Illinois School Counselor of the Year 2020!
In spring of 2020, Dr. Truax was named the Illinois School Counselor of the Year by the Illinois School Counselor Association. You can see her application video here!
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Simpson Academy for Young Women
Preparing, Educating & Empowering Teen Mothers
Simpson Academy is a small Chicago Public School that has exclusively served pregnant and parenting teens for over 5 decades. Dr. Truax has been the sole school counselor at Simpson since the Fall of 2018. As Simpson has a unique population of 6th-12th grade students the need for a comprehensive and developmentally appropriate school counseling program is essential.
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School Counselor
Fall 2018-June 2020
Counseling Program Mission
The mission of the Simpson Academy counseling program is to educate and empower young mothers to prepare them for success in college, career, and life despite barriers to equity and access through data-driven comprehensive services.
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Counseling Program Vision
The counseling program at Simpson Academy for Young Women envisions a future where teen parenting is not a barrier to the success of our students and alumni. Our young women will embody determination, respect, integrity, vision and empathy to allow them to achieve their college, career, and life goals so that they may provide not only for themselves but for their children and the global society.
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Data-Driven Services
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Earned the Recognized ASCA Model Program School of Distinction status in 2020
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Led team to earn "Exemplary" as a Safe and Supportive School from the Office of Social Emotional Learning
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19% decrease in level 4+ infractions resulting in out of school suspensions (SY19)
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31% of students have increased their cumulative GPA (SY19)
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7 small groups run on social emotional and academic topics (SY19)
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25+ different core curriculum lesson plans delivered (SY19)
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5 new community based organization partners developed (SY19)
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Won the 2019 School Counselor Leadership Award"from Chicago Public Schools
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Won the 2020 Ray Piagentini High School Counselor of the Year from the Illinois School Counselor Association
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Won the 2020 Illinois School Counselor of the Year from Illinois School Counselor Association
Marine Leadership Academy
Leading through Honor, Courage, & Commitment
School Counselor
Spring 2016-2018
Marine Leadership Academy is a Chicago Public School in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps Junior ROTC program that serves nearly 900 7th-12th grade students.​
Data-Driven Services
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65% decrease in level 4+ infractions resulting in out of school suspensions
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24% increase in students with a 3.0 or greater
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6% increase in college enrollment
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Lead team of five in the RAMP process: Awarded RAMP Status in 2018
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Lead team to earn "Exemplary" as a Safe and Supportive School from the Office of Social Emotional Learning
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Lead the Student Support Team and Mutli-Tiered Systems of Support Team
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Named "Master Counselor" by Chicago Public Schools
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Earned Honorable Mention School Counselor of the Year by the Illinois School Counselor Association
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Team Lead for the Social Emotional Domain
Chicago Academy High School | Community of Learners Contributing to the World through the Power of Education
School Counselor
Fall 2012-2016
Assistant School Counselor
Fall 2009-2012
Chicago Academy High School is a Chicago Public School under the Academy for Urban School Leadership that serves nearly 600 9th-12th grade students.​
Data-Driven Services
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10% increase in Freshmen On Track rates from 2010-2014
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100% completion of Individualized Learning Plans through Naviance
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Lead team of two counselors in the Re-RAMP process: Awarded RAMP Status 2013
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Freshmen and Sophomore Caseload of 283 students
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Lead all Freshmen On Track Interventions
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Facilitated numerous small groups and core curriculum lessons
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Won the "Data-Driven School Counselor" award in 2013 from Chicago Public Schools