Wendy VanFossen
Wildwood,NJ
Summary
Dedicated school counselor with 25 years of expertise providing group and individual counseling to promote success among students. Proven leader focused on establishing and maintaining school counseling program objectives in collaboration with administrators, teachers and parents. Results-oriented when reviewing the effectiveness of the counseling program to determine areas for improvement. Respectful active listener when counseling students and interacting with parents and administrators.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
School Counselor
Audubon Jr-Sr High School
09.1999 - 06.2024
- Delivered comprehensive school counseling program.
- Provided crisis intervention in response to emergencies, employing existing trust and rapport to deescalate situations.
- Used Naviance in classroom settings and in individual settings to encourage students to explore careers and future plans.
- Reviewed and discussed new students' academic credentials, interests and educational goals.
- Developed new student orientation programs to build excitement around transfer and enrollment.
- Assisted high school seniors complete college applications and meet requirements necessary for graduation.
- Identified and addressed concerns of incoming students and parents.
- Maintained positive relationships with students, faculty, alumni and administration.
- Regularly met with students on my caseload to confirm success and identify problem areas.
- Helped students develop organizational, time management and study skills.
- Reviewed transcripts to verify students met graduation or college entrance requirements and wrote letters of recommendation.
- Collaborated with parents, school faculty and social workers to address problems and grow student success.
- Counseled students regarding educational issues such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration and career planning.
- Identified issues that hindered student academic achievement.
- Conducted individual and group counseling sessions.
- Delivered supportive and knowledgeable counseling to students with academic or personal concerns.
- Served as Anti-Bullying specialist and interventionist.
- Monitored and managed 504 Accommodation Plans.
- Participated as an Intervention and Referral Services Team member.
- Advised activities such as Yearbook Business, Peer to Peer, Teens to Teens, REBEL, National Junior Honor Society, Junior High Cross Country, Junior Varsity Field Hockey, Freshman Softball.
- Used data to monitor students' progress and recommend solutions for improvement.
- Reviewed and discussed new students' academic credentials, interests, and educational goals.
- Identified and addressed concerns of incoming students and parents.
- Provided crisis intervention in response to emergencies, employing existing trust, and rapport to deescalate situations.
- Maintained positive relationships with students, faculty, alumni, and administration.
- Regularly met with enrolled students to confirm success and identify problem areas.
- Reduced disciplinary incidents through proactive conflict resolution strategies that encouraged open communication between all parties involved.
- Increased awareness of post-secondary options by organizing college and career readiness workshops and events.
- Maintained a high level of professional development through continuous education, conference attendance, and participation in professional organizations related to school counseling.
- Enhanced student emotional well-being by providing individual and group counseling sessions.
- Advanced cultural competence among staff members by facilitating diversity training workshops on topics like unconscious bias recognition or cultural sensitivity.
- Facilitated parent engagement through regular communication, informational sessions, and collaborative meetings to address student concerns.
- Facilitated classroom discussions to emphasize bullying prevention and college readiness.
- Supported students transitioning between grade levels by working with teachers to develop effective transition plans aimed at minimizing potential challenges during adjustment periods.
- Collaborated with teachers and administrators to address the social, emotional, and academic needs of all students.
- Assisted high school seniors complete college applications and meet requirements necessary for graduation.
- Developed a safe and supportive school environment by promoting positive behavior and addressing issues such as bullying and harassment.
- Improved graduation rates by implementing targeted interventions for at-risk students.
- Contributed to development of effective school policies that addressed issues such as attendance, discipline, and substance abuse prevention.
- Created an inclusive learning environment by advocating for accommodations for students with special needs or disabilities.
- Partnered with parents and guardians to promote student success in school environment.
- Identified and addressed concerns of incoming students and parents.
- Assisted high school seniors complete college applications and meet requirements necessary for graduation.
Teacher of English
Audubon Jr-Sr High School
11.1992 - 06.1999
- Prepared and implemented lesson plans covering required course topics.
- Administered assessments and standardized tests to evaluate student progress.
- Worked with other teachers to support struggling students and provide thorough help to rectify comprehension issues.
- Established appropriate deadlines and provided complete instructions for reading assignment and homework.
- Built learning and citizenship skills to help with personal growth in addition to increasing academic knowledge.
- Worked with administrators on behavioral issues to support needs of all students.
- Prepared comprehensive English curriculum for multiple classes.
- Prepared and implemented lesson plans covering required course topics.
- Led interesting and diverse group activities to engage students in course material.
- Participated in professional development opportunities to stay up-to-date on teaching best practices and enhance educator skills.
- Assisted in creating a safe and nurturing classroom environment that promoted emotional well-being and academic growth for all students.
- Attended department meetings to develop and update course curricula.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to remain current on educational trends and research-based strategies for instruction.
- Increased student motivation by providing timely feedback and recognizing individual achievements.
- Developed strong relationships with parents and guardians, fostering open communication regarding student progress and needs.
- Created and implemented activities to foster critical thinking skills of students.
- Served as advisor for extracurricular clubs or organizations, contributing to the overall development of well-rounded students.
- Assisted struggling students through targeted interventions, leading to increased academic success.
Education
Certification - School Leadership
Wilmington University
New Castle, DE2022
Master of Arts - Student Personnel Services
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ12.1999
Bachelor of Arts - English Education
The College of New Jersey
Trenton, NJ05.1992
Additional Information
Manager, Hostess, Expediter, 9/1/2018 to present
The Surfing Pig, North Wildwood, NJ
Timeline
School Counselor
Audubon Jr-Sr High School
09.1999 - 06.2024
Teacher of English
Audubon Jr-Sr High School
11.1992 - 06.1999
Certification - School Leadership
Wilmington University
Master of Arts - Student Personnel Services
Rowan University
Bachelor of Arts - English Education
The College of New Jersey
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