A Portage Life in the Spotlight: Kim Milner

kim-milnerGrowing up in Hobart, Indiana, Kim Milner never thought she wanted to work in a school. With her father being a school principal and her mother working in the media center, it was the last thing she thought she would do. After attending Hobart High School and Ball State University, she took a job one summer as a teacher’s aide, an experience that ended up changing her life.

While Milner originally majored in business, her experience as an aide ended up with her going back to school and changing her major. She received her Master’s in Special Education and afterwards obtained her certification in school counseling.

Milner has been married to her husband, Terry, for 31 years. Shelby, their 23 year old daughter, works as a case manager/counselor for the Michigan City State Prison. Milner has been a school counselor for twenty-one years. She was previously a counselor at Hobart Elementary/Middle School, and has been at Fegely Middle School for the last eleven years. Though she never imagined being a school counselor, she cannot fathom the thought of doing anything else.

Every day is different,” Milner said. “Most days I never know what will come my way. The kids are amazing. The kids probably teach me more than I teach them. They are all resilient, smart, and funny. I still enjoy walking in the door every morning.”

Milner has more responsibilities than one may think. She is, first and foremost, there for the students whether it be personal or academically. She is also a test coordinator, working closely with the ISTEP testing in the school. Milner is also involved with the ESL program, ESL standing for English as a Second Language. She makes sure the students are able to understand English, and makes sure their needs are met. Kim also works closely with the principal and the assistant principal in making sure the master schedule is set accordingly. With Fegely having about 750 students, that definitely can take some time.

Milner is also part of the Leadership Team. With her special education background, she is also called to sit in on IEP (Individualized Education Program) conferences. She is also involved in the 21st Scholarship program, which is funded by the state. This program allows for students who are receiving reduced school lunches to be eligible for assistance with tuition for college.

Milner helps with the school’s Backpack program. This program sends nutritious snacks home on Fridays with children whose family might need a little extra assistance. She works with the community in giving back all the time and also donates her time when working with the Family Youth Services Bureau. This is a mentoring program where they meet with about thirty students a week during lunch.

Milner also spoke about her involvement in a new program at school called Project Girl Talk. This program pairs up 6th grade girls with 8th grade girls. They meet for about an hour every other week and they are currently making Valentines to take to Miller’s Merry Manor for the residents. During Christmas, they spent their time with the residents making ornaments. Milner said that it was one of the biggest highlights of her year, if not her entire career.

“To see these girls interacting with the residents, I felt like my heart was bursting,” Milner said. “I felt like their mother, because of how much I love these kids.”

“I have had the pleasure of working alongside Kim for the past several years," school nurse Kim Lubeck said. “Her compassion and genuine interest in the well-being of our students makes a significant impact here at Fegely Middle School. She has a remarkable gift for implementing strategies that are integral to the success of each and every student. She makes a sincere effort to prepare them for their futures and the challenges of life that lie ahead.”

Kim Milner loves what she does, and everyone loves her for it. While being a school counselor can definitely be challenging, Milner feels that by having amazing co-workers that are not only fun to work with, but also dedicated to making sure the students are as successful as they can be, is a positive factor to her job.

“When you see kids at their best, it makes the job so rewarding,” Milner said. “I think to myself, 'How could I not do this?'”