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AMBER DE LA GARZA
Cibolo,TX
Work Preference
Summary
Dedicated Certified Academic Advisor skilled in academic advising, recruitment, and enrollment management. Enhanced student retention through tailored academic plans and effective communication, empowering achievement of educational goals. Strong leadership and organizational skills support commitment to student success, with a focus on time management and professionalism.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
4
4
Certifications
Work History
Certified Academic Advisor
Northeast Lakeview College
Live Oak, Texas
08.2024 - Current
- Guided students in course selection and academic planning.
- Collaborated with probationary students to create academic plans that resulted in improved GPAs and increased retention rates.
- Evaluated transfer credits from other institutions and determined how they would apply towards a degree program.
- Counseled students in career planning, job placement and academic goals.
- Developed and maintained comprehensive academic records and progress reports to track student success.
- Collaborated with faculty to address student concerns and academic challenges.
- Advised students on transfer options and career pathways.
- Conducted individual counseling sessions to support student needs.
- Reviewed degree plans to ensure compliance with institutional requirements.
- Guided students in setting goals and achieving educational objectives.
- Evaluated student needs and developed educational plans, fostering academic progress.
- Provided students with tailored information and resources that promoted academic progress and encouraged ownership of their academic journeys.
- Provided academic advisement to students on degree requirements, course selection and institutional policies.
- Developed resources for students to use when selecting majors or exploring career options.
- Reviewed and interpreted placement and other standardized test scores.
- Assisted in the development and implementation of orientation programs for new students.
- Engaged in professional development to stay informed on advising practices and educational trends.
- Assisted students in understanding and resolving academic difficulties.
- Collaborated with campus services to identify and address student needs.
- Utilized academic advising technologies to manage student appointments and records.
- Assisted in the development and implementation of advising protocols and procedures.
- Facilitated orientation sessions for new students to introduce academic resources.
- Conducted academic success follow-up meetings with students to adjust plans.
- Engaged in committees focused on enhancing curriculum and promoting student success.
- Directed and participated in recruitment and enrollment activities.
- Prepared students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and persevere with challenging tasks.
Advisor - Veterans Center, VA School Certifying Official
Northeast Lakeview College
Live Oak, TX
08.2022 - Current
- Conduct one-on-one meetings with students, parents, and stakeholders to facilitate understanding and utilization of federal and state military educational benefits.
- Manage reception of VA affiliated students, ensuring accurate utilization of VA or Hazlewood benefits and addressing inquiries via in-person consultations, phone calls, or virtual meetings.
- Review certification requests for each semester and process tuition for applicable federal benefits.
- Oversaw military verification processes for residency inquiries, addressing questions and processing related forms to ensure accurate benefit utilization.
- Provide comprehensive enrollment guidance including enrollment information, checklists, and assistance with various institutional forms.
- Reached out to current students to remind them of registration deadlines and assist in class registration, especially in relation to VA/State benefits.
- Developed and implemented tailored orientation programs for military-affiliated students, addressing their unique needs and facilitating smoother transitions.
- Coordinated career and informational events for military-affiliated students with outside vendors, enhancing support and resources available to them.
- Conducted recruitment efforts by contacting prospective students via phone and participating in recruitment events.
Sr. Specialist - Admissions and Records
Northeast Lakeview College
Live Oak, TX
07.2020 - 08.2022
- Resolved enrollment, residency, transcript, and other inquiries from students and parents through call center, Zoom sessions, and face-to-face consultations, enhancing student support.
- Developed and implemented procedures for processing various transcripts, residency documents, and student forms, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
- Processed transcripts, test scores, residency documents, emails, and submitted forms in a timely manner to facilitate smooth enrollment processes.
- Resolved residency issues by explaining policies and providing necessary forms to assist students and parents.
- Facilitated weekly team meetings with admissions and records team and Director of Enrollment to review progress and collaboratively address challenges.
- Worked with team members to organize weekly scheduling and rotations for call center, Zoom, and face-to-face Welcome Center.
- Presented information to students, parents, team members, leads, and directors, effectively communicating enrollment procedures and policies.
- Trained and mentored new staff members at Northeast Lakeview/Alamo Colleges District, fostering proficiency in admissions and records procedures and scheduling.
Secondary Special Education Teacher: 9th - 12th / Algebra I and Geometry Co-teacher
MacArthur High School
San Antonio, TX
08.2015 - 06.2020
- Created and implemented IEPs (Individualized Educational Programs) for students, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations and addressing all aspects of the student's educational needs and goals.
- Collected student data and information, monitored progress, and developed student plans.
- Facilitated Annual Review and Dismissal meetings with parents, students, and educational staff to collaboratively finalize students’ IEP.
- Advocated for special education students by collaborating with families and educational staff to secure necessary support and resources.
- Conduct interviews and collaborate with counselors to transition students from high school classroom to college classroom.
- Maintained communication with parents through email and phone, discussing student academic progress and behavior to foster collaboration and enhance student support.
- Present information to large groups and train and mentor new case managers new to MacArthur High School on eSped and case management.
Secondary Special Education Teacher: 6th - 8th Resource Teacher, Co-teacher for Math and Language Arts
New Braunfels Middle School
New Braunfels, TX
08.2010 - 06.2015
Education
Bachelor of Applied Technology - Operations Management
Palo Alto College
San Antonio, TX12-2026
Associate of Arts - Business Administration
San Antonio College
San Antonio, TX08-2024
Bachelor of Arts - History
The University of Texas At San Antonio
San Antonio, TX12-2009
Skills
- Advising and Teaching
- Academic advising
- Enrollment management
- Student Engagement
- Program Development
- Program Coordination
- Project Management
- New student orientation
- Data documentation
- Case/File Management
- School Certifying Official
- Knowledge VA/Hazlewood benefits
- Office Procedures & Methods
- Course organization
- Presentation skills
- Oral and written communication
- Public speaking
- Team collaboration
- Leadership/Interpersonal Skills
- Interpersonal communication
- Organizational abilities
- Strategic Decision-making
- Staff training
Committees And Awards
- Northeast Lakeview College: AlamoAdvise - Insights to Action Committee - Tech Team, 03/2026; Vice President, Staff Senate, 08/2023 - 08/2024, Alamo Colleges Executive Staff Senate, 08/2023 - 08/2024, Staff Senate Member, 06/2021 - 08/2025, Employee of the Month Chair, 06/2021 - 08/2025; Selected for the Emerging Leader Program, 05/2022; Nominated for Employee of the Month, 03/2022
- MacArthur High School, Recipient of the Holy Cow Award, 12/2017, 05/2018, 05/2019; Nominated for Teacher of the Year, 2019; Nominated for Trinity Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2019
- New Braunfels Middle School, Nominated for Teacher of the Year, 2013
Certification
- Google Project Management Certification, Coursera, 04/2024
- Texas Teaching: Special Education EC-12
- Texas Teaching: ESL EC-12 Supplemental
- Texas Teaching: Generalist EC-6 & 4-8
Technology Proficiency
- Proficient in Qless, Navigate, Banner System, GPS, Guardian forms manager, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint), Microsoft SharePoint, Google Docs, Google Forms, Google Slides, and Google Spreadsheets.
- Use of Teams and Skype to communicate remotely.
- Utilized Navigate to send email and text alerts to students regarding important events, registration dates, and reminders.
- Certified student hours to the VA through Enrollment Manager, ensuring accuracy in reporting.
- Maintained comprehensive data of VA students and advising case load students per semester using Banner, Enrollment Manager, Microsoft Excel, AlamoShare.
- Familiar with Coursera Technology Platform.
- Utilized Individualized Education Plan (IEP) software such as eSped and case management software.
- Proficient in utilizing educational technologies such as Google Classroom, Flipgrid, interactive whiteboards, projectors, as well as a variety of devices including Chromebooks and iPads to enhance student learning experiences.
- Experience with AI platforms: Canva, Manus, ChatGPT, AI integration within Navigate
- Design and administer surveys to gather feedback from students, assessing overall satisfaction and areas for improvement.
Areas Of Skill
- Academic Advising
- School Certifying Official
- Knowledge VA/Hazlewood benefits
- Documenting & Data Keeping
- Staff Training & Mentoring
- Leadership/Interpersonal Skills
- Advising and Teaching
- Case/File Management
- Communication/Presentation Skills
- Office Procedures & Methods
- Recruitment Skills
- Welcome Center Reception
- Strong Customer Service Skills
- Employee/Team Scheduling
- Call Center Representative
- Organizational Skills
- Project Scoping & Planning
- Project Management