Meridian Middle School Counseling
Meridian Middle School Counseling Department
We love being in the "middle!" Middle school is a challenging, memorable adventure for students, their parents and teachers. It is the passage from childhood to adolescence. As your middle school counselors our goal is to help you "thrive" in middle school. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your grade level counselor.
What a pleasure it is to be a counselor at MMS. The road that lead me here was full of varied experiences. During my time as a counselor I have had the chance to counsel families, couples, individuals, students K-12, and work with the Idaho National Guard as they work to reintegrate families who have experienced a deployment. All of these experiences have been wonderful and I wouldn't wish to change any of them. Among these different groups and individuals, working with middle school students stood out among the rest as one of my favorites. I enjoy helping students navigate through the ambiguity and confusion that often accompanies students during the ages of 11-14. I feel so fortunate to be working with the talented and devoted teachers, administration, my fellow counselors, and especially your students here at MMS. When I am not at MMS I enjoy spending time with my wife, four boys, playing baseball, coaching, and traveling. This is a great place to be! We should all have P.R.I.D.E. in being a Chief.
Welcome to MMS! I'm Chris Haener and this is my 12th year as a counselor in the Meridian School District. My background in teaching led me to my dream job as a counselor, and I consider myself lucky to work with the students and staff at MMS. The best part of my work day is witnessing students' self-discoveries that lead to their growth and success. Aside from counseling, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two daughters. I love to read, garden, ski and play tennis. Thank you for the opportunity to work with your children. Go Chiefs!
Hi! My name is Amy Gamez and I am the 8th grade counselor at MMS. I have three kids, an amazing husband and a dog who hops like a bunny! As a counselor, I have had the unique opportunity to serve grades K- University. Currently, I split my time between Meridian Middle and Peregrine Elementary School.
Perhaps my favorite thing about middle school is getting to witness firsthand the tremendous personal growth and transformation that takes place during the course of the school year. The amount of personal confidence that our students gain is admirable. Timid sixth graders no longer, my eight graders leave MMS as confident problem solvers, capable of setting and achieving their personal and academic goals. I am proud of my 8th graders and consider it a privilege to be a part of their middle school adventure.
My name is Jo Ann Snook and I have been with MMS for 11 years. I feel very blessed being a part of this wonderful school and working with such a caring and professional staff. I love being able to help students out, whether they come in to meet with the counselors, or they need a band-aid from the nurses office or just want to chat! I also take care of renting the MMS Facilities to the public, updating the MMS website and many other tasks! I grew up in Minnesota and went to the University of MN. I graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a minor in Music. I have a wonderful husband of 30 years as well as a 25 year old daughter and a 22 year old son. We all love to travel internationally and explore the world together as well as camping, hiking and enjoying the outdoors.
Peace begins with a smile.
-Mother Teresa
