Mary Ann Torrico

Experience

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  Howard W. Blake High School

  Sept 2010 - Dec 2010

  High School Counseling [Intern]

  INSTITUTION OVERVIEW: A public high school. It retained the traditional high school curriculum and added a Performing and Visual Arts Magnet component, providing a rigorous college preparatory education and a highly intense performing and visual arts magnet program in which any student within the district may audition to attend. The magnet component includes Music, Vocal and Instrumental, Musical and Dramatic Theatre, Dance, Visual Arts, Television Production, and Creative Writing.KEY CONTRIBUTIONS:Co-led a counseling sisterhood group on female empowerment. Involved in information gathering, analyzing and presented to senior parents about graduation requirements.• Taught classroom guidance and AVID lessons; proctored SAT exams.• Assisted in student scheduling; wrote credit checks and discussed progress with students Show less

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  Dixie Hollins High School

  Jan 2011 - Jun 2011

  School Counselor

  INSTITUTION OVERVIEW: A public secondary school. Its graphic arts program is designated as a Center of Excellence. Dixie Hollins also offers a program in the culinary arts, also designated a Center of Excellence. Another popular program at Dixie Hollins is the army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.KEY CONTRIBUTIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS:Developed action plans with students, teachers, and parents in order to improve overall performance and personal success. Provided scheduling and counseling services to 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students. • Organized the St. Petersburg College field trip; proctored and organized AP exams.• Communicated with needed organizations and recruited secondary opportunities for students for AVID. Show less

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  St. Leo the Great

  Aug 2011 - Jun 2014

  School Counselor

  INSTITUTION OVERVIEW: A Catholic school in Virginia serving children in Pre-School (ages 3 & 4) and Kindergarten through grade 8.KEY CONTRIBUTIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS:Assisted in the development and support of curriculum designing and teaching monthly character education lessons for all grade levels. Met with individuals and coordinated group activities on social skills, stress management, organizational skills. • Served as the Liaison Counselor for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology.• Acted as the school Testing Coordinator, presented testing procedures to faculty, ordered and distributed test materials for Terra Nova and the High School Placement Test.• Coordinated presentations and lessons with Fairfax Take Charge drug awareness program and bullying prevention speakers.• Performed duties as the Head Coach for Girls on the Run.• Reviewed testing data to determine potential qualifiers for the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) program and communicated opportunity to parents and students• Presented a session on stress strategies in group work at the VSCA conference in Richmond, VA in March 2014. Show less

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  National Young Leaders Conference

  Jun 2012 - Aug 2012

  Faculty Advisor
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  Global Young Leaders Conference

  Jun 2013 - Aug 2013

  Faculty Advisor/Operations/Scholar Relations

  • Facilitated discussions and introduced simulations in which international high school students acted as world leaders addressing global conflict• Assisted with setup for presentations and speaking events• Led high school students through Washington D.C. and gave welcome messages introducing historic sites

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  Riffa Views International School

  Aug 2014 - Jun 2016

  Secondary Counselor

  INSTITUTION OVERVIEW: An independent, non-for-profit organization, college preparatory school committed to implementing the best educational practices from around the world, while being sensitive to local cultural values.KEY CONTRIBUTIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS:Provide middle and high school counseling. Maintain student-counselor confidentiality. Manage counseling services addressing personal, social, academic/career concerns and provide professional referrals for high-needs students. Assist students with transitions to both middle school and high school.• Developed the secondary counseling program• Liaise with admissions representatives, schedule university fairs and speaker engagements, plan and communicate events, responsible for the creation and promotion of the RVIS University Timeline.• Market the secondary counseling program through articles in the school newspaper and community publications, selected to be interviewed on IB college counseling for Time Out Bahrain and Gulf Weekly.• Serve as a member of the Secondary School Leadership Team responsible for weekly review of professional development, faculty meeting agendas, and communications to staff.• Serve as the IB Pamoja Site-Based Coordinator; coordinated PSAT, SAT Testing and make-up MAP testing.• Work with specialized software, such as PowerSchool. Digitally entered historic transfer grade data and scheduled all secondary students by semester. Show less

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  Notre Dame Academy

  Aug 2016 - Jun 2018

  School Counselor

  INSTITUTION OVERVIEW:Rooted in our Marist, Catholic tradition, Notre Dame Academy is a Pre-K through 12 International Baccalaureate community that fosters individual academic growth, moral responsibility, and global mindedness. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:Provide upper school counseling services in support of students' academic, personal/social, and career development in addition to serving as the testing coordinator• Presented to parents on topics such as an overview of the Upper School Counseling Program and support for rising 11th grade students and the college admissions process• Developed a credit check system to monitor student academic progress toward graduation requirements• Taught classroom lessons on stress-management, Naviance career development, college admissions testing preparation, the PSAT, and ACT Aspire testing process• Co-led parent and student informational meetings about IB course selections and college admissions• Planned and promoted NDA's first annual Career Fair• Organized the first university fair• Oversee the SAIS Accreditation Process (2016-2018). Show less

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  Oakcrest School

  Aug 2018 - Jul 2020

  Director Of College Counseling

  Oakcrest School in partnership with parents challenges girls in grades 6-12 to develop their intellect, character, faith and leadership potential to thrive in college and throughout their lives. • Oversee the college counseling program, coordinate college counseling events, and provide timely university admissions information to stakeholders.• Created the first Alumni College Fair• Help students effectively present their abilities, talents, and experiences to universities.• Present the college counseling process during College Night and facilitate discussion among panelists.• Coordinate PSAT and AP testing. Show less

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  Johns Hopkins Center For Talented Youth (CTY)

  Jun 2019 - Aug 2019

  Academic Counselor

  Introduced the role of academic counselor to parents, students, instructional, and residential staff. Provided solution-focused counseling services to students ranging from ages 12 to 16. Collaborated with the administrative site team on goals and logistics for two three-week sessions. Presented characteristics of gifted students and mental health topics to residential staff. Trained instructional and residential staff on standards of safety and supervision. Held office hours and collaborated with both instructional and residential staff on behalf of students. Contacted parents about student needs and accommodation information. Show less

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  UCLA

  Sept 2019 - Jan 2021

  Admission Reader (Seasonal)

  Completed the UCLA international application reader training. Responsible for one review of 500+ undergraduate applications per cycle.

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  St. Paul VI Catholic High School

  Jul 2020 - now

  School Counselor