Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Certification
Hiking, Mountain biking, Nature and Forest Therapy guide, learning to play flute
Timeline
Generic

Serena Vogel

Colorado Springs

Summary

Accomplished educator and counselor at Manitou Springs School District 14, renowned for enhancing student well-being and academic success through evidence-based practices and comprehensive counseling programs. Excelled in parent-teacher collaboration and empathy development, significantly improving student support systems. Expert in group and individual counseling, fostering a supportive and inclusive educational environment.

Overview

30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

K12 School Counselor

Manitou Springs School District 14
05.1993 - 06.2018
  • Led professional development workshops for staff members on topics related to mental health awareness and supporting vulnerable populations in schools.
  • Established productive relationships with community partners to expand available resources for student success.
  • Implemented evidence-based practices within the counseling program, ensuring effectiveness and alignment with professional standards.
  • Managed crisis situations effectively, providing immediate support and appropriate referrals when necessary.
  • Enhanced students'' social and emotional well-being by implementing comprehensive counseling programs.
  • Coordinated peer mentoring programs that encouraged positive relationships between older and younger students.
  • Coordinated with external agencies to provide additional resources and support for at-risk students.
  • Supported families during times of transition or crisis by connecting them with appropriate community resources.
  • Regularly met with enrolled students to confirm success and identify problem areas.
  • Identified and addressed concerns of incoming students and parents.
  • Facilitated group counseling sessions, promoting open communication and healthy coping mechanisms among peers.

Language Arts Teacher

Manitou Springs School District 14
08.1991 - 08.1993
  • Collaborated with colleagues to develop interdisciplinary units, promoting a more holistic understanding of language arts.
  • Promoted critical thinking skills through analytical writing assignments that encouraged students to synthesize information from multiple sources.
  • Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in language arts education.
  • Fostered a supportive learning environment that celebrated diversity and nurtured the unique talents of each individual learner.
  • Led parent-teacher conferences that provided constructive feedback on student progress while fostering collaboration between home and school environments.
  • Promoted effective verbal and written communication through listening, speaking, reading, and writing practice.
  • Served as an advisor for extracurricular activities such as the school newspaper or drama club, providing guidance and encouragement for student participants.

Social Studies Teacher

Manitou Springs School District 14
02.1989 - 06.1991
  • Collaborated with colleagues to develop interdisciplinary lesson plans that connected social studies content to other subject areas.
  • Improved student comprehension by utilizing diverse teaching methods and materials tailored to individual learning styles.
  • Created lesson plans and made adjustments based on overall class performance throughout year.
  • Developed a positive classroom environment by fostering open communication, respect, and collaboration among students.
  • Utilized technology to enhance student education and grasp of materials.
  • Implemented project-based learning activities that encouraged students to apply their knowledge to real-life situations, enhancing problem-solving skills and deepening understanding of course concepts.
  • Gave assignments, graded work and regularly discussed performance with students.
  • Assisted struggling students through targeted one-on-one tutoring sessions, resulting in improved academic performance.

Substitute Teacher, K-12

Manitou Springs School District 14
08.1988 - 02.1989
  • Followed classroom plans left by class teacher to continue student education and reinforce core concepts.
  • Repeatedly requested as substitute teacher by teachers based on excellent past referrals and trusted performance.
  • Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
  • Managed classroom behavior effectively, implementing clear expectations and consistent consequences for all students.
  • Took over class for regular classroom teacher, managing assignments, student needs, and recordkeeping.
  • Followed lesson plans designed by absent teachers.
  • Enforced school and class rules to maintain order in classroom.

Education

Master of Arts - Counseling And Human Services/K12 School Counselin

University of Colorado
Colorado Springs
05.1996

Skills

  • Assessment Interpretation
  • Self-Esteem Building
  • Anxiety Reduction
  • Parent-teacher collaboration
  • Suicide Prevention
  • Group Counseling
  • Individual Counseling
  • Empathy Development
  • Grief counseling
  • Depression Support

Certification

  • Mental Health First Aid Certification – Mental Health First Aid USA.
  • Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide/Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs July 2022

Hiking, Mountain biking, Nature and Forest Therapy guide, learning to play flute

I enjoy all things outdoors. My husband and I and our Great Dane dog enjoy hiking so much that we plan our vacations around that. I enjoy mountain biking with family in Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Black Forest and on the USAFA trails. 

After retiring from my school counseling position in 2018, I became certified as a nature and forest therapy guide offering guided encounters with nature that provides respite from the overwhelm of living in a noisy and busy world. 

Timeline

K12 School Counselor

Manitou Springs School District 14
05.1993 - 06.2018

Language Arts Teacher

Manitou Springs School District 14
08.1991 - 08.1993

Social Studies Teacher

Manitou Springs School District 14
02.1989 - 06.1991

Substitute Teacher, K-12

Manitou Springs School District 14
08.1988 - 02.1989

Master of Arts - Counseling And Human Services/K12 School Counselin

University of Colorado
  • Mental Health First Aid Certification – Mental Health First Aid USA.
  • Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide/Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs July 2022
Serena Vogel