High School Guidance & College Counseling

Heather Mills

Guidance and College Counseling Director

704-814-1065 | Email | Serving CDS since 2003 | BA, Oklahoma Wesleyan; MA, Winthrop University

Heather Mills is the Director of Guidance and College Counseling at Covenant Day School. Double-majoring in history/political science and secondary education with a minor in Bible, she earned her undergraduate degree from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and her master's degree in history from Winthrop University. She has thirty-three years of experience in education and thirty years working with students in the field of guidance and college counseling. Growing up on college campuses has given Heather a unique perspective on the significance of the college years. Her passion is to see students embracing a lifelong love of learning, growing in their knowledge of truth while wrestling with life's challenges, and discovering how to best use their lives for the glory of God and in service to others. She seeks to help students identify their strengths and weaknesses, to recognize that "being" is more significant than "doing," and to discover God's calling in their lives.

She seeks to assist all high school students throughout their academic careers to be well-prepared for a life of service beyond Covenant Day. This includes course selections, academic counseling, and navigating the college search and admissions process. She is available to meet with all juniors and their parents mid-year to discuss the timeline, importance, and process of considering college options as well as with the seniors, who are regularly checking in with her throughout their final year at Covenant Day. She recognizes that walking alongside students during these high school years is a privilege and strives to offer them a helpful perspective. Whether she is having a one-on-one conversation with a student, meeting with an entire class, or presenting to parents at a college information event, Heather reminds her audience of God's goodness and sovereignty in each of our lives and that rather than determining our futures, we ought to discover them as we recognize our dependency on the Lord.

Kim Macurda

Guidance Counselor

704-708-6174 | Email | Serving CDS since 2016 | BA, UNC Chapel Hill; MA, Georgia State University

Kim Macurda serves as a guidance counselor for Covenant Day's high school. A native of North Carolina, she earned her bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied international studies. After moving to Atlanta and working as a counselor for the American Red Cross, she attended Georgia State University, where she earned a master's degree in instructional technology. She then worked for five years at Bank of America, followed by five more years of consulting in project management and training development. Kim then worked for five years as the registrar and assistant to the academic dean at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte. Kim and her husband Chuck have been involved at CDS since 2007, when their oldest son started Kindergarten. They have graduated two of their children from CDS (both starting in Kindergarten), and their last son graduated in 2025 (who started in Transitional Kindergarten).
 
In 2016, Kim came to work in the business office as the registrar and database manager. In the fall of 2018, she moved into the high school guidance office in a role that combined elements of her previous counseling, training, project management, and academic advising experience into one. Kim loves working one-on-one with the students and helping them transition to and navigate through high school. She also enjoys assisting the families at Covenant Day school and helping provide resources for our parents. Kim is so thankful for the privilege of working for an organization that boldly proclaims the name of Christ and hopes to foster this environment for all students and families.

Emily Lee, MA, LMFT

Personal Counselor

704-708-6100 | Email | Serving CDS since 2021 | BA, Florida State University; MA, Reformed Theological Seminary

Emily Lee is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of North Carolina. She has been a Covenant Day parent since 2017, and her background includes a bachelor's degree in Communication and Psychology from Florida State University and a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Reformed Theological Seminary. Emily's career has included in-home therapy services, inpatient counseling with teens and adults, supervising graduate counseling students, and private practice. 

Emily has been married for twenty years and has three children at Covenant Day School. Her approach to life and counseling comes from her Christian faith and perspective. She has witnessed healing and growth coming from an honest assessment of what someone is experiencing emotionally, physically, and spiritually. No matter where students are on their journey of faith, Emily strives to offer a place of help and hope. Nearly twenty five years ago, Emily began her work with individuals and families. She is grateful now to engage with high schoolers and parents to offer a practical and hopeful voice as they approach “launching.” She loves being an additional student resource as the faculty and staff support the students navigating high school at CDS.  She works to help students put words and order to what they are experiencing and believes when any teenager is feeling lost or overwhelmed, time with a trained counselor can help them find next steps toward relief and hope.

Kelly Turner

Guidance Assistant

704-814-1075 | Email | Serving CDS since 2012 | BA, Salem College

Kelly Turner is the assistant to Heather Mills in the Guidance department at Covenant Day High School. Kelly earned her bachelor’s degree in management with an emphasis in computer science at Salem College in Winston-Salem. After being a parent at Covenant Day School and the treasurer of the Booster Club for a number of years, Kelly began working in the CDS Business Office in 2012. For several years Kelly split her time between the Business Office and High School Guidance, but in 2019 she transitioned to full time in the High School Guidance department. Kelly is excited to be working in the Covenant Day community she treasures and serving the students and families she enjoys so much.