Valentina Mafla
Roselle,NJ
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
School Counselor
Elizabeth Public Schools
09.2024 - Current
- Utilized Panorama SEL program to assess student social-emotional wellbeing and guide interventions
- Facilitated individual and group counseling for K–8 students to support emotional and academic growth
- Implemented school counseling programs aligned with ASCA standards and school goals
- Collaborated with staff and families to address student needs and promote belonging
- Provided crisis intervention for students facing emotional or academic challenge
- Scheduled and led parent-teacher meetings as RTI Coordinator to support student progress
- Trained staff on standardized testing protocols as Test Coordinator
- Conducted HIB investigations and ensured compliance as Anti-Bullying Specialist
- Managed student records and operations in PowerSchool and Frontline
School Counselor
Belleville Public Schools
09.2023 - 06.2024
- Implemented RethinkED curriculum addressing social-emotional development for all students
- Facilitated individual/small counseling groups based on targeted needs
- Lead schoolwide initiatives to promote a positive school environment
- Conducted threat assessments to evaluate potential student threats as a member of the assessment team
- Collaborated with HIB specialist to investigate cases and make determinations
- Facilitated conflict resolution among peers, resulting in improved classroom dynamics and reduced behavioral issues
- Partnered with administrators and teachers in identifying students who would benefit from customized counseling services
- Managed crisis situations effectively, providing timely intervention and referrals to outside agencies when necessary
- Attended district-wide, advanced, safety school trainings to improve counseling practice
Response to Intervention Coordinator
Belleville Board of Education
09.2023 - 06.2024
- Developed and implemented personalized Student Action Plans to provide targeted intervention services.
- Coordination of RtI meetings every 6 - 8 weeks.
- Communicated with parent(s) / guardian(s) regarding progress of selected students.
- Assessed students' needs and made appropriate referrals to the Child Study Team/504 specialists
- Served as a resource for teachers in identifying appropriate instructional strategies and interventions to improve student achievement for all students.
- Organization and collection of student data from classroom teacher(s) and interventionist(s).
- Monitor the entrance and exit criteria for students in intervention programs.
- Work collaboratively with district administrators, principals, and teachers to facilitate implementation of RtI at the school-based level.
School Counselor Intern
Alexandre Hamilton Preparatory Academy(Highschool)
01.2023 - 05.2023
- Empowered students through counseling and skill-building exercises
- Conducted individual and group counseling sessions
- Collaborated with parents, school faculty and social workers to address problems and grow student success
- Identified and addressed concerns of incoming students and parents
- Maintained positive relationships with students, faculty, and administration
- Provided crisis intervention in response to emergencies, employing existing trust and rapport to de-escalate situations
- Provided individual/small group counseling
- Facilitated K-8th grade SEL lessons.
School Counselor Intern
Jerome Dunn Academy No.9 (K-8th)
05.2022 - 12.2022
- Empowered students through counseling and skill-building exercises
- Conducted individual and group counseling sessions
- Collaborated with parents, school faculty and social workers to address problems and grow student success
- Identified and addressed concerns of incoming students and parents
- Maintained positive relationships with students, faculty, and administration
- Provided crisis intervention in response to emergencies, employing existing trust and rapport to de-escalate situations
- Provided individual/small group counseling
- Facilitated K-8th grade SEL lessons.
Technical Assistance Specialist
Central Jersey Family Health Consortium
03.2020 - 08.2023
- Implement a comprehensive Technical Assistance Services to all eligible childcare programs and providers participating in the Grow NJ Kids program (NJ's Quality Improvement Rating System for Early Care and Learning)
- Provide an overview of the Grow NJ Kids standards and self-assessment
- Guide programs/providers in completing the self-assessment and quality improvement plan
- Assist programs/providers in prioritizing goals based on their strengths/needs in order to achieve high quality child care services
- Facilitate the development of the Program/Provider's Professional Development Plan
- Provide resources on trainings, workshops, community events/organizations to optimize ECE practices
- Support with rating readiness
- Educate ECE professionals about developmentally appropriate practices
- Conduct classroom observations to enhance high quality
- Provide coaching/mentoring/consultation
- Utilize mixed modalities including webinars, virtual calls, phone calls, email, site visits and meetings
- Attend professional development trainings on coaching, mentoring, and other topics as related
- Attend quarterly regional meetings for case conferencing
- Track and document programs progress through New Jersey Child Care Information System
- Submit required reports to DFD documenting services provided to programs.
Human Service Specialist
Multicultural Community Services
05.2018 - 03.2020
- Identified and addressed concerns of incoming students and parents
- Maintained positive relationships with students, faculty, and administration
- Provided crisis intervention in response to emergencies, employing existing trust and rapport to de-escalate situations
- Regularly met with enrolled students to confirm success and identify problem areas
- Attended school counselor district-wide meeting/trainings
- Participated in school safety team meetings
- Improve and promote quality of life through an educational program to prepare adolescent/young adult for their departure from the division of family services.
Paraprofessional
Piscataway Regional Day School
11.2017 - 09.2018
- Coordinate and facilitate comprehensive assessments of Strength and Needs to appropriately navigate the student
- Develop TYPS (Transitional Plan for Youth Success) plan with student and other providers to determine long/short term goals; academic/career, employment, housing, health and supports
- Provide monthly face to face sessions with student to achieve competency goals
- Facilitate group activities to bring awareness
- Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive reports for each student
- Prepare formal and informal supports/services to meet the goals of each student
- Conduct field work including but not limited to home visits, attending appointments, community events, and outreach
- Provide crisis intervention and management with linkage to other professional services as needed
- Establish regular contact with students child protection and permanency worker and wraparound service providers to verify provision of authorized services, to provide feedback regarding progress toward goals, and to support positive collaboration
- Drive agency state vehicles in varying environments and weather conditions while keeping to schedules and meeting time.
Preschool Teacher
Chatham School House
09.2015 - 12.2017
- Coordinate instructional reinforcement for individual students and/or small groups of students with multiple disabilities, ages 13 to 18
- Support students with special needs by following provisions specified in their IEPs/504 plans
- Evaluate student behavior and progress, compose data, and report to classroom teacher and/or other school designee
- Translate during IEP meetings, state testings, and as needed
- Plan and implement activities to meet the physical, emotional, intellectual and social needs of students
- Establish routines and procedures for daily learning experiences in order to instill confidence and independence
- Foster a safe and secure environment
- Evaluate student developmental progress
- Recommend Early Intervention if any signs of delays
- Integrate lesson plan accommodations for children with IEPs/504 plans
- Establish positive and effective family partnerships
- Promote literacy and early education in the home.
Education
Certificate - Student Assistance Coordinator
Nathan Weiss Graduate College, Kean University
Union, NJ12-2023
Master of Arts - School Counseling
Nathan Weiss Graduate College, Kean University
Union, NJ05-2023
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Kean University
Union, NJ05.2018
Associate of Arts - Early Childhood Education
Union County College
Cranford, NJ05-2016
Skills
- Bilingual Spanish/English
- Collaborative problem solver
- Creative capacity and leadership builder
- Successfully uses reflective practice to obtain goals
- Implementing strategy and meeting deadlines
- Applied Behavior Analysis Trained
- Crisis Prevention Intervention Certification
- Creative Curriculum Certification
- Highscope Curriculum Certification
Portfolio
https://mrsmaflacounselingportofolio.weebly.com
Certification
- New Jersey School Counselor Association Member
- American Counseling Association Member
- Honoree of Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International
Timeline
School Counselor
Elizabeth Public Schools
09.2024 - Current
School Counselor
Belleville Public Schools
09.2023 - 06.2024
Response to Intervention Coordinator
Belleville Board of Education
09.2023 - 06.2024
School Counselor Intern
Alexandre Hamilton Preparatory Academy(Highschool)
01.2023 - 05.2023
School Counselor Intern
Jerome Dunn Academy No.9 (K-8th)
05.2022 - 12.2022
Technical Assistance Specialist
Central Jersey Family Health Consortium
03.2020 - 08.2023
Human Service Specialist
Multicultural Community Services
05.2018 - 03.2020
Paraprofessional
Piscataway Regional Day School
11.2017 - 09.2018
Preschool Teacher
Chatham School House
09.2015 - 12.2017
Master of Arts - School Counseling
Nathan Weiss Graduate College, Kean University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Kean University
Associate of Arts - Early Childhood Education
Union County College
Certificate - Student Assistance Coordinator
Nathan Weiss Graduate College, Kean University
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