Women in Business: Sonya Giuffre
By Taylor Jones
This month, we’re changing up the Woman in Business feature to speak with a local teacher and youth mentor, Sonya Giuffre. Her counseling and empowerment work with elementary youth takes as much gumption as you would need in business.
Sonya’s interview reflects very human qualities: altering career paths, empathy, finding your niche, and exploring ways to help those around her. These qualities exemplify those of a true woman in business. Keep reading after the jump to learn more about Sonya and her work at Marion Center Elementary.
Women in Business Feature: Interview with Sonya Giuffre
Planful: Tell me about yourself, your background.
SG: I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Master’s degree in Elementary School Counseling. I’ve been an elementary school counselor for the Marion Center School District for the last twelve years.
My job responsibilities include providing individual and group counseling to students, teaching classroom guidance lessons each month, participating in Child Study Team and Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings, and serving as a liaison between the school and community agencies. I have been at Marion Center Elementary for 12 years. I try to get into each classroom once a month, in between I meet with individual students who come to me.
P: What made you get into counseling and youth mentorship?
SG: I thought I loved teaching until I took my first counseling class at IUP. I knew at that point that counseling children was my passion. I have always spent a lot of time thinking about how other people feel. Prior to the counseling program I felt like empathizing with everyone was a character flaw, but I began to realize I could use it to help others. It’s easy for me to form a bond with children because I can see their perspective. I think this is what helps me connect with kids.
P: What were your biggest challenges when starting your career? Now?
SG: Twelve years ago, I was a new counselor who didn’t feel very confident in my counseling skills or ability to connect with parents. I didn’t know much about the service providers in the area either. However, I was so excited to start working in the field that I enjoyed learning the ropes! Now, my biggest challenge is keeping up with the needs of students. The mental health needs of students seem to be rising and require a lot of attention. There are days it’s very difficult to keep up with the needs.
P: What motivates you?
SG: Making connections with students motivates me each and every day. It is a privilege to be able to be there for a student when he/she is having a rough day. Secondly, I have the pleasure of helping students build their character. I get to talk to students about having responsibility, being respectful, and telling the truth. All of the things I teach are as important as knowing how to add and learning sight words. Last, I have a passion for seeing girls develop assertiveness skills and becoming confident in themselves.
P: What would you like people to know about your job?
SG: Well, I’m not a business owner, but I am committed to a non-profit program I, along with Marion Center’s other elementary counselor Nicole Long, have facilitated for the last four years. Ruling Our eXperiences or ROX is an evidence-based empowerment program for adolescent girls. The program was developed by Ohio State professor Lisa Hinkleman who has researched every aspect of girls’ lives. ROX acknowledges that navigating the world is very difficult for girls. The twenty-week program focuses on team building, healthy communication, dealing with girl drama/bullying, healthy relationships, navigating social media, body image, support systems, safety and violence prevention, stress and coping, academic and career development and leadership.
This program offers everything I wish I had as a young girl. The girls and I spend time together every week discussing the topics that are so important to the lives of girls. I watch girls develop self-esteem and confidence each year as they become more assertive. It’s an amazing transformation and I’m so blessed to be part of it!
People often think that elementary school counselors couldn’t be very busy. I get asked often if I color or play all day. My response is I do what I need to in order to build a bond with a student. If coloring is going to help make a connection, so be it!! I work with students to begin to understand and acknowledge their own feelings. I work with students to learn how to cope with decisions others in their lives have made that directly impact them. These young people turn into teens and later adults who need to know how to manage their emotions. Taking care of one’s mental health is crucial, yet it’s’ often overlooked.
P: What are your best time management tips?
SG: My job is all about prioritizing…I often compare it to triaging in an emergency room (instead of physical emergencies, I have mental health emergencies). If a student is a danger to him/herself or someone else, they come first. And.. I live by to-do lists! Any free minute I have is dedicated to making a phone call to a parent or checking in with a student.
P: Is it challenging finding a work/life balance?
SG: Absolutely. Bringing work home and carrying the worry of students with me consumes a lot of time. That’s why it’s so important to do things for myself to help manage any stress that comes from work. Spending time with my family is the best cure-all. I also enjoy yoga, journaling, and reading. Praying helps too!
As always, it was great to be able to discuss work and life with someone like Sonya, who dedicates her time to be their best self. To read more about the ROX program, check out their website here.
