Hi!  My name is Aimee Sandula.  I am the school counselor for Fife Lake Elementary. I have 20 years of experience as an advocate for people of all ages who have experienced life challenges including domestic violence, sexual abuse, and homelessness.  I worked at Women’s Resource Center for 16 years and provided individual and group counseling for people in Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, and Kalkaska counties. For the past 5 years, I have been the Executive Director for River House, a shelter and agency serving survivors of violence in Crawford, Ogemaw, Oscoda, and Roscommon counties.  Three years ago, I earned my Master’s degree in School Counseling and completed a year-long internship at Grayling Middle School.  I am excited to be a counselor at Fife Lake Elementary because I enjoy working with children and families. My goal is to help students overcome barriers and learn the skills they need for success in school and beyond.    

Many times people hear the title “Counselor” and think that I am here to provide therapy.  I see my role at the school as a support person. I approach situations with a focus on finding a positive solution from a strengths-based approach. I first look at what strengths the student has before trying to find a solution.  My job as a school counselor is to work with students to develop positive self-concepts and the motivation necessary for learning, to assist students in identifying and dealing with problems, and to provide crisis intervention when necessary.  I also work with student’s families to encourage and support student achievement, to provide family support, and to serve as a resource.   In addition, I collaborate with teachers and other school staff to facilitate referrals and evaluations, and to provide consultation concerning student’s needs.

 I look forward to working with the students and their families.  You are welcome to contact me at Fife Lake Elementary or through e-mail at asandula@forestarea.org.  

Some reasons to contact me are:

• Academic concerns.
• Divorce, separation, and family changes.
• Educational planning.
• Experiencing loss, death, and grief.
• Peer relationship issues.
• Problem solving skills.
• School adjustment issues.
• Stress reduction and coping skills.
• Study skills.
• Difficulty getting to school.