child mirrored the support she had once received.
“I loved the idea of giving back to an organization that helped me in my youth,” Samantha says.
When she interviewed for a position at PEP Willow Creek, she knew immediately that this was where she wanted to be. She was offered the job on the spot.
“It felt like a puzzle piece falling right into place,” she recalls.
Today, Samantha’s lived experience deeply informs her work. She understands that students’ behaviors often reflect unmet needs, not defiance. That insight helps her build authentic relationships, avoid power struggles, and approach each student with patience and empathy.
“I recognize what they’re going through,” she says. “And because of that, I can stay calm and present.”
Students notice that understanding. One student recently told her simply, “You get it.” For Samantha, that moment captures why she does this work.
When asked what she would tell her 14-year-old self, her answer is simple and powerful:
“It gets better. These emotions are temporary.”
Samantha’s story is a testament to the impact of PEP Connections and the power of coordinated, compassionate mental health care. With the right support at the right time, young people can move beyond their struggles, discover their strengths, and even return years later to help others do the same.