Lauren Ferrera
Minneapolis,MN
Summary
Dedicated School Counselor with K-12 experience driven to help all students achieve success, understand their unique gifts and find meaningful choices in academic, social, emotional, and career domains. Committed to nurturing and developing a diverse variety of students in their social, emotional, and academic journeys while advocating for access and equity in all areas of academics, social and emotional support.
Overview
1
1
Certification
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
School Counselor
Northdale Middle School-Anoka Hennepin School District
Coon Rapids, MN
08.2021 - Current
- Developed individualized student counseling plans to address academic and emotional needs.
- Facilitated conflict resolution sessions among students to promote a positive school environment.
- Managed the Student Ambassador Program. Trained 6th 7th and 8th graders to understand how to welcome new students to our school.
- Collaborated with teachers and parents to support student development and academic success.
- Conducted one-on-one counseling sessions to guide students in personal development and academic success.
- Team member of the School Climate Committee, which worked to ensure that our school felt safe and inclusive.
- Facilitated social skills groups which focused on building healthy coping skills and managing anxiety.
- Collaborated with teachers to identify at-risk students and provide appropriate interventions.
School Counselor
St. Hubert Catholic School
Chanhassen, MN
09.2017 - 08.2021
- Counsel students K-8: Lead counseling sessions with parents or guardians, teachers, administrators, and other professionals to discuss children's progress, resolve behavioral, academic, and other problems, and to determine priorities for students and their needs.
- Provide distance learning navigation, mental-health counseling, resources and advocacy.
- Co-created a weekly resource guide: “The St. Hubert Wellness Wednesday” to assist parents and students with the challenges of virtual learning.
- Build trust and rapport with incoming students and parents.
- Facilitate healthy relationships between students, faculty, and administration.
- Regularly meet with over 200 enrolled students to assess outcomes and identify problem areas.
- Resolve conflicts, provide interventions and negotiate mutually beneficial resolutions.
- Created and facilitated a friendship group for girls in 3rd through 5th-grades to foster healthy relationships, enhance self-esteem, and learn appropriate coping skills.
- Created and maintain several web-based platforms, which provide important resources, creative activities, and opportunities for facilitated connection between classmates.
- Create, implement and support 504 Education Plans.
- Maintain student records, uphold district policies, and administrative regulations as required by law.
School Counselor
Mounds Park Academy
Maplewood, MN
02.2020 - 06.2020
- Backfill support for maternity leave
School Counselor, Internship
South High School
Minneapolis, MN
01.2017 - 06.2017
- Counseled students in educational development, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and post-secondary options and career planning.
- Reviewed transcripts to ensure that students met graduation or college entrance requirements.
- Wrote letters of recommendation.
- Provided support and referrals for students exhibiting signs of depression, anxiety, and other mental illness.
- Developed goals with students, teachers, and parents to increase and improve overall performance and personal success.
- Created and facilitated a weekly group for 10th-grade girls to enhance self-esteem and learn appropriate coping skills.
Education
Master of Science - School Counseling
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN01.2017
Master of Arts - Dance Therapy
New York University
New York, NY01.1987
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA01.1984
Skills
- Crisis intervention
- Mental health advocacy
- Individual counseling
- Group counseling
- Conflict resolution
- Academic support
- Student advocacy
- Solutions-focused
Certification
Trauma Informed Counseling Certificate, PESI (in progress)
Extras
- Events Coordinator - City of Lakes Waldorf School, Minneapolis, MN 2011
- Dance Therapist - Parkside School, New York, NY 1987-1992
- Pillsbury House, Minneapolis, MN 1994-1999
- Parent of two – ages 22 and 25 (in progress)
Timeline
School Counselor
Northdale Middle School-Anoka Hennepin School District
08.2021 - Current
School Counselor
Mounds Park Academy
02.2020 - 06.2020
School Counselor
St. Hubert Catholic School
09.2017 - 08.2021
School Counselor, Internship
South High School
01.2017 - 06.2017
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of San Francisco
Master of Arts - Dance Therapy
New York University
Master of Science - School Counseling
Capella University