Courtney Ward

Experience

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  Peer Solutions Inc

  Aug 2011 - Jan 2018

  - Facilitated positive youth development sessions and weekly peer education projects with elementary, middle, and high school students.- Assisted students in generating monthly school and community outreach campaigns, educational activities, bi-annual Days at the Capitol, quarterly community events, and ongoing service projects.- Generated comprehensive reports and recommendations to Arizona Department of Health Services by maintaining current and accurate records while ensuring client confidentiality. Show less

  • Program Director

    Jan 2015 - Jan 2018

  • Program Coordinator

    Aug 2011 - Jan 2015
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  FRIENDS FIRST

  Jan 2018 - Jul 2019

  Program Coordinator, LSW Oversight

  - Conceptualized and formalized a social work internship program that aligns with Metropolitan State University requirements, Friends First goals, and standard social work competencies.- Facilitated community engagement events for students, parents, teachers and community members that focused on character development and healthy family dynamics.- Interviewed, selected and directed ongoing weekly support and guidance for MSU interns.- Recruited, interviewed and coordinated educational speakers to facilitate large and small group sessions at the annual youth-focused STARS National Conference for 350 student conference attendees.- Curated content and pioneered a workshop at the National Mentor Summit in Washington, D.C., specific to Mentoring Best Practices.- Allocated, maintained, and reported on grant specific budgets while meeting program budget goals.- Supervised, mentored and trained mentors at high schools and middle schools and facilitated STARS programs geared towards positive youth development and healthy relationships.- Developed and sustained ongoing relationships with school staff, parents, mentors and community partners through ongoing communication strategies and goal setting. Show less

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  Denver Public Schools

  Aug 2019 - Jan 2025

  - Championed the execution and implementation of 28 Coach Mentoring Program cohorts across various DPS middle and high schools, including 230 mentor and 240 student program participants.- Cultivated new partnerships with local organizations, expanding mentorship opportunities and increasing student participation by 74% within 1 year.- Designed, implemented and evaluated quarterly Coach Mentoring Program professional development sessions with community and industry partners to advance equity and trauma-informed care for students so that every learner thrives.- Streamlined team check-in processes that improved program facilitation efficiency by 40% within 4 months, ensuring all sessions remained on schedule and within budget.- Led and coached five team members to directly improve and impact team culture, relationships and session facilitation.- Identified opportunities and executed programmatic enhancements to elevate the program from silver to gold badge status as per the National Quality Mentoring System’s Elements of Effective Practice.- Collaborated with leadership to create, assess, and monitor team objectives, outcomes and data as aligned to departmental strategic goals on the student, adult and systematic levels.- Developed content and presented at national conferences specific to the importance of cultivating affinity spaces within mentoring programs and strengthening futures through career-focused mentoring. Show less - Orchestrated and ultimately strengthened community partnership with Arts and Physical Education Leadership through designing, implementing and monitoring department initiatives, including Citywide events and Student Voice Projects.- Established a streamlined volunteer process within 2 months, increasing cross-departmental collaboration opportunities by 50% through improved communication.- Initiated cross collaboration with departments across DPS to support student mentorship opportunities.- Launched and drove collaborative development, execution of strategic plans, and volunteer coordination for external partnership events. Show less - Delivered trauma informed support, individualized case management, supervision and crisis interventions for mentor/student pairs.- Served as a liaison between central office, school-based staff, students, parents, and industry partners to ensure program continuity and progressive and equitable outcomes for student career & college success.- Facilitated ongoing Coach Mentoring Program sessions both asynchronously and in-person for ~90 mentor/student pairs annually.- Developed tools, recruitment materials, and communication resources for school staff, parents/guardians and industry partners.- Directed and facilitated expansion of mentoring, internship and apprenticeship program opportunities to DPS schools, increasing student participation by 40%.- Organized all logistics including food purchasing, room reservation, and external partner communication for exploration field trips and mentoring sessions.- Documented student, mentor and parent/guardian engagement via Salesforce. Show less

  • Program Manager, Coach Mentoring

    Jul 2022 - Jan 2025

  • Manager, Strategic Systems and Processes

    Mar 2022 - Jul 2022

  • Regional Coordinator

    Aug 2019 - Apr 2022