ABOVE: Martin Luther Guidance Director Amber Diekmann, left, speaks with the school’s Learning Specialist Teri Watt in Diekmann’s office on Monday.

NORTHROP – While celebrating National Lutheran Schools Week, Martin Luther High School (MLHS) is hard at work ensuring students have the support they need academically and emotionally.

Amber Diekmann now has a year and a half under her belt as Martin Luther’s Guidance Director. She began her career as a social worker, primarily working in disability services within the county, but also spending time in child protective work. Diekmann learned about this position through volunteering for her son.

“I volunteered at my son’s school,” she said. “He goes to St. Paul Lutheran in Fairmont. I volunteered during breakfast. One of the people that works there came up to me and told me that there was an open position. They thought that I would be good at it, so they asked me to apply. I love it.”

There is a lot involved as a guidance director, but Diekmann said a big part of her role is future planning for students.

“I’m the one who’s in charge of sending information, getting information to colleges,” she said. “I deal with the transcripts. I give information to colleges if students want it. A large part that has become my role is student mental health. I deal a lot with when students are overwhelmed, sad or stressed. They come in here, and I’m here to listen.”

Student feedback is important to Diekmann, as a majority of her job is working with students and effectively assisting them. A few months ago, she was told by a few students that a couch would be a welcome addition to her office. After adding one, Diekmann said it has had a definite positive impact, even in some unexpected ways.

“Students lay on it if they have a headache,” she said. “We don’t have a nurse’s station either, so somebody needs a nurse, too. We’re kind of everything for all the students here.”

In her first year and a half at the school, Diekmann said one of the most important things she has learned is the value of acceptance and being there for people in need.

“Love everybody,” she said. “Know that everybody’s different. Everybody is just as worthy. Make sure they have somebody to talk to and remind them that God is always there.”

Through her role, Diekmann said she has filled an important neutral role in the school culture.

“I think school is important,” she said. “It’s important for them to have good grades, but I also want to be there for the student to let them know their mental health matters if they’re really stressed out about school, to take a break, and their mental health is tied to how well they do in school. So important to have a middle ground role, as well as just for resources, to have somebody they can turn to if they have questions.”

Regarding the future, Diekmann said she wants to continue learning about the students and helping them however she can.

“We need a lot of people who go into trades right now,” she said. “We’re seeing a lot of students looking into going into electrician and things like that. I’m trying to connect with some of those schools and find resources. For the future, just making sure I continue to keep up with everything so I know what the students need, I’m able to provide those resources.”

When students need help with their academic progress and habits, Learning Specialist and Lutheran Special Education Ministries (LSEM) Teacher Teri Watt is there to help them make improvements.

“I am here to help students be successful,” she said. “Sometimes, like what they’re doing in the classroom, they just need a little extra help with either organization or some study skills or to go over things again. I’m here to help teachers and students connect when there’s a gap.”

When it comes to assisting the students, Watt said it is a very individualistic task.

“Everybody’s got a different need or area where they have skills they need to work on,” she said. “If a student would come with an IEP from a public school, we look at what services they were getting there, and if we’re able to meet that need here at the high school. Then we fill in their schedule. I usually end up either helping in a study hall or an after-school situation to help them meet their needs.”

Watt joined Martin Luther around four years ago. When she joined, she was the first LSEM teacher for Martin Luther. LSEM offers assistance in special education needs to smaller private schools that cannot afford full-time traditional special education. Through it, Watt said she has seen the positive benefits.

“I’ve seen students get what they need,” she said. “If we were talking about independent study skills or something like that, I’ve seen students who come in, and they’re really a little bit unsure, but they get the skills they need. The confidence really grows, and pretty soon they’re not coming to see me anymore. I’m always telling kids. I’m trying to work myself out of a job.”

Looking forward, Watt said budgets are always on the mind, but she is blessed to have this opportunity, and she is looking forward to continuing her mission for Martin Luther students.

*Editor’s note: This article ran in the Sentinel’s National Lutheran Schools Week section on Jan. 27.