Hello JVA Community,

I am Michael Heckendorn - students can call me Michael - and I am a new Social Emotional Learning Specialist at Jeffco Virtual Academy! I have been a school counselor for 6 years (3 years in Cherry Creek School District and 3 years in Jeffco). I have my masters degree in school counseling from Indiana State University and I am a licensed school counselor (SSP) and a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Colorado. I'm also going back to school now for an advanced graduate degree in Educational Leadership at the University of Northern Colorado.

As a counselor, I am here to support students, staff, family members, and the larger community. I do this by building relationships, extending understanding and empathy, using humor, and consistently doing what is best for students.

Lets be honest - high school has been much different this year. For some, it has been easier. But for a lot of us, it has been much harder. We are all going through this year together and I am here to help. I don't know about you, but I miss human connections. I'd love to support you through this semester with weekly meetings and opportunities to connect.

I believe that black lives matter, equity in all areas is our collective responsibility, school should be a safe and welcoming space, and that fulfilling our needs of freedom, control, love, and fun must be a priority in our schools. Personally, I love adventuring with my wife and two dogs, traveling to far away places, climbing challenging rock faces, biking down technical single tracks, and skiing safely in the backcountry of Colorado. I am excited to support you and other students at JVA!