Darien Cruz
Bronx,NY
Summary
Dedicated School Counselor with over five years of counseling experience supporting adolescents at South Bronx Job Corps and a CACREP-accredited M.S.Ed. in School Counseling. Experienced in individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, classroom guidance, and collaborating with students, families, and multidisciplinary teams to promote academic, social-emotional, and career success.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Counseling Manager
South Bronx Job Corps
2025.06 - Current
- Manage counseling staff, providing training, conducting meetings, and ensuring high-quality care
- Handle severe behavioral issues, mental health referrals, and student safety concerns.
- Evaluate and improve counseling services and policies
- Coordinates with other departments (residential, training, health) to support student retention
- Maintained compliance and program delivery standards
- Designed and led the center’s operations resumption plan
Career Counselor
South Bronx Job Corps
2021.01 - 2025.06
- Review detailed background files and conduct personal interviews and assessments to analyze and recommend a program for each student.
- Provide continuous educational, career technical training, and personal and social adjustment counseling.
- Review and audit all assigned areas regularly for contractual compliance and effectiveness of service delivery to students.
- Lead, advocate & collaborate to encourage and promote parity and success for all students.
- Build positive, healthy rapport with assigned students to ensure their engagement is consistent.
- Document and track students’ progress by weekly case note entries and report to the director to discuss forthcoming steps.
School Counselor Intern
M.S. 302 Luisa Dessus Cruz Middle School Campus
2023.08 - 2025.05
- Provided individual and group counseling to support students' academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and career development using evidence-based counseling strategies.
- Conducted student assessments, progress monitoring, crisis intervention, conflict mediation, and individualized support planning.
- Delivered classroom guidance lessons aligned with social-emotional learning (SEL), academic success, and career readiness.
- Collaborated with families, teachers, administrators, and community partners to develop student support plans and advocate for student needs.
- Analyzed student data to identify intervention needs, reduce achievement gaps, and inform counseling program improvements.
- Planned and facilitated staff trainings and school-wide initiatives promoting diversity, inclusion, student wellness, and school connectedness.
Document / Caseload Administrator Triage
Bank of America
2019.05 - 2021.01
- Ensure delivery of excellent customer service through fast and accurate processing of orders, communication, and coordination with other departments to resolve inquiries.
- Reduced customers’ financial anxiety by helping to determine both personal and business financial needs.
Branch Ambassador / Teller
Capital One
2016.05 - 2019.05
- Cultivated strong customer relationships to enhance client satisfaction and loyalty.
- Educated clients on banking products to drive product adoption and usage.
- Supported customers’ financial questions and provided a development plan to assist their needs.
- Built rapport and retention with clients to ensure their satisfaction with the company.
Counseling and Psychiatric Assistant
New York Presbyterian Hospital- Weill Cornell
2014.08 - 2016.01
- Engaged and assisted patients in the pediatric oncology and neurology clinics with self-expression through art - drawing, painting, and sculpting.
- Supported and counseled patients of all ages with mental health issues.
- Worked with clinical staff to help patients learn coping skills through anger management,along with life skills through education and recreational programs.
- Helped patients by facilitating crisis management and intervention.
Education
M.S.Ed. in Counselor Education - School Counseling (CACREP-accredited)
Lehman College, City University of New York
Bronx, NY2025-05
Bachelor of Arts - Studio Arts
Hunter College City University of New York,
New York, NY2016-01
Skills
- ASCA School Counseling Program Model Implementation/Evaluation
- ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors (evidence-based academic and social-emotional competencies)
- Cultural Diversity and Anti-Oppression Training (abuse, DASA, anti-violence)
- Technology Skills: Google Docs, Zoom, Canva
- MS Word 2017 (Expert) MS Excel 2017 (Basic) Power Point (Expert)
- CPR Certification
- ServSafe Certification
Certification
New York State School Counselor (K-12), Initial Certification
Issued Aug 2025 · Expires Aug 2030
Memberships/Honors
- American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
- Chi Sigma Iota, Tau Chapter, Professional Counseling Honor Society International
Timeline
Counseling Manager
South Bronx Job Corps
2025.06 - Current
School Counselor Intern
M.S. 302 Luisa Dessus Cruz Middle School Campus
2023.08 - 2025.05
Career Counselor
South Bronx Job Corps
2021.01 - 2025.06
Document / Caseload Administrator Triage
Bank of America
2019.05 - 2021.01
Branch Ambassador / Teller
Capital One
2016.05 - 2019.05
Counseling and Psychiatric Assistant
New York Presbyterian Hospital- Weill Cornell
2014.08 - 2016.01
M.S.Ed. in Counselor Education - School Counseling (CACREP-accredited)
Lehman College, City University of New York
Bachelor of Arts - Studio Arts
Hunter College City University of New York,