James VandenHeuvel, the education specialist here at the high school, has a passion for working in schools and with students. His own high school experiences and working in many different positions throughout his life helped him discover his passion for working with students.
One experience that really shaped him was a reverse job shadow day at his school, South Christian High. One of the people who came in managed God’s Garage, a recreational youth facility in downtown Grand Rapids. The facility was all about giving students a positive environment to ‘hang out’.
“I got to thinking about how to help other people by doing social work and working with students and families that maybe don’t have as many opportunities, so that really was a defining moment,” VandenHeuvel said.
Another high school experience that inspired him was a backpacking trip in Colorado. With a group of students, they hiked through the mountains for a week, sleeping in tents out in the wilderness.
“So using outdoors and having a heart for other people, that was what high school did for me,” VandenHeuvel said. “I think from that trajectory a lot of my experiences in life are kind of formed because of those two experiences,”
Growing up, VandenHeuvel lived in the south side of Grand Rapids, right next to Pine Rest, a mental facility. With both of his parents working there, he had an interest in treating mental health from a young age.
Whenever his dad got a call about an emergency over at the hospital, he would ask VandenHeuvel if he wanted to come along. They would then work with firefighters, police officers, or EMT’s to try and solve the problem. These experiences got him interested in crisis, which led to him working as an ambulance driver.
VandenHeuvel also worked as a youth pastor, which fueled his interest in working with students. He worked to plan retreats and mission trips, and he also brought a group of high schoolers to Honduras. He planned activities that would result in students’ spiritual and social growth.
As much as VandenHeuvel liked working as a pastor, it just wasn’t the perfect fit. He wanted to be able to interact with the students, but they were at school all day while he was working. VandenHeuvel decided he wanted to get a job at a school.
“I chose schools because of my interest in students,” VandenHeuvel said.
The past 15 years, VandenHeuvel worked as a middle school guidance counselor at Highlands Middle School. He dealt with mental health, academic planning, and career readiness. He also helped students with family issues, grades and attendance problems. This year, he has a brand new job, here at the high school.
His new job has a lot of different factors. VandenHeuvel works to support the school counselors and the administration, as well as working with special cases. If a student has a problem that requires his specialty, the counselors will call him in and VandenHeuvel will help figure out a solution. He solves problems that are getting in the way of the school and student learning.
“I’m helping students feel safe, successful and confident in their schooling,” VandenHeuvel said.
From a youth pastor, to a social worker, and now to an education specialist, VandenHeuvel’s high school and life exposure played a big role on his career and who he is today.
