Student Resources and Support

There are multiple resources within the Upper School for student support, which is most often a partnership between a student's teachers, the advisor, and the support staff and resources listed below. 

Visit the Center for LEARNING AND TEACHING 

Academic support

Emily King is shifting into the role of Upper School Learning Specialist. Emily joined SPA in 2019 and over the years, she has been a key support for students with learning differences, guiding the implementation of learning plans, teaching executive functioning skills, and coaching self-advocacy skills. Emily came to us from the Hastings public school district where she taught social studies to 6th and 7th graders and served as an intervention specialist at their Alternative Learning Center. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science from Augsburg College and is a licensed teacher in secondary education. 

For more information about academic tutoring, learning differences, or the work of the Center for Learning and Teaching, contact Karen Rassmussen.

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Counseling services

Adolescence is a time of enormous change and growth, and we recognize the need for social and emotional support for all of our Upper School students (and their parents) as they navigate the teenage years and the transition to college.

Clare Roney joins SPA as an Upper School Counselor. She has served as a School Counselor at Champlin Park High School since 2018 and from 2008-13. With a caseload of over 400 students, Clare was responsible for what we would call advising at SPA, as well as social-emotional counseling and 504 Plan implementation. At Groves Academy in St. Louis Park, Clare was the Career and Post-Secondary Counselor. Previous experiences included teaching and counseling in Buffalo, MN, and in Paraguay. Clare studied Political Science at Creighton University and received her MSE in School Counseling from UW-River Falls. Clare has extensive leadership and service in schools as well as in her parent community.

 

Jake Turnbloom comes to SPA from Robbinsdale Area Schools, where he has served as a school Social Worker since 2020. Jake brings extensive experience in counseling individuals, groups, and families. Prior to working in schools, Jake worked as a Multisystemic Therapist with The Family Partnership and as a Case Manager with St. Stephen’s Human Services. Jake earned both his Bachelor’s degree in Family Social Science and Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota. His counseling experience includes utilizing a variety of therapeutic approaches to support students. 


 

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diversity and identity development

Dr. Naomi Taylor, Director of Intercultural Life, serves as a resource for Upper School students and families with questions, concerns, or a special interest in topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Dr. Taylor works closely with the Upper School counselors and the Administrative Team to oversee the student experience at school through the lens of equity and inclusion; her work includes the development of programming specific to Courageous Conversation about Race (CCAR), and expanding the toolkit of all students in fostering a community dialogue that empowers healthy communication across difference. Dr. Taylor co-facilitates many of the Upper School student affinity and special interest groups, developing leadership skills in the oldest students and building bridges from one division to the next among these student groups, which include Common Ground (i.e. students of color affinity group); Mishpacha (Jewish student affinity group); Black Male Affinity Group; Muslim Affinity Group; HerSpace (female empowerment affinity group); Intercultural Club (a student interest group open to all students; and the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (a student interest group open to all students).

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Student health

Our Upper School student health assistant is Tina Akervik. Tina assists students with routine requested care such as the administration of prescription medications, maintains student health records, and is a liaison between the school and parents/guardians regarding health concerns, questions, and resources. Tina has over sixteen years of experience in healthcare and has served as a Health Services Associate in the Bloomington Public Schools. Tina is certified as an Emergency Medical Technician and in Basic Life Support with the American Heart Association.

Tina staffs the Randolph Campus Health Office, located on the first floor of Old Main just west of the Schilling Center.