RAQUEL GILLHAM
Royse City,TX
Summary
Results-focused School Counselor Leader with strength in promoting college and career readiness, building community and supporting social and emotional learning. Proactive leader with strengths in building a comprehensive school counseling program.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Counselor Facilitator
Garland ISD
Garland, TX
09.2021 - Current
- Collaborate with district and campus staff to implement district wide comprehensive school counseling program, support counselors in their needs and provide support and assistance to administrators with evaluation and written documentation on assigned campuses.
- Assist with recruiting, selecting, and orienting new counselors
- Plan and conduct professional development for school counselors and district wide staff
- Review all transcripts for the Local graduation Committee (LGC)
- Create and manage a yearly, weekly, and daily District Calendar
- Visit assigned campuses weekly to support and coach counselors
- Meet with school administrators to discuss any counseling issues as needed
- Advocate for school counselors
- Comply with federal, state, and district policies
- Assist with the district wide college readiness initiatives
- Collaborate and work as a team on all district wide activities
- Follow ASCA Code of Ethics
- Present topics on counseling issues and awareness to all stakeholders including State-wide Conferences
Collegiate Academy, P-TECH and CCMR Counselor
Naaman Forest HS-GISD
Garland , TX
08.2019 - 09.2021
- Planned, implemented, monitored, and assessed a classroom instructional program which promoted College, Career and Military Readiness.
- Supported school wide CCMR accountability, resulting in improved overall grade from C to A school.
- Used data to analyze and support improvement for staff and students.
- Planned, implemented and monitored students' achievements to support growth.
- Worked with Industry Partners to enhance P-TECH program.
- Implemented, monitored and assessed Career Interest Profilers for all Early College Students in order to build a Personal Graduation Plan (PGP).
- Implemented SEL lessons to support all students and staff.
- Communicated and collaborated with families and community members to close educational gaps.
- Promoted total family engagement through "Monthly Parent Meeting" in English and Spanish.
- Practiced Solution Focus counseling to support students emotionally.
High School Counselor and AP Coordinator
Naaman Forest HS-GISD
Garland, TX
08.2017 - 05.2019
- Planned, implemented, assessed and monitored a comprehensive graduation plan for students 9th through 12th grade.
- Supported students, parents and staff socially and emotionally.
- Coordinated, planned, implemented, assessed and monitored Advanced Placement Exams to over 600 students.
- Promoted the importance of taking AP Exams and higher education.
- Significantly Increased participation of Spanish speaking students in taking AP Exams and passing.
ASPIRE Academy Counselor
Cross Timber Middle School- GCISD
Grapevine Colleyview, TX
01.2015 - 06.2017
- Counseled students in grades 6th through 8th, using Solution Focused approach to address mental health issues, assertiveness issues, self-esteem, poor academic performance, and relationship issues.
- Counselor over ASPIRE Academy. A “School Within a School” model for students highly gifted.
- GT Counselor Coordinator for Highly Gifted students: tested, normed, interviewed and counseled students receiving GT services. Helped students build self-esteem, develop meaningful relationships with peers and work toward conflicts resolutions through personal goals setting.
- As a Bilingual Counselor, advocated for closing the gap for Latino families through counseling sessions in Spanish, translating for and supporting families in 504 and ARD meetings, and mediating parent/teacher conferences.
Education
Principal Certification (Scheduled for State Exam) -
Texas A&M University - Commerce
Commerce, TX12.2023
Master of Science - Counseling
Texas A&M University - Commerce
Commerce, TX01.2015
Bilingual Education EC-4 - Elementary Education
Texas Educator Certificate
08.2007
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary, Middle And High School Administration
University Of Education Guaratingueta -Dec 1998
Sao Paulo - BrazilSkills
- Personal Graduation Planning
- Higher Education Promotion
- Industry Partners Engagement
- College, Career and Military Readiness
- Diversity Groups Engagement
- Multilingual Speaker (English, Spanish and Portuguese)
- First Generation College Promotion
- Positive Atmosphere Promotion
- Parent Engagement Promotion
- Program Coordination
- Assessments
- University Admissions
- Clear Public Speaking Skills (presented at State Level conferences)
- Comprehensive School Counseling Program implementation
- Self-Directed Mindset
- Decision-Making
- Social and Emotional Support
Timeline
Counselor Facilitator
Garland ISD
09.2021 - Current
Collegiate Academy, P-TECH and CCMR Counselor
Naaman Forest HS-GISD
08.2019 - 09.2021
High School Counselor and AP Coordinator
Naaman Forest HS-GISD
08.2017 - 05.2019
ASPIRE Academy Counselor
Cross Timber Middle School- GCISD
01.2015 - 06.2017
Principal Certification (Scheduled for State Exam) -
Texas A&M University - Commerce
Master of Science - Counseling
Texas A&M University - Commerce
Bilingual Education EC-4 - Elementary Education
Texas Educator Certificate
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary, Middle And High School Administration
University Of Education Guaratingueta -Dec 1998