Gardening
Gretchen Czekaj
Fairport,NY
The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won’t. It’s whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere.
Barack Obama
Summary
A highly skilled specialist with a proven track record in delivering impactful results. I excel in team collaboration or independent tasks and thrive in adapting to changing needs. My expertise lies in working with people, and consistently driving successful outcomes. Renowned for reliability and a strong focus on achieving objectives. Dedicated to making a positive impact in any role undertaken, I can be a valuable addition to your team.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certificate
Work History
Crisis Specialist
Strong Memorial Hospital
06.2024 - Current
- Support mentally ill patients in crisis within the Psychiatric units at Strong Memorial Hospital by providing patients with engagement through discussion, activity, and availability to support them in establishing emotional well-being
- Proactively recognize moments of stress for the patients and provide additional support to help maintain a therapeutic environment.
- Support patient well-being through monitoring self-care tasks, support in difficult conversations, and attendance during court hearings
- Monitor/ensure safe transport of patients from the emergency to the inpatient setting.
- Crisis Specialists respond to CPEP and/or inpatient psychiatric units to support the de-escalation of patients by providing patients with emotional and tangible support to regain behavioral control.
- Collaborate within multi-disciplinary teams to achieve patient goals on time and with appropriate support.
- Provide reassurance, validation, and support within an understanding of being trauma-informed and person-centered in their approach.
- Ensure follow-up communication is constructive, understandable, learning-focused, and relationship-restorative with the patient.
- Logging information learned on patients' likes, dislikes, coping skills, and best approaches to supporting them, track time spent and support provided
- Orient and train new staff on unit preferences and routine
- Educate peers on organizational mission and goals to help the team achieve success.
- Helped meet changing demands by recommending improvements to procedures and policies.
Long-Term Paraprofessional Substitute
Fairport Central School District
10.2023 - 06.2024
- Support Teacher and other classroom staff in providing a safe and equitable learning environment
- Assist students in their learning endeavors
- Assisted lead teacher in preparing materials for instructional use, streamlining daily tasks while promoting efficiency.
- Manage classroom behavior
- Other duties as assigned
- Design and create age and skill appropriate activities for students to complete during one on one time
- Improved classroom management by consistently enforcing rules and maintaining a structured environment.
Prevention/Intervention Specialist
FNSBSD
12.2019 - 05.2023
- Conduct training and provide resources in prevention/ intervention and education of substance use and abuse to parents, teachers, and students
- Conduct training and provide resources in prevention/ intervention and education on suicide prevention and awareness to parents, teachers, and students
- Respond to students in crisis with support and coordination of additional resources for wrap-around services
- Maintain detailed records and provide support to students, staff, and parents to seek out resources in the community
- Built strong relationships with parents and guardians, fostering open communication regarding student progress and needs.
- Promoted a positive learning environment by incorporating social-emotional learning strategies into daily activities.
- Empowered students by teaching self-advocacy skills and promoting independence within the classroom setting.
Summer Camp Counselor Asst
University of Fairbanks
06.2018 - 08.2022
- Company Overview: This position was only during summers for summer camp
- Assist teacher with classroom activities
- Manage classroom behavior
- Assist with any additional behaviors that presented during camp
- Manage projects and supplies to make sure everything is prepped and ready for the next day of camp
- Facilitated small group instruction for activities that required closer adult attention
- Maintained records for all students, including the sign-in/out form, any medical or allergy needs, and photographing and sharing those photos with the instructor for future use after verifying FERPA release for each student
- This position was only during summers for summer camp
Behavior Intervention Aide
FNSBSD
02.2016 - 11.2019
- Independently develops positive relationships with school staff while monitoring and mentoring at-risk students
- Communicates diplomatically with parents and staff and calls and/or meets with students' parents as instructed or needed
- Facilitates the presentation of social appropriateness, anger management, and conflict resolution skills to individuals, small groups, and classrooms
- Assists the School Counselor and classroom teacher when requested with lesson presentations and the modeling and role-playing of appropriate social skills
- This can take place with students individually, in small groups, and in the classroom
- Implemented data-driven instructional strategies, resulting in improved student outcomes and growth over time.
- Supported special education students by adapting instructional materials to meet their unique needs and providing accommodations as needed.
Child Development Assistant
Fairbanks Memorial Hospital/TLC
08.2015 - 02.2016
- Assist in planning and implementation of curriculum, lesson plans, and programs to help the classroom function at its highest level
- Promote a healthy and safe learning environment
- Participate in the social development of young children
- Interact directly and daily with young children between the ages of 3-5 yrs
Preschool Teacher Assistant
Baker Victory Services
04.2014 - 06.2015
- Work directly with preschool-aged students, 2 1/2 to 5 years, in an integrated, 12/1/2 classroom; interact and communicate effectively
- Implement goals for students with Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each student(s)
- Work in small groups to focus on pre-academic and cognitive skills
- Prepare a fun and interesting learning environment for children
- Assists in the exploration of fine arts and science curriculum
- Attentive and responsive to student needs at all times
- Successfully handle challenges with student clients with tact and diplomacy
- Excellent interpersonal skills, and teamwork in both supervisory and/or support staff roles
Internship - Guidance office
Buffalo Public Schools
09.2010 - 05.2012
- Developed age-appropriate lesson plans for the anti-bullying campaign for individual schools for students between the grades of Pre-K - 8th
- Worked directly with students diagnosed with mental health needs; managed calendar
- Small group sessions with children to work on appropriate classroom behavior/tutoring
- Assisted teachers and other staff with special-need students; completed reports
Home Daycare
Buffalo, NY
07.2011 - 04.2012
- Provided daily structure and recreational/physical activities for children
- Prepared menu, provided healthy meals and snacks
- Maintained detailed logs of children's care times as required for state processing
Claims Representative
GEICO
02.2009 - 11.2009
- Handled non-disputed, non-injury claims
- Provided customer service, emphasizing listening and empathy
- Processed claims regularly, efficiently, and effectively
- Required consistent multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment
- Received upwards of 30 or more calls a day.
Tele-counselor
University of Alaska
09.2003 - 05.2006
- Provided individualized customer service in a fast-paced educational atmosphere
- Updated and maintained 2 databases of potential and current students
- Administrative responsibilities included maintaining call log records of potential students
- Called and marketed prospective students nationally, set up mailings with information specific to their needs; informed them of programs of interest and department contacts as needed
- Updated caller information within the University database
Education
Master of Science - School Counseling
05-2026
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
01.2012
Associate of Arts - General Studies
05.2005
Skills
- Respectfulness
- Collaborative teamwork
- Patience, empathy, and flexibility
- Fast learner
- Compassionate communication
- Behavioral intervention
- Safety precautions
- Workload management
- Goal-oriented mindset
- Leadership qualities
- Active learning
- Analytical thinking
- Flexibility
Certification
- CPR/AED Certification
- New York Driver's License
- Behavioral Health Counselor, Alaska Commission for Behavioral Health, 2022 January
- Chemical Dependency Counselor, Alaska Commission for Behavioral Health, 2022 January
- CPI, Level 5 w/ Advanced Skills
- SASSI
- Trainor and Facilitator Sources of Strength
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Crisis Specialist - Strong Memorial Hospital
06.2024 - Current
Long-Term Paraprofessional Substitute - Fairport Central School District
10.2023 - 06.2024
Prevention/Intervention Specialist - FNSBSD
12.2019 - 05.2023
Summer Camp Counselor Asst - University of Fairbanks
06.2018 - 08.2022
Behavior Intervention Aide - FNSBSD
02.2016 - 11.2019
Child Development Assistant - Fairbanks Memorial Hospital/TLC
08.2015 - 02.2016
Preschool Teacher Assistant - Baker Victory Services
04.2014 - 06.2015
Home Daycare - Buffalo, NY
07.2011 - 04.2012
Internship - Guidance office - Buffalo Public Schools
09.2010 - 05.2012
Claims Representative - GEICO
02.2009 - 11.2009
Tele-counselor - University of Alaska
09.2003 - 05.2006
University of Rochester - Master of Science, School Counseling
University of New York At Buffalo - Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
University of Alaska, Fairbanks - Associate of Arts, General Studies
Training
- Various lectures and seminars, including Classroom Violence Training,
- DASA- Dignity for All Students Act Training,
- Mandated Reporter Training (AK and NY)
- CPR/ AED and First Aid
- Ethics, Confidentiality, and Boundaries
- Youth Mental Health First Aid
- HIV/AIDS Overview and HIV/AIDS among Special Populations
- Sources of Strength- Suicide and Drug Prevention program facilitator and Trainer for the FNSB School District
Affiliations
- University of Rochester
- Boy Scouts of America
- Warner School of Education, University of Rochester
- University of Alaska Fairbanks
- University at Buffalo
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeImportant To Me
Work-life balancePersonal development programsPaid sick leavePaid time offInterests
Coloring
Pets
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