Meet Our Amazing School Counselor: Stephene Heiple
School counselors are vital in public education. They ensure students have excellent educational experiences -- both academic and social-emotional. School counselors can help set students on their path to postsecondary success via encouragement, personal support and programs that emphasize achievement and growth. Meet our fantastic school counselor, Stephene Heiple.
When did you know you wanted to be a school counselor?
I decided I wanted to become a School Counselor when I was working in a school with students with disabilities and behavior concerns. I realized that I could help a larger group of students instead of the one or two students that I was assigned to work with. As a School Counselor I also felt that I could help students at a deeper level.
What do you love most about your role?
I love that I get to work with the students on an individual basis. I also love watching them grow as individuals and I enjoy helping them make life changes and choices. My job is rewarding in the fact that I get to witness the small changes that sometimes even students themselves do not realize they are making. I also work with a great team and staff. HHCS is a lot like a family.
How does the HHCS's mission and vision align with your personal values?
My personal values align with HHCS's mission statement and vision because I truly believe that every student is an individual and should be treated as such. With a mental health background I personally believe that each and every one of us deals with and responds to things differently in life. I also personally believe that each one of us has a personal strength that can be utilized in helping us grow. In my role as the School Counselor I am afforded the opportunity to work with individuals and to help them achieve their own academic, personal, and social goals of life.
Who was your favorite teacher and why?
My favorite teacher was Mrs. Kinsiner because she was very supportive and understanding. She went the extra mile to help her students and to make sure that they were not only learning but growing as an individual student.
What else would you like us to know about YOU?
I am a graduate of Somerset Area where I have lived my entire life. I am married and have 2 boys. In high school my oldest son Avery played multiple sports and now is fortunate to play college baseball. My youngest son Jedidiah is also a multiple sport athlete and he attends HHCS. We also have a Chocolate Lab named Lily. My husband and I are both teachers at our church. I love the outdoors and love traveling. I am always looking for little adventures and trips that will make lasting memories with my family.
Join our Free K-12 Community-focused School
At HHCS, we are a community school that supports every student on their unique learning journey. We are actively preparing our next generations of thinkers, leaders and innovators -- from Hyndman, Bedford County, The Wills Mountain Valley and surrounding areas -- for bright futures; one student at a time.
Now is a fantastic time to join us! Do NOT let the date on the calendar deter you. Our small, close-knit tuition-free K-12 public school focuses on every individual student and their personal learning path. Enroll today!
About HHCS
Striving for high academic achievement, and a high rate of post-secondary continuing education, HHCS extends K-12 classroom teaching and learning boundaries to include varied educational endeavors, multiple mediums, dual enrollment and work experience programs to model and promote the practice of lifelong learning. Find out more about our close-knit community school where every student is known for who they are and how they best learn. Enrolling tuition-free for grades K-12, today!
