Management
Evidence-Based & Data-Driven School Counseling
I believe in the use of data and evidence-based practice to inform the creation of a robust, dynamic comprehensive school counseling program. See below for information on some of the projects that have allowed me to hone my skills related to analysis, research synthesis and data-driven decision making.
The Scholar's Academy
A growing body of literature has established the association between learning mindsets, such as growth mindset and grit, and positive student outcomes. The Scholars' Academy is a six-week small group counseling curriculum grounded in the cultivation of such mindsets. The program aims to equip students in upper elementary and middle school with skills to persevere through tough challenges, as well as concrete, effective strategies tailored to individual learning needs. This curriculum and preliminary data has been accepted to be presented at the 2020 national Evidence-Based School Counseling Conference.
Social Belonging and the Transition to High School
The transition from middle school into high school is a critical period for future academic success for rising ninth grade students. During this time period, students - especially those from historically disadvantaged and underrepresented groups - may question whether or not they belong in their school environment. To address this, our research team developed a novel video-based intervention targeting student perceptions of social belonging. The project is currently in its fourth phase of implementation and data analysis. It has brought our team incredible opportunities to travel the country to present our findings. Check out this blog post written about our trip to NYC!
Johnson Elementary School Needs Assessment
One of my first tasks as an intern was developing the school’s first ever needs assessment. Separate versions were created for the upper and lower grades, and were then implemented with all 359 students. Resulting data analyses have been used to inform our school counseling team’s practice throughout the year.
4th Grade Mindset Shift
This project was created in response to 4th grade disciplinary trends. Based on the results of a targeted needs assessment aimed at better understanding behavior patterns among fourth grade students, a three-pronged alternative approach to disciplinary practice was created. Check out the presentation here.