Conference Focuses on Mental Health and the Educator

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Dean’s Advisory Board Annual Professional Development Conference

From Left: Kevin Sullivan, Ed.D., Assistant Principal, Floral Park Memorial High School; James D. Wolfinger, Ph.D., Dean, The School of Education; Anna R. Lukachik, Member, Dean's Advisory Board; Gina Cicco, Ed.D., LMHC, NCC, Associate Dean; Professor of School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, St. John’s University; Andrew Nasser, GEd., Assistant Principal of Pupil, Personnel Services at The Bronx High School of Science; Anna Maria Montuori, Chair, Dean's Advisory Board; Tanairy Fernandez, GEd., LMHC, NCC, PMH-C, Bilingual Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Founder and Clinical Director of Balance Mental Health Counseling, Huntington, NY; Serafino M. Celano, Ed.D., Assistant Professor, St. John’s University; Karina Costantino, Member, Dean's Advisory Board; and Ronald Masera, Ed.D., Superintendent of Center Moriches, School District.

October 19, 2023

Educators and leaders in the education field recently gathered for The School of Education’s Dean’s Advisory Board Annual Professional Development Conference to focus on the theme, “Mental Health and the Educator: Why is Mental Health Important for Teachers?”

"Participants remarked how much they appreciated the opportunity to learn more about mental health in the schools, for themselves and their students,” said James D. Wolfinger, Ph.D., Dean, The School of Education. “The speakers all shared helpful insights and made the conference a great success.”

The conference, held on October 14 on St. John’s University’s Queens, NY, campus, was free to educators and educational leaders in the New York metropolitan area. A diverse group of subject matter experts led thoughtful sessions on education and mental health:

“We should challenge ourselves to try something ‘scary’ each day,” Ms. Fernandez advised the attendees. “This is a good way to start to face our anxieties.”

Anna Maria Montuori `68Ed, `70GEd, `82PD, chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board and Adjunct Assistant Professor in The School of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction, added, “Each presenter was excellent. They did not just share theories, but gave specific strategies for self-care. This was one of our best professional development events.”

For a glance at some of the activities, please watch our VIDEO!

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