Nancy Fernandez
Counselor
As a School Counselor in CPS since 2009 and 5 years of teaching, I have a strong background in trauma informed practices, crisis counseling, postsecondary planning, college and career exploration, Tie1 Counseling curriculum, restorative practices, and tier 2&3 interventions. I hold a master’s degree in education and a Professional Educators License with an endorsement in School Counseling and Elementary Bilingual Teacher. Plus, I hold the CPS Chicago Equity and Access Advising Credential to advocate for best practices in middle school advising. The advising credential has increased my knowledge to tackle topics such as use of data, student-centered advising, equity, and access for black and Hispanic youth, as well as college and career readiness for all students. During SY21, I was able to accomplish a long-time professional goal and became a RAMP Recognized School Counseling Program and was also recognized in other ways such as School Counselor of the Month (March), the School Counseling Impact Award from OSCPA, the Success Bound Community Award, and the School Counseling Impact Award. As a National RAMP Recognized School Counseling program, I can proudly say that we are committed to delivering comprehensive, data-informed school counseling programs to all students at Brighton Park. These programs, which align with the ASCA National Model, exemplify school counseling at its best. With the district’s goal of having every school Ramped by 2031, we are a step ahead of the game! Currently, I am also the District’s School Counselor Lead for Networks 1-3 through the Office of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising, Network 8 SEL Lead, and on the Associate Board of Elyssa’s Mission Suicide Prevention Program.
In my spare time, I enjoy time with my kids who are 6 years old and 4 years old. I'm lucky to have both a son and a daughter who keep me on my toes. Besides, playing with Barbie's and Number Blocks, we enjoy taking walks around the neighborhood and spending quality time with family having movie nights and sleep overs. This school year, it has been my mission to create an equitable school environment where all students feel safe, comfortable, and included. The vision of Brighton Park Elementary School Counseling Program is to increase access to resources that support academic achievement and promote an educational environment that grows leaders who are engaged, empowered, and educated. The counseling program helps all students develop their present and future academic, social/emotional, and career awareness by using equity as an essential component to data analysis, which helps improve equitable outcomes. This vision will carry students through high school, college, career, and civic life.
We have our very first Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and had the privilege of co-presenting "Using the Affirmed Name (or “Goes By” Name) for Students: The When, Why, How" during SWAP, which enhanced my knowledge and ability to support all students. Plus, we are sponsoring other student school clubs such as Erika's Lighthouse Teen Empowerment Club that supports adolescents to understand the symptoms of depression, learn coping skills and when to ask for help. The students in the club get a change to increase mental health awareness school wide.
It is with great enthusiasm and excitement that I am pursuing election on the Local School Council at Brighton Park Elementary as a teacher representative. Over the past 6 years at Brighton Park, I have taken the initiative to develop my own leadership capacity to become a more reflective and solution oriented in making difficult decisions that benefit the whole student. As a teacher representative, I strongly feel that I bring a unique school wide view of supporting students in their academics, social/emotional, and college and career development. As a teacher representative, my goal on the Local School Council would be to enhance awareness by using equity as an essential component to data analysis, and carry the school’s vision of growing leaders who are engaged, empowered, and educated. I will advocate to increase access to supports both inside the classroom and within the community that address the holistic wellness needs of staff, students, and families that increase academic, social/emotional, college and career development.
In my spare time, I enjoy time with my kids who are 6 years old and 4 years old. I'm lucky to have both a son and a daughter who keep me on my toes. Besides, playing with Barbie's and Number Blocks, we enjoy taking walks around the neighborhood and spending quality time with family having movie nights and sleep overs. This school year, it has been my mission to create an equitable school environment where all students feel safe, comfortable, and included. The vision of Brighton Park Elementary School Counseling Program is to increase access to resources that support academic achievement and promote an educational environment that grows leaders who are engaged, empowered, and educated. The counseling program helps all students develop their present and future academic, social/emotional, and career awareness by using equity as an essential component to data analysis, which helps improve equitable outcomes. This vision will carry students through high school, college, career, and civic life.
We have our very first Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and had the privilege of co-presenting "Using the Affirmed Name (or “Goes By” Name) for Students: The When, Why, How" during SWAP, which enhanced my knowledge and ability to support all students. Plus, we are sponsoring other student school clubs such as Erika's Lighthouse Teen Empowerment Club that supports adolescents to understand the symptoms of depression, learn coping skills and when to ask for help. The students in the club get a change to increase mental health awareness school wide.
It is with great enthusiasm and excitement that I am pursuing election on the Local School Council at Brighton Park Elementary as a teacher representative. Over the past 6 years at Brighton Park, I have taken the initiative to develop my own leadership capacity to become a more reflective and solution oriented in making difficult decisions that benefit the whole student. As a teacher representative, I strongly feel that I bring a unique school wide view of supporting students in their academics, social/emotional, and college and career development. As a teacher representative, my goal on the Local School Council would be to enhance awareness by using equity as an essential component to data analysis, and carry the school’s vision of growing leaders who are engaged, empowered, and educated. I will advocate to increase access to supports both inside the classroom and within the community that address the holistic wellness needs of staff, students, and families that increase academic, social/emotional, college and career development.
