Ortonville Public School – Meet Amanda & Angie!
by Mary Hillman
Amanda Grabow grew up in Ortonville and is a graduate of OHS. She received her undergrad in Sociology from Northern State University. Currently, she resides in the Milbank area with her husband and 3 children. Amanda is employed with Greater Minnesota Family Services as a School & Family Mental Health Practitioner and provides individual and group counseling skills to students in the Ortonville Public School. She has been employed with GMFS for the past 14 years, providing counseling skills in 3 different school districts in Minnesota. Currently, she is in her 9th year at the Ortonville Public School and enjoys teaching students the necessary skills that are needed to help them feel more confident and successful in school, at home, and in their community.
Amanda shared about her work, “I think that the most valuable aspect of being a counselor is having the opportunity to just be there for the students and listen. Sometimes, that can sound so simple, but yet can be so powerful for a student to simply just be heard and feel valued. It is such a great feeling to know that I am equipping young children with the necessary skills to become their very own self-advocates in their everyday lives!”
Angie Haugen grew up in Eagan, Minnesota, and is a graduate of Eastview High School. She received her undergrad in Psychology from Drake University and her masters in Social Work from St. Catherine/University of St. Thomas. She currently lives in Ortonville with her husband Seth and their dog Mocha. Angie recently started working for Greater Minnesota Family Services as a School and Family Licensed Mental Health Practitioner on February 20th. Before this job, she worked at a private adoption agency for 7 years as a family worker in the Foster Care and Domestic Infant Program. Also, she was a birthparent counselor helping those making an adoption plan.
Angie shared about her work, “I am looking forward to working with the 7th-12th graders at OHS and providing support in whatever capacity they need. Kids go through too much these days at a young age and truly desire that person who will simply listen. I feel honored to get that opportunity each day and look forward to making a difference in this community!”
___________________
For more information regarding our services or to refer a student, please contact the GMFS main office at 320-214-9692 or contact the Ortonville Public School at 320-839-6181. If looking to refer a student in Pre-K through 6th grade, please ask for Amanda Grabow, and for students in 7th through 12th grade, please ask for Angie Haugen.