At 2 p.m., students begin to flood the hallway to make their escape home. But every day, a somewhat unfamiliar face stands in front of the guidance office with a grin, saying hello to students and wishing them farewell until tomorrow.
Ocean Lakes High School (OLHS) welcomed new guidance department chair Mike Dandridge for the 2025-26 school year. Dandridge grew up in Richmond, Va., and obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Old Dominion University. Upon graduation, Dandridge pursued a master’s degree in school counseling. He then spent six years at Landstown High School as a guidance counselor before he was promoted to department chair at Ocean Lakes.
“I am very excited to be here,” Dandridge said. “My door is always open; talking to students is my favorite part of the job.”
Dandridge previously specialized in student scholarships and now manages students with last names beginning with Hey-Lei as well as advises select student groups.
“Previously I worked with scholarships, but now I handle English as a second language students, along with students taking classes through Virtual Virginia,” Dandridge said.
Along with his critical work in the counseling office, Dandridge looks forward to learning and adopting the Ocean Lakes culture.
“I am genuinely excited to learn the Dolphin way,” Dandridge said, “I am so lucky to be surrounded by students and staff who are so ambitious and high achievers.”
Dandridge is very open to connecting with students. His contact information can be found in the OLHS Bookmarks on the OLHS School Counseling site.
“He was very helpful during senior meetings,” senior Rylan Imbriale said. “I look forward to a good year with him, and I am sure he will be very helpful [in] preparing me for college.”
