Celeste Bradford
Fort Wayne,IN
Summary
Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills offering 19+ years of experience counseling students on mental health, academics and interpersonal conflicts. Experienced in working with a variety of clients in diverse settings as well as creating positive relationships with students, parents and staff.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
School Counselor High School/Middle School Teacher
Southwest Allen County School
Alternative Learning Program- Fort Wayne, IN
08.2023 - Current
- Integral part in the development and implementation of the new Alternative Learning Program for students on an alternative to expulsion, at the middle and high school level.
- Regularly meet with enrolled students to confirm success and identify problem areas.
- Assisting high school seniors to meet requirements necessary for graduation.
- Helping students develop organizational, time management and study skills.
- Advocating for students to access available resources.
- Providing resources to support students in achieving educational goals.
- Monitoring student progress to drive successful academic outcomes.
- Registering and proctoring BYU courses for students.
- Collaborating with parents and teachers to help students reach potential.
- Meeting with parents to explain program,student progress and transitioning back to homeschool.
- Working with home school, including counselors/administration/ and teachers to create appropriate classes for each student.
- Proctoring NWEA, ILearn, and College Board Tests.
- Collecting feedback from students, teacher and parents regarding the alternative program.
- Providing support for teachers regarding behavior concerns, administered disciplinary consequences as needed.
- Mentoring teaching staff on managing classroom behavior, implementing online learning options, using PowerSchool, Canvas and Zoom.
- Collaborating weekly with assistant superintendent on progress of program.
School Counselor
Southwest Allen County Schools
Woodside Middle School- Fort Wayne, IN
08.2010 - 06.2023
- Provided crisis intervention in response to emergencies, employing existing trust, and rapport to deescalate situations.
- Maintained positive relationships with students, faculty, alumni, and administration.
- Coordinated with outside agencies to determine students receive appropriate services and resources.
- Used data to monitor students' progress and recommend solutions for improvement.
- Collaborated with teachers and other school personnel to create individualized education plans for students with special needs.
- Developed and implemented individualized behavior plans to assist students with achieving academic and behavioral goals.
- Facilitated classroom discussions to emphasize bullying prevention and college readiness.
- Identified and addressed concerns of incoming students and parents.
- Created courses and scheduled student into PowerSchool.
- Educated staff on state mandated child abuse and suicide prevention expectations.
- Administered NWEA and I-Learn Assessments.
- Implemented school wide Sources of Strength Program, along with other small groups based on student need.
- Managed the placement and identification of students in both the honors program and those needing remedial support.
- Served as public agency representative in special education meetings.
- Developed and reviewed both new and current 504 plans.
- Collaborated regularly with administration to discuss and address concerns of school.
- Monitored students during lunch, transitions and at dismissal.
School Counselor Job-Share
Southwest Allen County Schools
Aboite Elementary- Fort Wayne, IN
01.2006 - 08.2010
- Developed and implemented scheduled guidance lessons aligned with current character education program for K-5 grade levels
- Facilitated small groups relating to divorce, social skills, conflict mediation
- Provided individual guidance as needed
- Administered ISTEP tests
- Proctored and administering NWEA tests.
- Mediated student-student conflict.
- Served as liaison between parents-teachers and parents-students.
- Served as an active participant in child studies and case conferences.
- Administered intelligence and achievement tests for academic placement.
- Collaborated with teachers and/or parents regarding student concerns.
- Maintained counselor web-page.
High School Guidance Counselor
Central Noble Community Schools
01.2004 - 01.2006
- Administered and organized ISTEP tests
- Collaborated with teachers, parents, administrators, and students
- Provided individual guidance as needed
- Completed college applications and scholarships
- Tracked students to determine graduation status
- Administered PSAT and ACT
- Worked with outside resources to provide information to students regarding scholarships, financial aid, and college opportunities
- Built master scheduling
- Scheduled students in appropriate classes
- Served as an active participant and coordinator in case conferences
- Mediated student-student conflicts and teacher-parent/student conflict
- Organized Senior Awards Night
- Assisted in graduation ceremony.
Education
M.A. - Counseling
Indiana University
Fort Wayne, Indiana01.2004
B.A. - Psychology and Individualized Humanities
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, Indiana01.2000
Skills
- Behavior Modification
- Crisis Intervention
- School Administration
- Data Analysis
- School Counseling
- Academic Advisement
- Maintaining Confidentiality
- 504 Plans
- Individualized Education Programs (IEP)
- Individual and Group Counseling
- Abuse Identification
- Administration Collaboration
- Individual and Family Support
Position Related Skills
- Counseling Skills
- Worked with adolescents one to one and in group at the St. Francis Center, a locked residential unit at St. Margaret Mercy Hospital
- Individual and family counseling experience through practicum experience at IPFW Counselor Education Clinic
- Year-long internship with Aboite and Indian Meadows Elementary Schools
- Two years as only counselor at Central Noble High School
- Providing emotional and academic support through group and individual counseling sessions
- Administered various intelligence and achievement tests.
- Relational Skills
- Exposure to adolescents from a variety of disadvantaged backgrounds
- Worked closely with court-mandated adolescents in a locked residential placement facility at St. Margaret Mercy Hospital
- Worked with pregnant teens and single mothers with Hoosier Healthwise
- Worked with students at a K-5 building on a variety of issues.
- Assisted students at a high school on a variety of issues, including preparing for life outside of high school.
- Collaborated with teachers and parents to address behavior and academic concerns.
- Communication Skills
- Formed productive working relationships with other counselors, therapists, residential advisors, teachers, support staff and principals.
- Ability to interact with children, adolescents and young adults from a variety of backgrounds, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse victims.
- Experience in working with alcohol and drug abusers.
- Provided daily guidance lessons and group opportunities.
- Provided students and parents with regular updates concerning graduation requirements and scholarship opportunities.
- Flexibility/ Adaptability
- Learned how to manage court documents while with the Victim Assistance Unit
- Learned and training others on how to manage state’s healthcare system, tracking patients doctors selections, personal information, as well as the doctors’ business information for review by the state
- Continuously adapted to new healthcare laws and regulations, such as HIPPA and Managed Health Care
- Learned to be flexible on a daily basis to accommodate the numerous factors that can impact a school day, school delays, closings, student crisis, staff assistance, etc.
- Learned how to use Powerschool data base to track student achievement, graduation progress, build master schedule and schedule students for classes
- Served as the only counselor at the high school
References
Jerry Schillinger, Principal (retired), Woodside Middle School 260-580-8060
Nick Cunningham, Assistant Principal/ Athletic Director, New Haven High School 574-595-0235
Certification
- Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI)
- Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention(QPR)
- CPR/AED
Timeline
School Counselor High School/Middle School Teacher
Southwest Allen County School
08.2023 - Current
School Counselor
Southwest Allen County Schools
08.2010 - 06.2023
School Counselor Job-Share
Southwest Allen County Schools
01.2006 - 08.2010
High School Guidance Counselor
Central Noble Community Schools
01.2004 - 01.2006
M.A. - Counseling
Indiana University
B.A. - Psychology and Individualized Humanities
Valparaiso University