Michele Kimle says working with her fellow counselors and supporting the administration are the keys to her success, highlighted in November as the Nebraska School Counselors Association named Kimle the Nebraska Middle School Counselor of the Year.
Kimle, in her 15th year at Hastings Middle School, said she didn’t really tell anyone about the appointment because she tended to avoid being the subject of attention. She didn’t want people to focus on her rather than the other counselors in the college, Jill Hoppe and Stephanie Jacobson.
“They’re amazing too,” Kimle said. “I think it’s really a team effort. We are a good team.
She said each of the trios focus on one grade level and stay true to that class throughout their time in college. Kimle said the approach provides consistency for students and fosters a deeper relationship.
“After three years, I feel like we know these kids very well,” Kimle said.
About once a month, counselors take a day to teach students. She said it helps students work on social / emotional development and allows counselors to develop relationships with students so they are more comfortable seeking them out if issues arise. Sessions also allow teachers to be away from the classroom to work on notes or prepare for lessons.
The support of the school administration is also a crucial factor for the success of college counselors, she said.
In other parts of Nebraska and the United States, counselors are being phased out, Kimle said – but Hastings is committed to supporting students.
“I think our administration really fought for three full-time advisers for us,” she said.
Kimle said she felt drawn to the field of education many years ago.
“I always knew I wanted to work with children,” she said. “I think college is a really interesting age for kids. You can joke with them, but you can also have some pretty serious conversations with them.
Kimle was originally a teacher at Kearney. She became interested in counseling after an experience with a student who made a possibly suicidal comment and Kimle was not sure how to respond. After that, she started taking extra classes to learn better ways to help students.
When a counselor position opened at Hastings Public Schools, she applied on a whim. The Kimle Family Farm south of Kenesaw is closer to Hastings than it is to Kearney.
“It was a very, very good move,” she said. “Hastings is a great place.”
Kimle received the award on November 4 at the NSCA lunch, but she hadn’t prepared a speech. She knew she was a semi-finalist for the award, but wasn’t sure if she would be chosen.
“I was very humiliated. I don’t deserve it more than they do, ”she said of the other candidates.
Angie Kruse, chair of certification for the NSCA, said the award aims to find school counselors who go above and beyond. One factor is that school counselors follow the national model of the American School Counselor Association.
Kruse said they had nearly 40 nominations from across the state. The committee narrowed the field to six semi-finalists, each of whom filled out an application that included two recommendations, a resume, and evidence of how they are implementing the American School Counselor Association’s national model. The committee then chose a winner for each level.
“She (Kimle) has shown different ways of collaborating with other building professionals and will refer for additional family support when needed,” Kruse said. “Some of the cohesive attributes that have appeared in the letters of recommendation are how Michele Kimle continues to be there for students beyond college. She cares a lot about her students and their families.
Other semi-finalists honored at the Nebraska School Counselor Association luncheon in November included:
- Elementary finalist Kirk Ramsey with Blue Hill Elementary
- Elementary Councilor of the Year Stefanie McAlpin with Anchor Pointe Elementary in Bennington
- College finalist Lisa Bade with Alice Buffett Magnet Middle School in Omaha
- High School Finalist Noelle Baker with Seward High School
- High School Counselor of the Year Marilynn Peaslee with Lincoln Northeast High School
Comments are closed.