Lisa Peña
San Diego,CA
Summary
Dedicated and student centered school counselor with eight years of experience supporting diverse student populations at the elementary and middle school levels. Skilled in developing and implementing comprehensive school counseling programs that address academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and attendance needs. Proven ability to deliver Tier 1 supports through engaging classroom lessons, school-wide initiatives, character education plans, and weekly assemblies that promote a positive school climate and improve student engagement. Experienced in providing Tier 2 interventions, including small group counseling, attendance support, and targeted student interventions. Served as an ERMHS counselor, providing specialized mental health support to students with IEPs. Strong collaborator who partners with families, staff, and community organizations to address barriers to attendance and connect students with essential resources and services.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
School Counselor
Naranca Elementary School
El Cajon, CA
08.2023 - Current
- Created a data driven counseling program.
- Offered monthly classroom lessons that aligned with our school's Character Education Plan.
- Facilitated small group sessions on topics such as self regulation, impulse control, motivation, and executive functioning.
- Developed a partnership with the San Diego Food Bank to send home weekly bags of food to our families in need.
- Strengthened student self-esteem by creating an award assembly program.
- Created a weekly school wide assembly that families and all students come to.
- Reduced absenteeism rates through proactive communication with families and targeted counseling for at-risk students.
Middle School Counselor
Los Coches Creek Middle School
El Cajon, CA
08.2018 - 06.2023
- Created a data driven counseling program
- Provided individual and group counseling to address student emotional and social development.
- Developed and implemented programs promoting positive behavior and academic success.
- Served as a liaison between school administration, teachers, parents, and community resources in addressing multifaceted student needs effectively.
- Developed strong relationships with community organizations for referrals, resources, or partnerships in support of student success initiatives.
- Led professional development workshops for faculty members on topics such as trauma-informed care, mental health awareness, and diversity training.
- Increased parent involvement in their child''s education by hosting informative events that encouraged collaboration between home and school environments.
- Built student schedules and assisted with creating the schools master schedule.
Education
Master of Education - School Counseling
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA05-2018
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Aurora Univiersity
Springfield, IL05-2015
Skills
- SST Coordination & Facilitation
- ASCA-Aligned Program Development
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- SEL Lesson Planning & Instruction
- Counseling Intern Supervision
- MTSS Implementation
- Progress Monitoring & Intervention Planning
- Student Data Analysis
- IEP/504 Plan Collaboration
- Individual & Group Counseling
- Conflict Resolution & Mediation
- Academic Planning
- Crisis Intervention & De-escalation
- Community Resource Coordination & Referrals
- Attendance Monitoring & Intervention
Accomplishments
- Cal Coast Credit Union Educator Grant Award 2026
- 2025 Naranca Elementary Certificated Support Staff of the Year
- 2023 Los Coches Creek Middle School Certificated Support Staff of the Year
- Presented at the 2024 Heart and Mind Counselor Conference on the therapeutic use of art in counseling to support student expression and emotional regulation.
- Reduced behavioral referrals by implementing small group counseling focused on self regulation and conflict resolution for 2024/2025 school year.
- Launched a school-wide SEL initiative aligned with ASCA standards, improving student behavior and classroom climate for the 2025/2026 school year.
- Facilitated staff professional development workshops on trauma informed practices, strengthening classroom management and student support strategies
- 2019 Developed district-wide SEL curriculum aligned with ASCA standards, supporting consistent social-emotional instruction across multiple school sites
Certification
- Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPS), School Counseling – CA
- Restorative Practices Certification
- Trauma-Informed Care Certification
Timeline
School Counselor
Naranca Elementary School
08.2023 - Current
Middle School Counselor
Los Coches Creek Middle School
08.2018 - 06.2023
Master of Education - School Counseling
Point Loma Nazarene University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Aurora Univiersity