Caroline Kassabian
Toronto,Ontario
Summary
Dynamic and committed Guidance Department Head with 18+ years of experience in developing and implementing guidance support for students of all backgrounds. Proven ability to assist students in navigating personal, academic and social-emotional challenges.
Skilled in leveraging technology to enhance student success and post-secondary planning.
Collaborated effectively with diverse stakeholders, streamlining processes and fostering a culture of academic success and emotional well-being.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Guidance Department Head
Toronto Catholic District School Board
09.2009 - Current
- Supervised a team of four counsellors to foster a collaborative environment to provide academic and emotional support to a school of 1500 + students.
- Delivered academic, post-secondary, career and personal counselling to a caseload of approximately 400 students anually.
- Worked closely with our administrative team to coordinate school events, work on scheduling and track student achievement in order to ensure student success
- Supported the scheduling process for the school and executed tasks related to student timetables throughout the school year
- Lead workshops on post-secondary planning, financing post-secondary studies and hosted an annual college/university/apprenticeship/workplace fair.
- Supported a diverse student body by providing individual counselling for social-emotional challenges.
- Worked closely with students to develop individualized learning plans.
- Conducted interest inventories, career assessments and provided guidance regarding post-secondary options at regular intervals during the students' four years in high school.
- Kept students apprised of community service, work, scholarship, study aboard and internship opportunities.
- Supported and supported equity and diversity initiatives through regular research into unique opportunities for BIPOC, LGBTQ+ students and students facing economic challenges.
- Collaborated regularly with our administrative team, teachers, parents, Social Workers, Child Youth Workers and Psychological Associates to to coordinate multifaceted solutions to best support student needs.
- Facilitated peer mediation to resolve conflicts and promote a healthy, collegial school environment.
- Collaborated in school-based support team and case conference meetings.
- Planned and participated in Exchange of Information meetings for students transitioning into high school.
- Led regular meetings with team members to convey important procedural information and updates from the central guidance team.
- Evaluated procedures continuously to identify areas in need of improvement and implement strategies to keep our guidance team working collaboratively and efficiently.
- Connected students with additional supports within the school and the community at large to address their emotional, mental health and academic needs.
- Developed and maintained both the Bishop Allen Guidance website for current students and the Bishop Allen Registration website for incoming grade nine students.
- Coached students with solution-based counselling to address personal challenges.
- Coordinate and implement strategies to ensure student success and ensure a strong graduation rate with a 98% graduation rate in the last academic year.
- Provided crisis intervention and assisted in managing student behaviour and conflict resolution.
- Implemented data-driven strategies in order to align counselling services with academic goals to support credit accumulation and overall student well-being.
- Successfully mentored over 40 at-risk students to reinforce student engagement, leading to graduation and concrete plans for post-secondary study or work.
- Lead an initiative to streamline administrative tasks, improving efficiency and reducing paperwork.
- Maintained accurate and confidential student records.
- Organized an annual career fair for four years, which brough over 35 professionals into our school who presented to our grade 11 students.
- Worked collaboratively to develop and prepare the TCDSB suicide protocol policy.
Guidance Counsellor
Toronto Catholic District School Board
09.2007 - 06.2011
English Teacher
Toronto Catholic District School Board
09.2000 - 06.2006
English Teacher
York Catholic District School Board
09.1998 - 06.1999
Assistant Language Teacher
JET Programme
07.1996 - 06.1998
English Teacher
York Catholic District School Board
02.1992 - 06.1996
Education
Master of Arts in Teaching - English
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON06-1995
Diploma in Education - Intermediate And Secondary English
McGill University, Faculty of Education
Montreal, QC05-1992
Honours Bachelor of Arts - English Specialist
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON06-1991
Skills
- Student Advocacy
- Individual Counselling
- Data analysis to identify students needs and challenges
- Facility with Aspen Student Information System, Prism E-Learning Information System platform, Google Sites, Sheets, Forms, Docs and Classroom as well as Excel, Word, Adobe, Canva and D2L
- Multitasking
- Problem-solving
- Collaborating with students and all stakeholders in the school
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
French
Professional Working
Armenian
Native or Bilingual
Certification
- Guidance, Specialist / August 2004
- Guidance, Part 2 / April 2004
- Guidance, Part 1 / September 2003
- Religious Education, Part 1 / June 1999
- Adult Education / April 1994
- Intermediate and Senior Divisions, English / October 1992
Timeline
Guidance Department Head
Toronto Catholic District School Board
09.2009 - Current
Guidance Counsellor
Toronto Catholic District School Board
09.2007 - 06.2011
English Teacher
Toronto Catholic District School Board
09.2000 - 06.2006
English Teacher
York Catholic District School Board
09.1998 - 06.1999
Assistant Language Teacher
JET Programme
07.1996 - 06.1998
English Teacher
York Catholic District School Board
02.1992 - 06.1996
Master of Arts in Teaching - English
University of Toronto
Diploma in Education - Intermediate And Secondary English
McGill University, Faculty of Education
Honours Bachelor of Arts - English Specialist
University of Toronto
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