Monica Pena
San Diego,CA
Summary
Compassionate advocate with extensive experience in the 12-step program, facilitating group sessions to empower individuals in their personal care and emotional well-being. Skilled in active listening and problem-solving, dedicated to providing social and emotional support to enhance overall wellness.
Enthusiastic teacher with several years of experience instructing students with wide range of learning abilities. Committed to creating motivational and collaborative learning environments that encourage social and emotional growth. Strategic in blending organizational skills thorough educational background. Works well with children, parents, colleagues and supervisors.
Personable and dedicated customer service representative with extensive experience in industry. Solid team player with upbeat, positive attitude and proven skill in establishing rapport with clients. Motivated to maintain customer satisfaction and contribute to company success. Articulate, enthusiastic and results-oriented with demonstrated passion for building relationships, cultivating partnerships and growing businesses.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
SDU Inclusion Aide
Strategic Kids
San Diego, California
09.2026 - Current
- Assisted students with daily activities and personal care needs.
- Facilitated communication between students and teachers during lessons.
- Supported individualized education plans by implementing tailored strategies.
- Monitored student progress and reported observations to educators.
- Created a safe and engaging environment for learning and social interaction.
- Encouraged positive behavior and social skills development among students.
- Collaborated with team members to enhance educational support services.
- Provided emotional support to promote student confidence and well-being.
- Promoted physical activity through leisure activities like walks, games.
- Maintained accurate records of services provided to clients.
- Created a safe environment for the client by following safety protocols and utilizing appropriate safety equipment when necessary.
- Observed changes in client's condition or behavior and reported any concerns to supervisor or health care provider immediately.
- Participated in team meetings regarding progress or lack thereof towards goals established for each individual case.
- Encouraged independence through positive reinforcement of self-care activities.
SUD COUNSELOR
Tradition One
San Diego, California
07.2025 - 02.2026
- Provided individual counseling sessions for clients facing substance use challenges.
- Facilitated group therapy discussions to promote peer support and engagement.
- Developed personalized treatment plans based on client assessments and needs.
- Monitored client progress and adjusted treatment strategies as necessary.
- Educated clients on coping strategies and life skills for recovery success.
- Maintained accurate documentation of client interactions and treatment plans.
- Participated in regular team meetings to discuss case management issues and plan services for clients.
- Maintained accurate and up-to-date records of client progress and treatment plans.
- Established a safe and supportive learning environment for students.
- Monitored clients' daily activities and responded appropriately.
SUD COUNSELOR
McAlister Institute
San Diego, CA
02.2024 - 06.2025
- Provided individual and group counseling to guide clients in areas of social and emotional needs.
- Documented meetings, interventions and contacts with clients to optimize care.
- Acted as client advocate to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
- Responded to crisis situations when severe mental health and behavioral issues arose.
- Listened to personal stories, asked probing questions and offered knowledgeable advice for different situations.
- Researched best practices in the field of counseling in order to stay current on evidence based treatments.
- Documented patient progress through counseling and interaction.
- Provided supervision and in-house activities to support program participants.
- Helped clients find solutions by teaching appropriate intervention techniques.
- Participated in regular team meetings to discuss case management issues and plan services for clients.
- Developed crisis intervention strategies for individuals facing difficult situations or events.
Home Care Provider
Irma pena
San Diego , CA
03.2022 - 01.2023
- Maintained clean and well-organized environment for parents happiness and safety.
- Dressed, groomed and fed mom who had limited physical abilities to support basic needs.
- Helped mom with personal needs from exercise to bathing and personal grooming.
- Ran errands for parents and drove to appointments to maintain wellness and support daily living needs.
- Assisted with moms personal care needs to foster independence and well-being.
- Supervised medication administration, personal hygiene and other activities of daily living.
- Followed care plan and directions to administer medications.
- Helped parents stay happy and healthy by providing mental and emotional support.
- Improved parents outlook and daily living through compassionate care.
- Assisted mom with personal care to alleviate burden on other family members.
- Planned and prepared nutritious meals and snacks to meet diabetic, low sodium and high protein diets.
- Reported concerns to nurse supervisor to promote optimal care.
Billing and Service Specialist
AT&T
San Diego, CA
08.2004 - 03.2022
- Provided excellent customer service to guests and answered inquiries regarding services, products, and prices.
- Developed and maintained positive relationships with customers through courteous interactions and prompt resolution of issues.
- Assisted in resolving customer complaints by utilizing problem-solving skills.
- Processed payments for services rendered accurately and efficiently.
- Maintained accurate records of customer transactions including purchase orders and invoices.
- Identified opportunities for process improvements within the department's workflow that would increase efficiency or reduce costs.
- Responded promptly to customers' concerns and coordinated swift resolutions to handle service issues.
- Maintained in-depth knowledge of all services, products and policies to offer customers best-in-class support.
- Answered inbound calls, chats and emails to facilitate customer service.
- Remained calm and professional in stressful circumstances and effectively diffused tense situations.
Assistant Preschool Teacher
Jefferson Elementary School USD 470
San Diego , CA
09.2003 - 07.2004
- Implemented hands-on, play-based strategies for experiential learning.
- Taught children foundational skills in colors, shapes and letters.
- Organized and led activities to promote physical, mental and social development.
- Observed each child to help improve social, mental and behavioral competencies.
- Enhanced sensory abilities by giving children access to numerous textures and shapes.
- Identified children in need of extra support for emotional, health-related or developmental concerns and conceived improvement strategies.
- Collaborated with parents to develop and maintain strong support networks and build rapport to foster seamless communication.
- Tracked each child's progress and reported progress to parents.
- Maintained tidy and clean classroom consistent with safety and health standards.
- Supervised students outside classroom during recess, lunch and breaks.
- Assisted with implementation of approved lesson plans and daily classroom schedule.
Assistant Montessori Teacher
La Petite Academy Inc.
Dallas, TX
03.2000 - 01.2003
- Delivered Montessori lessons with aim of promoting coordination, concentration, independence and order in safe and positive learning environment.
- Used Montessori philosophy, curriculum and techniques to develop student's full potential and treated each child with dignity and respect.
- Developed lesson plans, independent learning exercises, curricula and methods to cater to needs of individual children and facilitated student-led discussions.
- Prepared environment where furnishings and materials corresponded to class needs and paid careful attention to maintaining clean, orderly and attractive Montessori learning area.
- Established powerful and inspiring classroom culture where children had high self-expectations with strong self-motivation and self-direction.
- Created and used both proven and innovative assessments to effectively measure student mastery of presented content.
- Monitored student progress to ensure cooperation and growth.
- Guided and deployed support teachers in areas of passions, gifts and needs and verified positive engagement of adults in classroom.
- Devised lesson and unit plans to support instructional outcomes, reflect important discipline concepts and accommodate prerequisite relationships among concepts and skills.
- Engaged with ongoing professional development, participated in professional organizations and identified new ideas and materials to use in classroom or share with other staff members.
- Fostered positive relationships with parents and communicated children's progress via regular conferences and newsletters.
- Coordinated frequent communication with parents regarding student progress.
- Organized creative and fun activities, enhancing children's physical, emotional and social well-being.
- Developed instructional units to meet individual educational needs of each student.
- Maintained classroom supplies, inventory and stock.
- Participated in workshops, trainings and conferences to improve educational skills.
- Removed hazards and developed appropriate boundaries and rules to create safe environment for children.
Education
Peer Support Specialist -
Painted Brain
San Diego , CA07-2026
Substance Use Disorder Registered Counselor - Counseling
CADTP
07-2026
Some College (No Degree) - Education
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WAHigh School Diploma -
Gonzaga Preperatory
Spokane, WASkills
- Care Plan Adherence
- Clinical Assessment
- Progress Documentation
- Behavioral Management
- Behavior Redirection
- Customer Service
- Case Management
- Account Management
- Client Outreach
- Clerical Support
- Customer Relations
- Resource Coordination
- Administrative Support
- Data Collection
- Data Entry
- Crisis Intervention
- Multi-Task Management
- Complaint Resolution
- Quality Assurance Controls
- Courteous Demeanor
- Computer Proficiency
- Active Listening
- Documentation Accuracy
- Professional Telephone Demeanor
- Conflict Mediation
- Report Writing
- Problem Resolution
- Documentation
- Critical Thinking
- Problem-Solving Abilities
- Positive and Professional
- Conflict Resolution
- Appointment Scheduling
- Upselling and Cross-Selling
- Care Documentation
- Empathetic Communication
Timeline
SDU Inclusion Aide
Strategic Kids
09.2026 - Current
SUD COUNSELOR
Tradition One
07.2025 - 02.2026
SUD COUNSELOR
McAlister Institute
02.2024 - 06.2025
Home Care Provider
Irma pena
03.2022 - 01.2023
Billing and Service Specialist
AT&T
08.2004 - 03.2022
Assistant Preschool Teacher
Jefferson Elementary School USD 470
09.2003 - 07.2004
Assistant Montessori Teacher
La Petite Academy Inc.
03.2000 - 01.2003
High School Diploma -
Gonzaga Preperatory
Some College (No Degree) - Education
Eastern Washington University
Substance Use Disorder Registered Counselor - Counseling
CADTP
Peer Support Specialist -
Painted Brain