ANNOUNCING COUNSELING OFFICE CHANGES
Mr. Tallen Mahaffey, school counselor for the high school, has announced his resignation from SMSA effective October 1, 2021. Mr. Mahaffey has accepted a school counselor role at St. Rita’s High School in suburban Chicago. We are grateful for the two years that Mr. Mahaffey has served the Springs community, and especially for his dedication to students in crisis and supporting the post-secondary planning of Ledgers. Mr. Mahaffey served the Springs during the most challenging days of the pandemic when remaining connected required virtual creativity. We wish Mr. Mahaffey the very best as he transitions from SMSA back to his native Illinois. May God continue to bless his vocation.
At this time we are pleased to introduce two new colleagues who have been hired to replace Mr. Mahaffey and collaborate to serve students and families through a newly reconfigured high school Counseling Office.
Mr. James Stamatakos joins the SMSA team as the high school Coordinator of College and Career Planning. He shall be helping Ledgers and their parents to learn and navigate all processes related to post secondary academic and/or vocational planning, scholarships and financial aid. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Broadcast Electronic Communications from Marquette University, and a Master of Arts Degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Louisville. Most recently, Mr. Stamatakos served as the college advisor with Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock, Illinois. He has also served in the Counseling Office at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School in Milwaukee. Prior to serving in Catholic high schools, Mr. Stamatakos served as an admissions counselor and academic advisor at St. Norbert College. He resides with his wife and two children in Greendale, WI where he is a member of St. Alphonsus Parish. Please make Mr. Stamatakos feel welcome on the Ledge! He can be reached at jstamatakos@smsacademy.org or (920)-322-8070.
Mrs. Taylor Friedrichs has been hired as the School Counselor serving the high school. She is a licensed school counselor in the state of Wisconsin who earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Child, Adult and Family Services from Iowa State University. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in School Counseling from Adams State University in Colorado. Mrs. Friedrich has completed clinical intern experiences with the Whitefish Bay and Muskego school districts. She has co-taught classroom guidance sessions on topics ranging from anger management to anxiety. Mrs. Friedrichs has also led student counseling groups around anti-bullying and conflict mediation. She will support Ledgers with a full range of school counseling services, with special focus on social emotional support and mental wellness. She resides with her husband and child in Kohler, WI and is eager to begin her career as a school counselor. Please make Mrs. Friedrichs welcome at the Springs! She can be reached at tfriedrichs@smsacademy.org. Her office number will be published as soon as possible.
Along with administrative support from Mrs. Sue Hackl, our Counseling Office team stands ready to serve the needs of Ledgers. In the weeks ahead, students and parents shall be invited to both virtual and in-person opportunities to meet and greet both Mr. Stamatakos and Mrs. Friedrich. They are both very eager to get to know our Ledgers. We are very excited to welcome them both onto our high school team here on the Ledge!
Coordinator of System Scheduling and Student Records
I am pleased to announce that Mr. Jacob Norlander has been promoted to the role of Coordinator of Scheduling and Student Records for the SMSA system (K-12). In this role Mr. Norlander is a member of the Pupil Services Team that works closely with Administration and the Counseling Office Team. In the coordinator role, Mr. Norlander oversees the annual construction of a Master Schedule for the elementary and high school and manages the student scheduling process, including resolution of schedule conflicts and changes. Mr. Norlander also collaborates with SMSA facilities and business office partners to support a campus space utilization plan. He assists teachers with Skyward management and is also the SMSA liaison to the Youth Apprentice program. Finally, Mr. Norlander continues to serve as a member of the Social Studies Department and enjoys teaching Government and Military Leadership to Ledgers. We congratulate Mr. Norlander and thank him for sharing his skills and talents with our Springs community.
Our Lady of the Ledge, pray for us!
Eamonn O’Keeffe
Principal, High School