Supporting Every Student: Counseling Program Growth

At St. James Lutheran School, we are excited to begin the 2025–2026 school year with renewed energy and an expanded commitment to supporting the whole child. As part of this commitment, we’ve made some exciting changes in our counseling department to better serve our students and families.

A Stronger, More Comprehensive Support System

This year, we are proud to introduce a dynamic team of professionals dedicated to the academic, emotional, and social well-being of our students. Together, our counselors and educators work to ensure every child feels seen, supported, and empowered to grow.

Meet the Team

Sheila Amdur – Counselor for PreK–4th Grade
Sheila holds an MA in School Social Work from the University of Chicago and has studied Early Childhood Education at Erikson Institute. She has previously worked as a school social worker and has taught early childhood education for over 15 years.  Sheila will be working with students in grades PreK-4 and will also be teaching SEL, providing individual and group counseling, and collaborating with parents and teachers to support student growth. Additionally, she will help run our Mini Mavericks program. Outside of school, Sheila enjoys traveling with her adult children, walking her dog, and is busy planning her daughter's wedding for this September.
📧 Samdur@stjames-lutheran.org

Mitch DeBoer – Counselor for Grades 3–8
Mitch holds an MA in School Counseling from Concordia University and has experience working with children and adolescents in both individual and group settings. He has previously taught middle school Social Studies and Math at SJ. This year, he will be transitioning to the role of school counselor, supporting students in grades 3-8. Mitch will be teaching Social Emotional Learning (SEL), providing individual and group counseling, and collaborating with parents and teachers to best support student growth while also teaching middle school Social Studies. Outside of school, Mitch enjoys spending time with his family and friends, walking his dog, and just got married on August 8th!
📧 MDeBoer@stjames-lutheran.org 

Hannah Meineke – Spanish Teacher & Instructional Support
Hannah holds a PhD in Urban Education from the University of Milwaukee Wisconsin and an M.Ed. In Curriculum and Instruction for Concordia University Wisconsin. This will be her first year working at St. James! Hannah comes to us from Austin, Texas where she served as an Associate Professor of Education for seven years. Prior to her work in higher education, Hannah taught high school English and Spanish. Hannah will teach Spanish at St. James and work closely with the teachers through training, professional development, and other forms of support. Hannah has four children who will all be new students at St. James this year! Her husband is a physical therapist and together they enjoy running and staying active.

 📧 Hmenieke@stjames-lutheran.org 

Our Mission: Whole-Child Development

The primary role of our counselors is to deliver a social-emotional curriculum (CharacterStrong) in the classrooms, provide individual student support through check-ins and group meetings, collaborate with teachers to build classroom communities, and navigate difficulties as they arise. We also ensure that IEPs and 504 Plans are properly executed with CPS. Additionally, we offer parent education through our monthly newsletter, a new book club, and parent workshops. Our goal is to build a strong community, create a common language, and provide parents with deeper insights into social-emotional development. 

At St. James, we believe that supporting the whole child means partnering with the whole family. We are here to build strong, lasting relationships with students and their families. 

If you have questions or would like more information about our counseling services, please don’t hesitate to reach out!