Podcast 312 – How Dunwoody High Counselors Support Every Student – Luke Ingram and Denise Spain

Dunwoody High counselors do a lot more than build schedules. In Podcast 312, I sat down with head counselor Luke Ingram (also my neighbor) and counselor Denise Spain to learn how their team supports students academically, emotionally, and socially at one of North Atlanta’s most diverse public high schools.

Dunwoody High School has five full-time counselors, each assigned by student last name for all four years. Counselors handle scheduling, college and dual enrollment planning, private school transitions, and social and emotional support, with caseloads of about 450 students each.

Listen on Apple Podcasts or watch the full episode above.

Meet the Dunwoody High Counselors

Luke Ingram is head counselor, and Denise Spain is one of five full-time counselors who guide students through high school. If your last name starts with a W like my son Micah, Luke is your guy. Here is how caseloads break down:

• Deanna deRoux: Last names A–C
• Rhashida Bunyan: D–J
• Samantha Wright: K–O
• Denise Spain: P–T
• Luke Ingram: U–Z, Dual Enrollment, Virtual Learning

Each student is matched with a counselor by last name and sticks with them all four years. That continuity means the counselors really get to know the kids, not just their schedules, but their goals, their worries, and what kind of candy cheers them up on a rough day (spoiler: it’s all of them).

And while she’s technically not in the counseling department, Ms. Wickman oversees all 504 plans, helping students who need accommodations thrive in the classroom.

Coming from Private School

Here’s some real talk. A lot of Dunwoody families send their kids to private middle schools but come back to public high school for Dunwoody High. The jump from 50 kids in a grade to 600 is intimidating. That’s exactly the kind of thing the counseling team is ready to walk you through.

The Dunwoody High counselors offer tailored support for students transferring from private schools, from course selection to social adjustment. Luke and Denise both stressed scheduling a meeting early. I will be doing that soon with Micah.

A School That Reflects Dunwoody’s Diversity

One of the most powerful parts of our conversation was hearing Denise Spain talk about the diversity at Dunwoody High. This school is kids from every background and every walk of life, and the counseling department is committed to supporting every single one.

They’ve launched student-led initiatives like the Cares Club, which runs a food pantry and partners with Backpack Buddies to feed students on weekends. When a student needed slip-on shoes because of a disability, they made it happen. That’s the kind of wraparound care that can change a kid’s entire high school experience.

Real-Life Support, Not Just Academics

Dunwoody High counselors support students academically, emotionally, and socially. That means scheduling classes, but also checking in on mental health, mediating peer issues, and helping teens deal with real life.

The caseloads are big (about 450 students per counselor), but they make it work by keeping an open-door policy. As Luke put it, no two days are the same. One day might be college planning, the next might be helping a student in crisis. They see it all.

And when it comes to academic advisement? They’re pros. Whether your kid wants to dual-enroll, take online classes through Georgia Virtual School, or just survive 9th grade algebra, they’ll build a plan that works.

High School Isn’t Like It Used to Be

Let me tell you, high school is way more complex than it was when we were in school. Denise reminded me that once kids hit 9th grade, every grade counts. There’s no social promotion anymore. Fail a class? It affects your GPA and your graduation timeline.

Freshman year is on the transcript, and high school courses taken in 8th grade go on it too. I just realized the classes my 8th grader is taking now will show up on college applications. That is why Denise and Luke urge parents to meet early and map out a four-year plan.

5 Tips for Dunwoody High Parents

• Know your counselor: find your student’s counselor by last name.
• Meet early: schedule a meeting before 9th grade starts.
• Every grade counts: 9th grade, and high school courses in 8th, go on the transcript.
• Plan the transition: ask about support if you are coming from private school.
• Use the support network: 504 plans, the Cares Club, and the social worker are there to help.

A Whole Web of Support

One of my favorite moments was hearing how the team goes above and beyond. When Denise says Dunwoody is blessed with community support, she means it. Thanks to help from folks like Tracy Nash, the school’s registrar, they even secured a permanent space for the food pantry this year.

The team also works closely with post-secondary transition specialist Mr. Logan, senior advisors Terry Sanders, Patrice Goodlow, and Vickie Collins, and social worker Mr. Garner. It’s not just five people. It’s a whole web of support.

Why Dunwoody High Counselors Matter to Families Moving Here

As a Dunwoody REALTOR®, school questions come up with almost every family I help. Knowing there is a counseling team that sees every student, whether they come from private school, Dunwoody North, or halfway across the world, is a big reason families choose Dunwoody. The Bring It Home stadium campaign is another sign of how much this community invests in DHS.

My Take: Don’t wait until junior year. Call your counselor now, even if everything seems fine.

Reach the DHS Counseling Department or call 678-874-8532. Thinking about moving to Dunwoody? Call me at 404-502-8683.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dunwoody High Counselors

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