Conference Focuses on Mental Health and the Educator

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:

• Gina Cicco, `07Ed.D.,`00GEd, Associate Professor of Counselor Education, Department of Counselor Education, The School of Education, St. John’s University

• Tanairy Fernandez `13GEd, Bilingual Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and Founder and Clinical Director, Balance Mental Health Counseling, Huntington, NY

• Bert Gervais, Educator for Resilience and Boosting Mental Well-Being in the Postpandemic Frenzy

• Ronald Masera `10Ed.D., Superintendent, Center Moriches School District, and advocate for student mental health in schools

• Andrew Nasser,`07GEd., Assistant Principal, Pupil Personnel Services, The Bronx High School of Science.

“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!