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Daren Lu, Mount Vernon High School valedictorian 2023

It was because this school has so many opportunities for all of us. I was inducted into the International Baccalaureate Programme as a Diploma Candidate and I've got to say, I was a little nervous to take those classes. But I've got no regrets. Thank you, Mount Vernon High School, for the opportunities you have provided me and the rest of the students.

Daren Lu, Mount Vernon High School valedictorian 2023

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Daren Lu, Mount Vernon High School valedictorian 2023

It was because this school has so many opportunities for all of us. I was inducted into the International Baccalaureate Programme as a Diploma Candidate and I've got to say, I was a little nervous to take those classes. But I've got no regrets. Thank you, Mount Vernon High School, for the opportunities you have provided me and the rest of the students.

Daren Lu, Mount Vernon High School valedictorian 2023

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Daren Lu, Mount Vernon High School valedictorian 2023

It was because this school has so many opportunities for all of us. I was inducted into the International Baccalaureate Programme as a Diploma Candidate and I've got to say, I was a little nervous to take those classes. But I've got no regrets. Thank you, Mount Vernon High School, for the opportunities you have provided me and the rest of the students.

Daren Lu, Mount Vernon High School valedictorian 2023

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My name is Katrina Loftin, and I am proud to serve as a School Counselor at Yonkers Montessori Academy. I was born in the Bronx and raised in Mount Vernon, New York. With nearly two decades of experience in the field, I have been a professional school counselor since 2004—celebrating my 20th year this October. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working in various school districts, including the New York City Department of Education, Mount Vernon City School District, and now Yonkers Public Schools.

I earned my bachelor's degree in psychology from the esteemed Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA, and my master's degree in Counseling and Guidance from New York University (NYU). I come from a family of educators who have always placed a strong emphasis on the value of education. This foundation has instilled in me a deep commitment to supporting students as they strive to reach their fullest potential.

I am passionate about helping students grow academically, socially, and emotionally, and I look forward to the opportunity to mentor and supervise future school counselors, continuing to give back to the profession that has shaped my career.

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Hi everyone!

My name is Erica and I have been a school counselor in the Mount Vernon City School District for the past 7 years. This is my first and only job in this career and it has been a rewarding and challenging experience. I work at Lincoln School, which is a K-8 building. My goal as my students' counselor is to provide them the support they need to feel successful academically, socially and emotionally as a young individual. I always tell my students that I am not here to make them dependent on me, but to make them independent. It is a great feeling to see my students grow and overcome obstacles they may have had in the beginning. As they prepare and leave for the high schools my hope for my students is that they have built more self-confidence in themselves and feel prepared for their future aspirations.

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Welcome School Counseling Interns!

I look forward to embarking on this journey with you!

I have been a School Counselor with the Mt. Vernon City School District for nearly a decade! Throughout my time in district, I have worked with all grade levels from Pre-K to 12th Grade. In addition to a Master’s Degree in School Counseling, I hold a Certification in Career Development. I am also an Adjunct Academic Advisor at Westchester Community College and bilingual (Spanish).

Aside from my regular high school counseling duties (9th – 12th grade), I am the Site Direct for The Liberty Partnership Great Potential Program that runs out of SUNY Purchase College and the Advisor to all 11th Grade students in the Smart Scholars Program. Smart Scholar students will graduate MV STEAM Academy with a multitude of college credits through our partnership and dual enrollment with Mercy University. I am also the Vice President for PPS with the Mt. Vernon Federation of Teachers Union.

My counseling style is unique in the sense that I follow an honest and person-centered approach. My job and goal as a counselor is to meet the needs of the students and supply them with all the information that they require to make educated decisions. I assist in preparing our students for their next post-secondary steps, whether it be college, workforce, military, or vocational schools.

One thing that any of my students will tell you, is that Ms. Vélez will ALWAYS “tell you like it is”! With that approach in mind, I ALWAYS encourage my students to envision their futures and go for it. My students leave with an understanding that they matter and they are capable of anything that they work for. I stress the notion that the sky is not limit, it is merely their view!

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Nikia Jones is a passionate school counselor in the Mount Vernon City School District. Ms. Jones started her career in 2005 as a middle school counselor and has moved onto being s school counselor in a K-8 building. Ms. Jones grew up in New Rochelle , New York and received her Bachelor's degree and graduate degree from The College of New Rochelle, in New Rochelle, New York. As the school counselor , Ms. Jones supports, advocates, and builds a positive rapport with all students and their families. Ms. Jones truly enjoys assisting the students with their educational, personal, and career journeys.

Ms. Jones has committed to a number of school-based intervention programs throughout the years to further increase her networking and engagement with peers and coworkers. Nikia Jones is currently on the Positive Behavior Intervention Support team (PBIS). Response to Intervention(RTI). No Place for Hate team, Attendance team, and Health and Safety team. Ms. Jones is also a Dignity for all students ACT (DASA) coordinator within her school. Her theoretical orientation to counseling is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It is the best approach to use because it analyzes behavior by looking at the process of children and understanding their needs. Nikia Jones is also in the process of launching her own non-profit organization to assist girls with anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. (Girls, Anxiety and Depression). Another goal she has is to complete courses to take the Mental Health Counseling licensure exam. Ms. Jones has worked very closely with her students and families ;however, her ultimate joy is her two children, Bryce and Aaliyah. More recently, Ms. Jones has been training her mind to think of "positive vibes" daily. She has learned and believes that thinking positively and remaining optimistic is life-changing for herself and her new after school social-emotional program.

Professional Associations

American School Counseling Association

New York State School Counseling Association

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Evelyn Padilla graduated with her bachelor's degree in 1998 from SUNY Albany with a major in sociology and minor in Spanish. After graduating college, she worked for several non-profit organizations such as Partnership with Children, which was a school-based mental health program. That led her to pursue a master's degree in counseling from Mercy College and graduated with distinction in 2005. After receiving her degree, she began working for the Bronx Lighthouse Charter School, located in the South Bronx. There she found a passion working with students in underserved communities in grades K-5. In addition to conducting counseling groups and guidance curriculum lessons, Evelyn Padilla received training in peer mediation from the New York Institute of Technology and led a peer mediation program.

Then in 2012, Evelyn Padilla was given an opportunity to work as a school counselor in the Mount Vernon City School District. She provides counseling services for students in grades pre-K to 8. Her role in the school is not limited to only counseling as she as been involved and/or has led in the following:

-DASA (Dignity Act for All Students Act) coordinator

-Testing coordinator(NYS, Regents)

-Student council program

-Parent Involvement Day

-STEM coordinator( after school & summer)

In 2017, with the encouragement of her school principal, she received a Master of Science in School Building Leadership with distinction from Mercy College. Evelyn Padilla has supervised a counseling graduate student from the College of New Rochelle in 2019 and is looking forward to working with a Mercy College graduate student for 2025.

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My name is Kherissa Fearon. I am a dedicated elementary school counselor at Icahn Charter School 4, a two-time National Blue Ribbon School. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. I continued my education and attained my Master of Science in Education (MsEd) from Lehman College. My journey in education began as a Kindergarten teacher, where my love for teaching and supporting young learners grew. 

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My name is Kherissa Fearon. I am a dedicated elementary school counselor at Icahn Charter School 4, a two-time National Blue Ribbon School. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. I continued my education and attained my Master of Science in Education (MsEd) from Lehman College. My journey in education began as a Kindergarten teacher, where my love for teaching and supporting young learners grew. 

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In my role as an elementary school

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Let's get straight to the facts:

*School Counselor for 17 years

*Experienced PK-College

*Junior Achievement Liaison for 7 years

*Formally trained in Restorative Circles by Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility

*Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees from Fordham University

*Glad to be a School Counselor :)

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Welcome everyone!

My name is Gabrielle Thomas. I have a Master’s Degree in School Counseling and I have been a School Counselor in the Mount Vernon City School district for about a year now. This is my first job as a School Counselor and I have found it to be at times challenging, but even more rewarding. I started at Denzel Washington as the Middle School Counselor, and now this year my caseload is students 6-12.

I am the Site Director for The Liberty Partnership Great Potential Program, on our Schools MTSS Team and a DASA Coordinator here at DWSA.

All that being said, it is my absolute joy to be able to live out what I always knew I was meant to be, a School Counselor. The long stressful days are all made up by how rewarding it is to be able to watch my students grow, succeed and become incredible people in the world.

If I can help just change one students' life, I know where I'm meant to be.

I can't wait to get to know everyone and embrace this journey!

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Home - Nelson Mandela / Hosea Zollicoffer School

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Home - Nelson Mandela / Hosea Zollicoffer School

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Home - Denzel Washington School of the Arts

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Home - Denzel Washington School of the Arts

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Barack Obama School for Social Justice / Homepage

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Hello All , looking forward to the match event . Attached is my resume !

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Mr Rivera:“Mr. Rivera is a dedicated school counselor with a strong background in education and student development. He has been married for 9 years and is a proud father of two children, a 4-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter. Before transitioning into school counseling, Mr. Rivera served as a Dean of Students in the DOE for nearly 6 years. 

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Mr Rivera:“Mr. Rivera is a dedicated school counselor with a strong background in education and student development. He has been married for 9 years and is a proud father of two children, a 4-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter. Before transitioning into school counseling, Mr. Rivera served as a Dean of Students in the DOE for nearly 6 years. 

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He was the lead peer mediator at his previous building. He led restorative circles and provided training for both students and adults in peer mediation techniques. This experience has further deepened his commitment to fostering positive school environments and helping students develop conflict resolution and social-emotional skills. He is now entering his 5th year as a school counselor and remains deeply committed to supporting young people in reaching their full potential. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and staying active by playing sports.”

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New York State Permanent Certification - School Counselor Provisional Certification - School Administrative Supervisor LMHC – Licensed Mental Health Counselor since 1998

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Charles E. Gorton High School / Homepage

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For 20 years Jon has served students!  The past 11 years he has worked with both high school, middle school and elementary school students.  He is passionate about helping students learn coping skills, better ways of thinking and talking about themselves and helping them find their unique abilities and passions.  Jon is married and has three kids.  He is an avid golfer and spends his free time helping with youth golf programs. How long are these supposed to be? Ok!

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Katrina Loftin: I am proud to serve as a School Counselor at Yonkers Montessori Academy. I was born in the Bronx and raised in Mount Vernon, New York. With nearly two decades of experience in the field, I have been a professional school counselor since 2004—celebrating my 20th year this October. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working in various school districts, including the New York City Department of Education, Mount Vernon City School District, and now Yonkers Public Schools.

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Katrina Loftin: I am proud to serve as a School Counselor at Yonkers Montessori Academy. I was born in the Bronx and raised in Mount Vernon, New York. With nearly two decades of experience in the field, I have been a professional school counselor since 2004—celebrating my 20th year this October. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working in various school districts, including the New York City Department of Education, Mount Vernon City School District, and now Yonkers Public Schools.

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I am passionate about helping students grow academically, socially, and emotionally, and I look forward to the opportunity to mentor and supervise future school counselors, continuing to give back to the profession that has shaped my career.

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Hello, I look forward to meeting you all! Attached is my resume.

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Hello Everyone,

I am eager to meet everyone. See you Wednesday!

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I am eager to meet everyone and make connections.

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Hello! I look forward to meeting you all! Attached is my resume.

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Looking forward to meeting you all!

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Hello everyone,

I am very excited to meet you all! Attached is my resume.

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Hello! I am looking forward to meeting you all. Attached is my resume.

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Excited for another match event. Please see my resume attached.

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Hello Everyone,

I looking forward to meeting you all.

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I am an aspiring school counselor with a fresh perspective who seeks to support student growth and well-being. I am looking forward to this match meeting.

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Hi Everyone, Looking forward to meeting with you all!

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Looking Forward to meeting everyone at this event and so glad to be a part of this great program!

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Hello! I look forward to meeting everyone! My resume is attached here.

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Hello everyone! I'm looking forward to meeting you all at the match event! Attached is my resume.

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A graduate of New York University Counseling Psychology program, I have been a School Counselor for the past 28 years in Yonkers Public Schools where I began as an Elementary School Counselor and then transferred to Lincoln High School.  My passion has always been to work with adolescents and support them socially, emotionally and academically.  For the past 28 years I have worked directly with teachers, parents and administrators in the K-12 setting prepared to recognize and meet the challenges of my students lives and help them achieve their college and career goals.  As a high school counselor, I continue working with my students to ensure that they develop into the young adults they strive to become and help them find their passion so that they can transition into their college or career goal.

In addition to college and career counseling, I also work individually and in groups. In 2017, I began the “HOPE group” which is a grief counseling group which helps students deal with a family members terminal illness. This group was developed based on the needs of my students and has been a major support for our students. I implement art therapy into our group counseling sessions which allows students to express themselves creatively.

In 2018 I achieved National Board Certification in School Counseling which was one of my professional goals. I continue to volunteer my time working with students completing their college applications and helping them develop their personal essays. I enjoy working one on one with the students to help meet their college and career expectations and goals. As Department head of Lincoln High School, School Counseling, I work closely with my colleagues so that we can educate ourselves with resources that are available for our students and families to ensure their success.

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Hello!

Looking forward to meeting you!

Attached is my resume.

Thank you

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Hello,

This is Setta, and I look forward to seeing you all at the event. Here is an attachment of my resume. See you all soon!

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Hello! Looking forward to meeting you all. Attached is my resume.

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Hello, I am looking forward to the Match Event and meeting more school counselors. Attached is my resume.

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Hello, I am looking forward to meeting everyone! Attached is my resume.

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Hello! I am excited to meet you all! Attached is my resume. Looking forward to the match event!

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My name is Krystine Melicio and I am a dedicated school counselor with a passion for supporting student growth. I earned my Bachelor’s degree from The University at Albany, SUNY, where I majored in Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Afterwards, I continued with my studies and earned my Master’s degree in School Counseling from Manhattan College.

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My name is Krystine Melicio and I am a dedicated school counselor with a passion for supporting student growth. I earned my Bachelor’s degree from The University at Albany, SUNY, where I majored in Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Afterwards, I continued with my studies and earned my Master’s degree in School Counseling from Manhattan College.

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Hi all,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet with you. I look forward to connecting and getting to know eachother.

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Hello, everyone! Looking forward to meeting with you. Attached above is my resume.

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I look forward to meeting all the school counselors and making meaningful connections. Attached is my resume.

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Hi All! Attached is my resume. Looking forward to meeting you all! :)

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Hi, I'm looking forward to meeting everyone. Attached is my resume.

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Hello! I am looking forward to meeting you all at the Match Event.