T H E T E A M
Mrs. Melissa Tunis
Inspire School Counselor Grades K-8, Last Names A-K |
Mrs. Tunis
Melissa Tunis is from Southern New Jersey where she was born and raised. She graduated high school from West Deptford and received a Bachelors in Psychology with a concentration in Law and Justice from Rowan University. She also received a Masters in School Counseling from Wilmington University in Delaware. Melissa has worked as an adolescent therapist with Youth Advocate Program, and a drug and alcohol counselor prior to starting a career in school counseling. She has also worked with grades pre-k through 12 in a variety of different settings. Melissa's true passion is helping students become the most successful they can be and help navigate what they want to do in life. In her free time, she enjoys working out, going to the beach at the Jersey Shore with her family. She loves being a mommy and spending time with her daughter and son doing outdoorsy activities, such as playgrounds, hiking, swimming, sports games, and shopping. Melissa is excited, as she will be relocating to beautiful Idaho later this school year! Melissa's true passion is being a school counselor, and is excited to work with the elementary and middle school students. |
Mrs. Kerry Jongeward
Inspire School Counselor Grades K-8, Last Names L-Z |
Mrs. Jongeward
Kerry Jongeward is a native Texan who currently lives outside of Houston. She graduated from Kingwood High School. Mrs. Jongeward earned her Bachelor of Science in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University and her Master of Education in Counseling from Prairie View A&M University. Mrs. Jongeward began her career in public education as a sixth and seventh grade science teacher at Atascocita Middle School. Most of her career was spent as a school counselor working in in middle schools and high schools. As a counselor in Fort Bend Independent School District, Mrs. Jongeward became interested in grant writing. Through grants, she obtained over $10,000 for student music programs and for the first College and Career Center in the district. In addition to providing counseling services to students, Mrs. Jongeward also served as an AVID Counselor, English as a Second Language Counselor, 504 Coordinator, and AP Coordinator. She especially enjoys supporting students as they navigate their journey through education and life. Mrs. Jongeward is delighted to serve as a school counselor for Inspire K-8 students. As a proud member of an Aggie family (which includes her father, husband, son, and future daughter-in-law), Mrs. Jongeward loves to attend Texas A&M football games. She and her husband enjoy traveling and going on cruises each summer. Mrs. Jongeward is especially looking forward to her son’s wedding this fall. |
Mrs. Stefanie Phelps
Inspire School Counselor Grades 9-12, Last Names A-K |
Ms. Phelps
Mrs. Phelps relocated from Southern California to Idaho in the Fall of 2021. After visiting for the first time in 2020, she knew it felt like home and was eager to make the move. Mrs. Phelps graduated from the University of California Riverside with a BA in Psychology. At the time she thought she wanted to be a Marriage and Family Therapist but soon realized it was not what she wanted to pursue. After graduation, she worked for a financial planning firm; about a year in she knew she wanted to explore her career options and started looking back into careers that fell under the umbrella of counseling. When looking at her options, it was important for her to find a career that she felt had the potential for impact each day. Soon after attending an information session on School Counseling, Mrs. Phelps knew she found her passion. She graduated with an MS in School Counseling, PPS credential, and a Single Subject Teaching Credential from California Baptist University. After spending two years in the classroom teaching high school English, she joined the Inspire Family in Fall of 2021. School Counseling is her passion and she is so excited to work alongside students and families. In her free time Mrs. Phelps loves to be outside, exploring with her dog Bailey. She loves to camp, hike, run, and spend time with family and friends. |
Mrs. Sarah McIntosh
Inspire School Counselor Grades 9-12, Last Names L-Z |
Mrs. McIntosh
Mrs. McIntosh was born and raised in Cody, Wyoming but relocated for a short while to Texas during her elementary school years. A graduate from the University of Montana, with a bachelors degree in Psychology and a Masters of Arts in Counseling, Ms. Pehrson moved to Twin Falls, Idaho from Missoula, Montana in 2007. She previously worked for the Twin Falls School District for 13 years where she gained experience as a School Counselor at Rock Creek Elementary (five yrs), Middle School Counselor at Robert Stuart (three yrs), and H.S. Counselor at Canyon Ridge High School (six yrs) before taking a job with Inspire Connections Academy in 2021. Mrs. McIntosh background includes (but is not limited to) PSAT, SAT, and ACT site coordination, college and career planning, social/emotional support and curriculum implementation, academic advising, and individual and small group counseling. As a child, Mrs. McIntosh knew she wanted to do something in life to help others. As a high school student, Mrs. McIntosh's own school counselor was passionate and supportive of all students and helped her navigate her own high school career, helping foster her love of helping others. While attending college, Mrs. McIntosh taught preschool and continued to develop her passion for supporting students in education while enjoying Montana and the great outdoors. When she's not working, Mrs. McIntosh spends most of her time with her daughter. They enjoy baking, exploring, hiking, reading, shopping, listening to music, kayaking, making crafts, fly fishing in Montana, and eating ice cream! Mrs. McIntosh also enjoys traveling to see her loved ones in Arizona, Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming. She is passionate about being a mother and loves her job as a school counselor. She looks forward to continuing to learn and grow both personally and professionally while providing students, families, and staff an environment of respect and rapport through Inspire Connections Academy's comprehensive school counseling program. |
Ms. Alaina Gilligan
Coord. of Counseling Services Empower School Counselor |
Ms. Gilligan
Alaina Gilligan is a proud first-generation college graduate. Growing up in a rural logging town in northern Idaho, her parents were dedicated and determined that their daughter would pursue a higher education. While attending high school, she was known for having “the most school spirit” and loved being a 4-year varsity cheerleader. Another highlight of her high school career was working in not only a mechanic shop, but also an attorney’s office. From these experiences, she was exposed to various career opportunities and wants to support her students to find a career that is complimentary to their personalities, as well as their strengths. After graduating high school, she attended BSU and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Upon graduating, she had the “what do I do now” moment and began working as a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialist. It was in this field she developed a love for working with children and teenagers with mental illness and developmental disabilities. She was exposed to many young individuals who needed a little support to develop coping skills and create goals. While progress could be minimal at times, she knew her true passion was helping others to believe in themselves. Shortly after this career experience, she pursued a Master of Education degree in School Counseling and Psychology at the University of Idaho. After graduating, she began working in the private sector as a Clinical Supervisor at a Developmental Disabilities Agency for over eight years. Wanting to return to School Counseling, she found Inspire Connections Academy and was thrilled when they offered her a position. She has been working with Inspire since 2018 and transitioned to Empower in 2019. It is Alaina’s hope that she can support all young people to unlock their hidden talents and be optimistic for their future to pursue any goal they wish to achieve in life. Alaina currently resides in Boise, Idaho with her husband, daughter, and stepson. She loves the outdoors and is typically found outside enjoying the beautiful state of Idaho. Some of her hobbies include cooking, camping, hiking, swimming, wakeboarding, snowboarding, and attending concerts. She loves to watch college football and basketball and can be found yelling at her TV during a BSU football game or Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball game. |
Ms. Gina Gravenmier
School Social Worker |
Mrs. Gravenmier
Mrs. Gravenmier was born and raised in the Treasure Valley. She grew up spending summers in the Idaho mountains, a tradition she continues with her own kids. She loves hanging out with her family; her husband, son and daughter, Catahoula leopard dog, two cats, many fish, and a bearded dragon. Mrs. G enjoys traveling with her family, seeing new places, and making new experiences. When not at work, Mrs. G likes to relax through reading fantasy books, and painting in her free time. Mrs. G has always had a passion for working with at-risk youth. She graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor of Science in Social Science, with an emphasis in Psychology and Sociology. She then went on to pursue her Master of Social Work degree. Mrs. G has been a social worker for 12 years. She brings experience working with children and families in a variety of settings. She spent time working in child protective services, hospitals, group homes, and mental health care. Mrs. G worked as a high school counselor for several years, and most recently as a middle school social worker. She most enjoys getting to know students and helping them overcome challenges they may be facing, becoming the best version of themselves. |
Ms. Barbie Green
Manager of Counseling Services |
Ms. Green
Barbie Green moved to Boise from Tokyo, Japan in October 2014. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee, and following graduation, she moved to Gunma, Japan as a participant in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. There she had an amazing three years getting to experience life as a middle school teacher. She lived in the same neighborhood where she taught, and she saw the struggles her students were experiencing and wanted to help them realize their potential and to discover their own unique fit in the world. Finding that school counseling was the perfect fit, she completed her Master of Education in School Counseling at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She then returned to Japan to teach at private high school in Tokyo. With a high population of students attending college around the world, she was able to help many students navigate the college admissions process. When her husband was transferred to Boise, she was eager to become a member of the community and started to volunteer with a local suicide prevention organization. She joined the Inspire family in February 2015 as an advisory teacher and is now the Manager of Counseling Services. Having served on the Idaho School Counseling Board and participating in local, state, and national conferences, she always strives to learn and grow so that she can better provide a comprehensive school counseling program that meets the needs of all students. |