Ryan Lejman

Background

About Ryan Lejman

I graduated from Olivet Nazarene University in August 2014, where I majored in History/Sociology with a minor in Political Science. During my undergraduate career, I developed a passion for working with students, which led to being a summer camp counselor, a small group leader for an outreach program, Youth for Christ, and ultimately pursuing a career in Education. I was accepted to Eastern University on the Main Line (Wayne, PA) right outside of Philadelphia to complete my MA in School Counseling (PK-12). I mastered evidence-based practices, research-based counseling and completed 750 internship hours. I interned at Saint Joseph's Preparatory school in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia. I had individual meetings, group meetings, presentations, became knowledgeable of the college process, and understood Jesuit education and values. I concluded my internship experience at Northley Middle school, located in Aston, PA, as the 7th-grade Counseling Intern. I developed a small group/classroom curriculum while working with individuals and planning a pep rally. Since graduating, I have worked at three schools as a school counselor, family connections counselor, and paraprofessional. I spent my first-year post-grad in the Greater Philadelphia area, working at Valley Forge Educational Services as an LTS Vanguard Upper School Counselor and Catapult Learning as a Family Connections Counselor at Saint Christopher School (K-8). After the school year was completed, I decided to move back to the Southwest Suburbs. While back home, I've been working as a paraprofessional at Bradley West Elementary school (Bradley, IL), working with 3rd-5th students. In 2019, I decided to step away from Education world and work Full-time in the Retail Industry providing excellent customer service at J.Crew as an assistant manager and Mens' stylist while going back to North Park University in Chicago, IL to complete my M.A.T. in Secondary Education: Social Sciences. I graduated from Northpark in December 2021, after student-teaching at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School located in Chicago, IL. Where I taught Honors World Studies and Law in Society, during this experience, I gained knowledge in student-centered learning strategies, curriculum planning, and a positive learning environment. I'm looking forward to diving back into the Education world, where I can impact students by either teaching or counseling.