Care & Compassion: Meet Ivy Academia School Counselor Ms. Vogel

We all want our children to feel nurtured, respected, and supported while they navigate their exciting yet challenging school years. At Ivy Academia, a tuition-free Woodland Hills TK-8 school, all of our teachers and staff work together to help your child thrive, especially our school counselor, Ms. Haley Vogel. Ms. V is here to guide students to their highest potential. She loves what she does and is deeply committed to our small school community. Here’s more about MS. V: 

Please tell us about your background and how you came to be at Ivy Academia.

In college I worked as a caregiver for disabled adults. My love for that job led me to becoming an ABA therapist for children on the autism spectrum. In that role, I helped children learn communication and social skills. It was incredibly rewarding to watch the kids gain confidence and independence. I loved working in the field of mental health. I received a minor in educational studies at UCSB, which is where I discovered my love for the education field. I wanted to do something that involved both education and mental health, which is how I found school counseling. I got my Master of Science in Counseling and Pupil Personnel services from California Lutheran University in May, 2023. I choose to work at Ivy Academia  because I feel my values are so well aligned with the values promoted here- I cannot imagine a school that values students' overall well-being more than Ivy Academia. 

What do you love about Ivy Academia?

What I love most about our engaged TK-8 are the people. I have worked in many schools as a tutor, substitute teacher, behavioral therapist, and counseling intern and I have never encountered a more supportive group of people. Everyone here truly and deeply cares about our students' well-being. The level of care and support that exist here at Ivy Academia is hard to come by. 

What's the best part about your role?

The best part about being a school counselor is getting to help students reach their full potential. Watching students realize that they can overcome challenges they never thought they could and gain skills they never thought they would have is a beautiful thing. I want all of my students to know that they can do anything they want in life, and that no matter where they came from or what they have been through, the future is full of endless and bright possibilities. 

Are you involved in other activities at Ivy Academia? 

This year I will be getting involved in Ivy Community and incorporating concepts of college and career counseling into the entrepreneurial program. 

There are great Social Emotional Learning (SEL) activities at Ivy Academia- when have you seen this in action?

I see the incredible impact of social emotional learning in so many students at Ivy Academia who have an astounding level of self awareness for their age. They have a deep understanding of their emotional experiences and mental well-being that I know students did not have when I was in elementary and middle school. I look forward to seeing how social emotional learning impacts the next generation- I believe it will make them better people and will help them create a better world.  

In your opinion, what makes a great leader? How do you teach leadership?

A great leader is someone who inspires. A great leader is someone who you follow not because you have to, but because you want to, and you believe in the direction they are leading you. A great leader motivates and empowers others to not only meet expectations, but exceed them and be a leader themselves.

Please share a few fun facts about you!

1. I love boating and being on the water in general. My family has a Sea Ray Sundancer 320 in Marina Del Rey that we take out every Sunday for a  bit of family bonding time. I love that it keeps me so close to my family. 

2. I have been to 9 countries outside of the United States. They are: Italy, Switzerland, France, England, Portugal, Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Indonesia. 

3. My first car was a baby blue Beetle that I absolutely adored. I hope to own another one someday. 

Be supported and empowered by Counselor Vogel and our entire Ivy Academia Puma family and enroll today! It’s not too late!

About Ivy Academia

Ivy Academia is a tuition-free public charter elementary & middle school serving transitional kindergarten through eighth graders in Woodland Hills, California. At Ivy Academia, we empower our students to realize their fullest potential through meaningful and innovative educational opportunities. We use a cross-curricular approach, focusing on an entrepreneurial mindset. We believe in a high-quality, customized education, setting high expectations and offering robust academic support. Our small, TK-8 program partners with families and the surrounding community in preparing students to become dynamic leaders in the 21st century. Join our growing school, enroll today!