MJ Knefel
Brooklyn
Summary
Professional school counselor, educator, and artist with thirteen years experience in New York City public schools. Experience with restorative justice, trauma-informed practice, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities. Skilled in lesson planning, curriculum mapping, and bringing creativity into academic, social-emotional, and career development for students K-12. 600 supervised hours of individual and group counseling, guidance lesson delivery, and indirect student services for New York City public school students. Confident, experienced public speaker, writer and performer.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Performing Artist
Last Podcast Network
Brooklyn, NY
2010 - Current
- Co-created original weekly show discussing pop culture
- Collaborate with rotating cast of actors, writers, and other artists
- Co-created and performed original live stage show in 25 cities
Counseling Intern
MS 839 and High School for Youth and Community Development
Brooklyn, NY
09.2025 - 05.2026
- Conducted individual and group counseling for grades 6-12 under the supervision of a certified school counselor
- Provided person-centered, solution-oriented, culturally affirming counseling for at-risk and mandated students
- Conducted guidance lessons on social-emotional, academic, and career development
- Knowledge of NYC high school graduation and regents requirements
Counseling Intern
PS 139
Brooklyn, NY
01.2022 - 05.2022
- Individual and group counseling for students K-5
- Conducted needs assessment to collect student and teacher data and develop counseling group based on results
- Created and led LGBTQ identity group
Teaching Artist
Arts Connection
New York, NY
09.2017 - 03.2020
- Instructor in a year long, in-school residency with the Digital DELLTA program for English Language Learners.
- Weekly theater classes were integrated with the middle school social studies curriculum. The program documented rehearsal, revision and performance with a digital portfolio for student self-assessment.
Teaching Artist
Good Shepherd Services
Bronx, NY
11.2009 - 03.2020
- Responsible for developing and implementing original curriculum teaching acting and improvisation to elementary students (grades K-5) and middle school students (grades 6-8).
- Students wrote, rehearsed, produced and performed a collaboratively written original play for parents and community at the end of each year.
Education
M.S. Ed - School Counseling
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY05-2026
Bachelor of Arts - Humanities, Media And Cultural Studies
Macalester College
Saint Paul, MN05-2008
Skills
- Individual and group counseling for academic, social-emotional, and career development, grades K-12
- Guidance lesson curriculum planning and facilitation
- Restorative justice circle facilitation
- Experience with IEPs, 504s, Student Intervention Team planning, consultation with teachers and administrators to create student supports
- Incorporating the arts into counseling and lesson planning
- Working with multilingual learners
- Trauma-informed practice
- Creating safe spaces and facilitating conversations around LGBTQ identities
- Writing, acting, public speaking, podcast and video production
Certification
ASCA-Certified School Counselor (May 2026)
Timeline
Counseling Intern
MS 839 and High School for Youth and Community Development
09.2025 - 05.2026
Counseling Intern
PS 139
01.2022 - 05.2022
Teaching Artist
Arts Connection
09.2017 - 03.2020
Teaching Artist
Good Shepherd Services
11.2009 - 03.2020
Performing Artist
Last Podcast Network
2010 - Current
M.S. Ed - School Counseling
Brooklyn College
Bachelor of Arts - Humanities, Media And Cultural Studies
Macalester College