Dorothy Higuera
Lawrenceville
Summary
Dedicated school counselor committed to fostering a supportive environment that enhances student well-being and academic success. These are skills that would be very beneficial in a Substitute Teaching position.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
School Counselor
Crane School District
08.2020 - 05.2025
- Provided individual and group counseling to support student emotional and social development.
- Collaborated with teachers and parents to identify student needs and develop intervention strategies.
- Conducted assessments to evaluate student progress and inform counseling techniques.
- Developed and implemented programs addressing academic, career, and personal/social development.
- Assisted in crisis intervention efforts to ensure student safety and well-being within the school environment.
- Maintained accurate records of counseling sessions while ensuring confidentiality of student information.
- Mentor School Counseling intern through supervision of individual, group and classroom lessons, regular briefings of counseling cases and providing regular feedback on progress.
- Facilitated Peer Mentoring program to assist in reducing playground incidences and promote fair play.
- Participated in multidisciplinary teams to support students with special needs or challenges effectively.
- 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, and administration.
- Implemented data-driven strategies to identify areas of need within the school population, leading to targeted interventions and support services.
- Partnered with parents and guardians to promote student success in school environment.
- Facilitated parent engagement through regular communication, informational sessions, and collaborative meetings to address student concerns.
- Identified and addressed concerns of incoming students and parents.
- Reduced disciplinary incidents through proactive conflict resolution strategies that encouraged open communication between all parties involved.
- Promoted mental health awareness among staff members through training programs on topics such as stress management, self-care, and recognizing warning signs in students.
- Created an inclusive learning environment by advocating for accommodations for students with special needs or disabilities.
- Provided classroom lessons on various topics that addressed current needs (e.g. Character building, Kindness, Anxiety and Stress Management, and Anger Management).
Military and Family Life Advocate
Yuma District One
08.2019 - 05.2020
- Provide individual and group counseling for students of military families as well as students whose parents served in government roles such as Border Patrol or Government employee.
- Facilitated parental involvement by maintaining contact with parents.
- Implementing support services for students in anticipation of upcoming relocation or deployment.
- Developed plans to help support student success in the classroom such as behavior plans with incentives.
Half-time Elementary School Counselor
Yuma District One
08.2018 - 05.2019
- Facilitated workshops on topics such as conflict resolution, stress management, anger management.
- Maintained positive relationships with students, faculty, alumni, and administration.
- Conducted assessments to identify student needs, providing targeted interventions and referrals when necessary.
- Participated in IEP meetings to advocate for the needs of special education students, ensuring access to appropriate resources and support services.
- Facilitated conflict resolution among peers, resulting in improved classroom dynamics and reduced behavioral issues.
- Collaborated with teachers to identify students in need of additional support, providing tailored counseling services.
- Collaborated with behavioral aides, teachers, psychiatrists and school nurses to assess student needs and strengths.
- Conducted group and individual counseling services to elementary students to meet developmental, preventive and remedial needs of students with learning disabilities.
- Managed crisis situations effectively, providing timely intervention and referrals to outside agencies when necessary.
Substitute Teacher
Yuma District One
09.2017 - 05.2018
- Managed classroom behavior to maintain a positive learning environment.
- Supported individual student needs through personalized instruction and guidance.
- Followed classroom plans left by class teacher to continue student education and reinforce core concepts.
- Upheld classroom routines to support student environments and maintain consistent schedules.
- Developed strong rapport with students through consistent encouragement and support, fostering a positive learning atmosphere conducive to academic growth.
- Supervised lunchroom and recess activities.
Middle School Counselor
Yuma School District One
09.2006 - 05.2017
- Facilitated individual counseling sessions, addressing academic and emotional challenges for students.
- Developed and implemented guidance programs to promote social-emotional learning and resilience.
- Collaborated with teachers and parents to create supportive educational environments for at-risk students.
- Conducted workshops on conflict resolution and peer relationships to enhance student interactions.
- Led crisis intervention efforts, providing immediate support during critical incidents affecting students' well-being.
- Analyzed student data to identify trends in behavioral issues and tailor intervention strategies effectively.
- Promoted positive behavior among students through the implementation of school-wide behavior management strategies.
- Facilitated student academic growth by identifying learning barriers and developing appropriate interventions.
- Provided crisis intervention and referrals to outside agencies.
- Maintained detailed records of all counseling interactions to ensure continuity of care for each student over time.
- Assisted in college and career planning by conducting informational sessions and providing resources to students and families.
- Collaborated with parents, school faculty and social workers to address problems and grow student success.
Education
Masters of Education - Counseling/School Counseling
Northern Arizona University - Yuma Extension
Yuma05-2006
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Rhode Island College
Providence, RI01-1987
Skills
- Student advocacy
- Maintaining confidentiality
- Conflict mediation
- Individual and family support
- Academic support
- Empathy development
- Multicultural competence
- Parent-teacher collaboration
- Student counseling
Timeline
School Counselor
Crane School District
08.2020 - 05.2025
Military and Family Life Advocate
Yuma District One
08.2019 - 05.2020
Half-time Elementary School Counselor
Yuma District One
08.2018 - 05.2019
Substitute Teacher
Yuma District One
09.2017 - 05.2018
Middle School Counselor
Yuma School District One
09.2006 - 05.2017
Masters of Education - Counseling/School Counseling
Northern Arizona University - Yuma Extension
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Rhode Island College