Miranda Ackerman

mirandalackerman@gmail.com
757-409-0470
May 2015
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Miranda Ackerman and I am interested in applying for a school counseling
position in XXX Public Schools. I am obtaining my Master of Science in Education, with
specialization in school counseling, from Old Dominion University. My graduation date
will be August 2015.
As a professional school counselor, my goal is to ensure that all students needs are met
through offering a comprehensive school counseling program that focuses on students
academic, social, and emotional outcomes. I work to make sure that all students are
prepared to be successful, meet their goals, and become lifelong learners. I use a
combination of person-centered, solution-focused, reality and choice, and motivational
interviewing techniques and theories in my practice as a professional school counselor.
During my time in my masters program at Old Dominion University, I have been
involved in rigorous course work, internships, a practicum, an observation, membership
to different honor societies and professional organizations, and continuous participation
in professional development opportunities. I completed my internship at Grassfield High
School and Butts Road Primary School, practicum at G.A. Treakle Elementary, and
observation at Joliff Middle School, all diverse Chesapeake Public Schools. Being in
these schools has offered me a well-rounded experience and has allowed me to use the
knowledge that I have gained in my school counseling program, as well as gain a deeper
understanding of different K-12 schools.
As a school counseling intern in a Chesapeake Public high school, I have become very
familiar with the State of Virginias graduation requirements for advanced, standard,
modified, and special diplomas, as well as how to develop plans for students in the
Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Program and help students whose
goals were to seek ways for alternate graduation completion. I provided crisis and grief
counseling during my high school internship due to the tragic loss of a student. I also
gained a great deal of knowledge about how to be an Advanced Placement Coordinator,
Homebound Coordinator, and Truancy Representative of a high school.
As a school counseling intern in Chesapeake Public primary school, I gained an
understanding of what an elementary school program should look like, through providing
classroom guidance, individual counseling, and sitting in on many Child Study
Committee, E-STAT, IEP, and 504 plan meetings. I also helped with administering many
school-wide behavioral programs, Kindergarten tours, and Reverse Mainstream
Screening sessions for Pre-K students. I planned and offered guidance lessons on a
variety of important topics, including awareness of feelings, respect, kindness, friendship,

bullying, divorce, and diversity, as well as offered techniques on self-regulation, behavior

strategies, social skills, and awareness of feelings.
Additionally, I am a member of many different honor societies that I actively participated
in during my bachelors degree, as well as in ones that support my goal as a becoming a
counselor during my masters degree program. I have volunteered since high school in
the areas of child-care and tutoring activities that also supports my school counseling
focus. The activities I participated in while pursuing my bachelors degree have had a
strong human service focus in the area of advising and working with youth making career
and school decisions. I am also taking Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) courses to
help better understand my students needs. I have been awarded scholarships and awards
for my dedication and service, as well as deans list for being in good academic standing
and having high GPAs in both perusing my M.S.Ed and B.S. degrees.
Overall, I have developed into a more confident and competent school counselor from my
growth during these placements in Chesapeake Public Schools and through pursuing my
degrees. I gained a wealth of knowledge about working in the school system, how to be a
school counselor, about the schools climate, community, and importance of collaboration
with stakeholders. I believe that all of my experiences have prepared me to be a
successful, flexible, and creative school counselor. I have a strong dedication to school
counseling and a passion to make a difference in the lives of students.
If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me. Thank you so much for
your time and your consideration!
Sincerely,
Miranda L. Ackerman