Vannela1960

Certified bilingual school counselor with 30+ years supporting diverse student populations through academic, social-emotional, and mental health services. Expert in IEP/504, MTSS, and family engagement. Committed to equitable outcomes for immigrant and underserved communities.

Bilingual Certified School Counselor - Lake County School District - Lake County, FL

(2021-01)

ESOL Contact and member of the Leadership Team, collaborating with students who receive MTSS services and delivering IEP-related services as a certified school counselor and 504 site coordinator. Conducting both individual and group counseling sessions. Designing, planning, and implementing class lessons tailored to the diverse needs of students and the classroom.

• Deliver bilingual counseling services supporting students' academic, social-emotional, and behavioral development
• Coordinate 504 plans, MTSS interventions, and IEP-related services for diverse student caseload
• Serve as ESOL Contact, bridging communication between immigrant families and school leadership

Educational Consultant and Lead Counselor - Kids On The Go - Otay Ranch, CA

(2014-01)

Counseling service for children attending daycare and assigned to programs on a "case-by-case" basis. Responsible for monitoring the implementation and evaluation guidelines of Federal and State Grants.

• Lead educational consulting and counseling programs supporting child development across multiple sites
• Design and facilitate evidence-based parent engagement workshops to strengthen family-school partnerships
• Provide integrative coaching and mindfulness-based interventions to students and families since 2014

Program Development Associate - Parents Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) - National City, CA

(2016-01 - 2019-12)

Responsible for overseeing and maintaining the quality control of PIQE's various programs throughout its ten regional offices. In charge of developing and implementing systems supporting the analysis and protocols of the programs. Contributor to successful planning, training, and implementing PIQE's innovative and research-based family engagement programs. Provided expertise and extensive program knowledge to help families in the educational context.

• Developed and scaled family literacy programs, increasing parent participation in K-12 educational advocacy
• Built culturally responsive curricula for immigrant families across multiple school communities
• Collaborated with district stakeholders to align program outcomes with Title I and state education goals

Parent Liaison/Counselor - EJE Dual Language Charter Schools - El Cajon, CA

(2015-01 - 2016-12)

Facilitated counseling groups addressing the social, emotional, and grief needs of students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Developed workshops for immigrant families, engaging parents and addressing the needs of elementary and middle school students, and recruited them as classroom volunteers.

• Trained immigrant parents to advocate for children's educational rights and mental health services; adapted counseling approaches to students' cultural backgrounds

Intern/Volunteer - Cultural Psychology Center - San Diego, California

(2012-01 - 2015-12)

Intern and volunteer providing counseling and therapy services in Spanish and English. Served as the first point of contact for immigrant victims of domestic violence, conducting phone interviews in Spanish with potential clients for the Violence Against Women Act. Co-facilitated support groups for victims of domestic violence (whose children had been placed in foster care), teaching them how to parent without violence. They succeeded in reuniting all parents and their children after therapy.

• Supported clinical research and delivered culturally informed therapeutic services within a psychology center

Bilingual Therapist - Home Start, Inc. - CA

(2012-01 - 2012-12)

Provided in-home individual therapy services to children under 18 years of age and case management to low-income, diverse, and bilingual clients working with programs such as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Child Abuse Treatment Program, and Family Reunification Program. Also worked with trauma victims utilizing the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy Intervention (TF-CBT) as well as children through Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (P.C.I.T.) and Play Therapy.

• Provided bilingual therapy and case management to at-risk families through a community home-start program

Guest Speaker for Radio Stations in San Diego - Radio Latina and Escencia de Mujer - San Diego, CA

(2011-01 - 2012-12)

Radio talk shows focused on various topics about women's issues and news.

• Delivered bilingual public education segments on mental health and family wellness for San Diego radio audiences

Bilingual In-House Counselor - Salud y Vida, Inc. - CA

(2010-01 - 2012-12)

Psychological and emotional support during weight loss treatment. Programs focused on identifying the reason for the urge to eat.

• Provided in-house bilingual counseling, crisis intervention, and case management for underserved populations

Bilingual Family Counselor - La Mesa and Spring Valley School District - CA

(1989-01 - 2009-12)

Responsible for assisting students to cope with divorce, death, and bullying as well as guiding them to work on self-motivation, friendship, and sharing successfully. In charge of presentations and top-notch workshops by utilizing specific teaching tools and techniques to make the learning experience fun. Developed own "Parent Academy" series of workshops based on the interests of each school's parental community.

Some successful workshops taught through the years are: "Homework Without Tears", "Culture Shock", and "Getting Ready for Parent/Teacher Conferences."

• Coordinated two Federal Title VII Family Literacy Projects and Title I Parent Components across nine schools over 20 years

Bilingual Social Worker II - Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego, CA

(1994-01 - 1997-12)

• Delivered bilingual social work services to pediatric patients and families in a major children's hospital setting

Master of Science - Educational Counseling - National University (1996-12)

Master of Science - Special Education - National University (1987-01 - 1989-12)

Bachelor of Arts - Behavioral Science - National University (1985-01 - 1987-12)