About Me – Merkle Educational Counselling & Consulting

Jennifer Merkle, Educational Counsellor & Consultant

BA, BEd, MEd, OCT

I have always been enthusiastic about education and consider myself to be a life-long learner. I began my post-secondary education at Wilfrid Laurier University where I obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree (Honours Sociology & Honours English) in 2005. My volunteer and work experiences helped me discover how passionate I am about education and empowering marginalized and vulnerable youth. As an undergraduate student I spent a great deal of time volunteering with children and youth in schools as well as working part time as a Personal Support Worker (PSW) with adults with developmental disabilities. These experiences inspired me to continue my education by becoming an Ontario certified teacher. Since graduating from the teacher education program at York University in 2006, I have continued to seek various learning opportunities that align with my passions which include: social justice, experiential learning, guidance/counselling, special education, and career coaching. In 2018, I completed the Principal’s Qualifications courses and a currently working as a secondary school Vice Principal in the Greater Toronto Area. Recently, In 2024, I Completed OISE’s Master of Education Leadership and Policy program.

My Professional Skills & Experiences

Leadership Experiences:

Administrator, Ontario Family Studies Home Economics Educators' Association (OFSHEEA)

Vice Principal, Peel District School Board (PDSB)

Instructional Coach (K-12), PDSB

Curricular Head of Social Science and Humanities, PDSB

Vice Principal, York Region District School Board (YRDSB)

Assistant Administrator, PDSB Continuing Education

Critical Incident Response Team Member, PDSB

Director of Future Directions, OFSHEEA

Skilled in:

Student Counselling:
-Pathway planning
-Restorative practices and conflict resolution
-Crisis intervention

Guidance and Advocacy Services for:
-English Language Learners
-Students with special needs
-Students who have been historically underserved by the education system (BIPOC)

Academic Counselling/Coaching/Tutoring

Research, Report Writing and Editing

Classroom Management

Proofreading, Editing, and Preparing Professional Presentations

Innovative Use of Educational Technology

Curriculum Development

Assessment and Instruction

Building Positive Relationships and School Climates

Career Planning and Building Capacity in Others

School Success Planning

Group Facilitation and Professional Development

Additional Qualifications & Certifications

Principal’s Qualification Program (PQP I & II)

Member of Ontario School Counsellors Association (OSCA)

Guidance & Career Education (Specialist)

Special Education Qualifications

Contemporary Studies Specialist

Junior Division Qualification

Lucy West’s Content Coaching Training

Trauma Informed Practices

and more…

SAFE Talk Training (Suicide Prevention & Mental Health First Aid)

Restorative Practices Training

ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)

Critical Incident Response Training

Crisis Prevention Institute Training

Anti-Black Racism Training

Sexual Abuse Prevention Program

Human Trafficking Prevention Training

“Helping others find purpose and fulfillment in life is what I find most rewarding about being an educator and is why I pursued a career in teaching.”

"I inspire hope in students by sharing success stories with them so that they can see past their present-day challenges and feel a sense of control over their futures.”

“As a leader in education, I am motivated to challenge stereotypes and eliminate barriers that exist for students so that they can achieve their goals.”