My name is Alexis Garcia and I am the first ever school counselor at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School. I am bilingual (English/Spanish). Originally from the Midwest, most recently, Kansas City, I am excited to be living in the Pacific Northwest! I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology/Sociology from McPherson College and my Master of Arts degree in Counseling & Guidance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. This is my seventh year as a certified school counselor.
My experience so far at SMM so far has been very rewarding. I provide individual, academic and social/emotional counseling, as well as group counseling. I also facilitate mediations and assist with behavior interventions. We now have a guidance curriculum that is implemented through classroom lessons. Every other week, each class is taught a lesson. Lesson themes include Compassion, Empathy, Gratitude, Self-Control, and Bullying, to name a few! In middle school, the focus is on career paths. Students have taken the Meyers-Briggs, an interest survey, to uncover potential areas to pursue in their future. This gives students the opportunity to do some self-exploration and actively think about college and career prep at the middle school level. We want our students to be prepared!
As educators, we are called to work with our students and instill in them a sense of faith, confidence, and leadership. I believe this strongly. We strive to educate the whole person all while challenging them to reach their potential academically.
Cultivating strong character, promoting respect, and teaching the beauty of diversity are priorities of mine. I watch our SMM students grow and learn each day and I must admit; I am learning and growing right alongside of them.
I truly believe in the mission of SMM and hope to continue to make a difference!