Victoria Chongolola
Philadelphia,PA
Summary
Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals. Determined School Counselor with success in helping students achieve educational goals and personal well-being. Talented in meeting the objectives of the counseling program by providing preventive education, advocacy, mediation and counseling to students. Sensitive to socioeconomic and cultural difference of students.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
School Counselor
School District of Philadelphia
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Provide general school counseling and guidance programs/services including individual and group counseling and guidance
- Provide individual/group counseling and guidance for students
- Implement broad-based programs that deal with decision-making, conflict resolution, self-esteem, coping strategies, and other issues
- Serve as both the primary agent for addressing issues that impact students at risk of failing to attain their full academic potential and the school-based resource for dealing with child abuse/neglect and crisis prevention/intervention
- Liaison between the school and various community/governmental agencies that may provide services to students and their families.
- Enhanced student emotional well-being by providing individual and group counseling sessions.
- Collaborated with teachers and administrators to address the social, emotional, and academic needs of all students.
- Developed a safe and supportive school environment by promoting positive behavior and addressing issues such as bullying and harassment.
- Provided crisis intervention in response to emergencies, employing existing trust, and rapport to deescalate situations.
- Maintained positive relationships with students, faculty, alumni, and administration.
- Partnered with parents and guardians to promote student success in school environment.
- Implemented data-driven strategies to identify areas of need within the school population, leading to targeted interventions and support services.
- Promoted mental health awareness among staff members through training programs on topics such as stress management, self-care, and recognizing warning signs in students.
- Identified and addressed concerns of incoming students and parents.
- Facilitated parent engagement through regular communication, informational sessions, and collaborative meetings to address student concerns.
Behavioral Health Worker
Children’s Crisis Treatment Center
01.2010 - 01.2023
- Meet needs of children ages 5 to 14 and their families presenting with behavioral health issues in a trauma-informed manner, including crisis intervention and de-escalation
- Immediate implementation of behavioral goals from treatment plan
- Collaborate weekly with teachers, clinicians, school administration, and parents to meet child’s behavioral goals
- Daily completion of necessary documentation and outcome measures
- Provide and maintain an orderly, safe, and therapeutic environment for group and individual therapy sessions.
- Built and maintained positive staff relationships to promote teamwork and better serve clients.
- Completed documentation for every incident and forwarded to correct personnel for review.
Therapeutic Staff Support
Intercultural Family Services
01.2006 - 01.2010
- Provide therapeutic support to children identified with behavioral health issues
- Monitor and document day to day progress made by client
- Provide intervention care when necessary
- Facilitate collaborative work with teacher and parent.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
Elementary School Teacher
School District of Philadelphia
01.2001 - 01.2005
- Day-to-day function of classroom in urban setting
- Implementing reading, writing, and math programs
- Conferencing and working with administration and parents
- Administrating exams, lesson planning, grade group collaboration and record keeping
- Organizing class field trips, including a trip to Washington D.C.
- Created supportive and inclusive learning environments, fostering positive classroom atmospheres supporting student growth and learning.
- Established a positive classroom environment through effective classroom management strategies, fostering respect and cooperation among students.
- Contributed to school-wide initiatives aimed at improving overall student achievement, participating in professional development workshops and collaborating with colleagues on best practices.
- Communicated effectively with parents and guardians, maintaining open lines of communication regarding student progress and addressing concerns as needed.
- Utilized data-driven instruction techniques to analyze student performance trends and adjust teaching methods accordingly for optimal results.
- Collaborated with fellow teachers to develop interdisciplinary lesson plans, enhancing students'' understanding of various subjects.
- Improved student comprehension by utilizing differentiated instruction techniques customized for diverse learning needs.
- Taught core subjects of math, science, technology, and history.
- Promoted a growth mindset in the classroom by encouraging students to set goals, embrace challenges, and persevere through obstacles.
- Created lesson plans to correlate with state curriculum standards and devised educational programs to meet educational objectives.
- Evaluated and assessed student progress regularly, providing constructive feedback and adapting teaching methods accordingly.
- Established open communication and positive relationships with students, parents, peers, and administrative staff.
- Prepared and administered grade-specific tests and examinations regulated by school district to monitor students' growth and to report progress to parents.
Customer Service Representative
Independence Blue Cross and Blue Shield
01.1999 - 01.2001
- Assisting patients and doctors by explaining benefits and resolving claims
- Explaining COBRA, Family Leave, CHIP to consumers
- Day to Day updating on changes to coverage.
- Managed high-stress situations effectively, maintaining professionalism under pressure while resolving disputes or conflicts.
- Handled escalated calls efficiently, finding satisfactory resolutions for both customers and the company alike.
- Resolved customer complaints with empathy, resulting in increased loyalty and repeat business.
- Developed rapport with customers through active listening skills, leading to higher retention rates and positive feedback from clients.
Education
Master of Arts in Teaching -
Cheney University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA01.2003
Bachelor of Science in Education -
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH01.1997
Skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Suite (Excel, Word, and Power Point)
- Individual Counseling
- Mediation and crisis intervention
- Suicide Prevention
- Crisis Intervention
- Student Advocacy
- Maintaining confidentiality
- Group Counseling
- Parent-teacher collaboration
- Conflict Mediation
- Behavioral assessment
- Individual and family support
Timeline
School Counselor
School District of Philadelphia
01.2023 - 01.2024
Behavioral Health Worker
Children’s Crisis Treatment Center
01.2010 - 01.2023
Therapeutic Staff Support
Intercultural Family Services
01.2006 - 01.2010
Elementary School Teacher
School District of Philadelphia
01.2001 - 01.2005
Customer Service Representative
Independence Blue Cross and Blue Shield
01.1999 - 01.2001
Master of Arts in Teaching -
Cheney University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Science in Education -
Youngstown State University
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