LAURA KERR WILLIAMS

15955 Frederick Road, Apt 1633 Rockville, MD 20855 (410) 703-1771 laura.k.williams@mcpsmd.net
Profile: Experienced school counselor in Montgomery County Public Schools, seeking school counseling position implementing the
American School Counseling Associations National Model for robust student support. Committed to working in collaborative
settings that value family partnership, community engagement, and a strengths-based approach to student development.

EDUCATION
Harvard Graduate School of Education Cambridge, MA
Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) in Counseling, May 2016
Masters of Education, Prevention Science and Practice, Adolescent Counseling Strand, May 2015

Middlebury College Middlebury, VT

Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, English and American Literatures Major, Secondary Education Minor, May 2011
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Vermont Campus Compact Commitment to Service and Engagement Award,
Middlebury College Public Service Leadership Award, Psi Chi National Honor Society in Psychology
TESL/TEFL Certificate Program, Middlebury CV Starr School in Latin America, Summer 2011 Santiago, Chile
Completed 120-hour certificate program in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language

CERTIFICATION & PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Massachusetts School Guidance Counselor, Initial License, Issued June 2, 2016 Massachusetts
Endorsed Grade Levels: PreK-8 and 5-12

Massachusetts & American School Counseling Associations, Member

SCHOOL COUNSELING EXPERIENCE

Montgomery Village Middle School (Montgomery County Public Schools) Montgomery Village, MD
6th Grade Counselor (August 2016-Present)
Provided ongoing social-emotional, academic, behavioral, future planning, and crisis support to caseload of 250 sixth-grade
students; supported 7th and 8th grade students in conjunction with their grade-level counselors
Designated 504 Case Manager for 6th grade students; supported 10 students on 504s through preparing & co-leading review
meetings, sharing accommodations with teachers, & conducting individual counseling sessions on organization & study skills
Provided ongoing classroom consultation & support to teachers of students facing significant behavioral & academic needs
Coordinated with special education director, school psychologist, and grade-level team leaders to recommend students for
EMTs and screenings; prepared & presented special education screening packets, conducted classroom observations and
educational history reviews; served as key member of screening meeting team
Organized and led 22 parent-teacher conferences thus far in SY2016-2017
Planned & taught classroom guidance lessons on Stress Management, Kindness & Antibullying, & Personal Body Safety
Coordinated with 6th grade Team Leaders to address academic ineligibility through individual student conferences and KidTalks;
developed behavioral contracts for students; wrote & implemented FBAs and BIPs
Served on school leadership team to address grade-level & school-wide social-emotional concerns
Planned and implemented Holiday Giving program to support 53 students in greatest financial need
Utilized MyMCPS, Oasis, PowerScheduler, and GoogleDrive to manage, analyze, and use student data to plan interventions
Organizing 6th grade Career Day (to take place April 28, 2017), including recruiting speakers with a diversity of career paths &
educational backgrounds, & implementing lesson on career interest inventories with all 6th grade students

Clarence R. Edwards Middle School (Boston Public Schools) Charlestown, MA

School Counseling Intern (September 2015-May 2016)
Provided ongoing social-emotional, behavioral, and high school planning support to 7th and 8th grade students facing academic,
personal, and disciplinary challenges
Planned and implemented the 8th-9th Grade Transition Program for 133 8th graders, including a fall kickoff community meeting
with students, a high school fair & parent information night featuring 15 area high schools, high school application workshops
& support, and guidance lessons on depression/suicide prevention, study skills, goal planning, and organization
Co-led group counseling opportunities, including collaborating with Massachusetts General Hospital practitioners to facilitate a
group for students with family members using substances
 LAURA KERR WILLIAMS
15955 Frederick Road, Apt 1633 Rockville, MD 20855 (410) 703-1771 laura.k.williams@mcpsmd.net

Harvard University Summer School, Secondary School Program Cambridge, MA

Academic & Personal Development Counselor (June 2015-August 2015)
Provided ongoing social-emotional, academic, and college planning individual counseling sessions for 28 high school-aged
students from both international and domestic backgrounds
Collaborated with fellow counselors and deans to provide comprehensive student support for students in crisis
Engaged supervisor and fellow counselors in streamlining and clarifying standards of care and counseling procedures

Malden High School (Malden Public Schools) Malden, MA

School Counseling Intern (September 2014-May 2015)
Provided social-emotional, academic, and career guidance support as part of 9th grade counseling team
Co-planned & taught classroom guidance lessons including college/career preparation & Signs of Suicide (SOS) Program
Collaborated with 10th-12th grade counselors to provide college essay, application, and FAFSA support to current seniors
Co-planned and led 5-week academic support group counseling intervention for eight 11th grade female students

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING & ACADEMIC PROJECTS

Professional Training
Naviance for Middle School Counselors Rockville, MD September 2016
Completed training on implementing college and career readiness programming with 7th and 8th grade students in Montgomery
County Public Schools through Naviance & Family Connection software
Trauma in Schools Seminar Boston, MA March 2016
Completed workshop led by mental health clinician focused on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), triggers, and building a
trauma-sensitive school environment
Combating Islamophobia Cambridge, MA February 2016
Attended a training for educators focused on preventing and responding to Islamophobia in school settings
Break Free from Depression Boston, MA September 2015
Completed workshop focused on implementing school-based depression and suicide prevention curriculum with adolescents

Academic Projects
Postvention to Adolescent Suicide: Trauma-Informed Responses Fall 2015
Conducted literature review focused on identifying recommended school and district-wide responses to a completed student
death by suicide & analyzing to what extent recommended responses are trauma-sensitive
School Connectedness for Recent Immigrant Students & Families Spring 2015
Designed research-based school counseling protocol for specific individual & group check-in supports for recently immigrated
high school students to promote school belonging and social adjustment
Progress & Persistence Program for Students with Disabilities Spring 2015
Researched & designed an intervention program to support high school students with learning disabilities, supporting students
as they conceptualize & plan for postsecondary education
The Connect 9 Dropout Prevention Program Fall 2014
Designed research-based dropout prevention program focused on at-risk students transitioning from 8th to 9th grade in order to
support academic & social-emotional belonging at school

CLASSROOM TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Indian Creek Middle School Crownsville, MD
English & Literature Teacher, 6th and 8th Grade (August 2012-June 2014)

Middlebury Union Middle School (Addison Central Supervisory Union) Middlebury, VT

Student Teacher, 8th Grade English (September 2011-December 2011)