May 14th was a special night for students and alumni of our CITE partner programs, in NYC. We held our second annual Resource Fair, featuring a panel discussion on Mental Health in Education. Discussing best practices and new ideas on how to face challenges around good mental health care in schools, in a space full of NYC’s best educators, was not only a positive experience but a beneficial one as well.
During our Panel Discussion, moderated by Chalkbeat reporter Alex Zimmerman, we explored mental health in education from a variety of viewpoints, with Dr. Jay Cerio Dean of Mental Health and School Counseling for Alfred University, Dr. Tim Lisante Executive Superintendent for District 79, Dr. Stacey Halley General Manager for School Counseling in the Brooklyn North DOE Borough Support Center, and Rukiya Shannon a Counselor in the Single Shepherd program. The discussion ranged from teacher and counselor self-care to some of the issues that classroom teachers, administrators, and counselors see with students. We heard about trends in mental health, as well as some ways the DOE is trying to train staff to deal with them. General topics included student homelessness, trauma-informed care, how students indicate they need help, and dealing with stress. The panel addressed questions from the audience as well. Ms. Shannon took us through the goals of the Single Shepherd program, while Dr. Cerio spoke about program design in the Master’s in School Counseling through Alfred University, in partnership with CITE. Dr. Halley spoke about the challenges from a borough-support level, how to help building leaders get the professional development they need. Dr. Lisante brought his experience in a unique district to bear, discussing innovative ways he and his team prepare and respond to their daily challenges as well as long-term goals.
Students and alumni left feeling confident and more knowledgeable, saying comments like “I would never think my mental state plays such a huge role in the classroom,” and, “I didn’t know a student could be placed in a school in Far Rockaway and be bused from a shelter in the Bronx… We have to shed more light on issues like this one!”
After the panel discussion, students and alumni had an opportunity to network with schools and organizations who anticipated job openings.
At CITE we pride ourselves on making the student experience a productive and cohesive line from the first class all the way through the alumni years – to embody a sense of purpose & belonging; to strongly convey who we are & why we’re here; most importantly to value what we and you build together in your program, to carry into the next stage of your career.
To that end, we provide networking opportunities and share job postings with our community. Our CITE partners include: the College of St. Rose’s SBL program, which counts nearly 25% of principals in NYC as graduates; Alfred University’s Masters in School Counseling and Mental Health Counseling, which is among the largest Counseling Master’s programs in NY State; Concordia College’s Master’s program in general and special ed on the early childhood and childhood levels, which has graduated hundreds of certified teachers who earned excellent scores on their teaching exams; and the Sage College’s doctoral program in Educational Leadership, which boasts accomplished building and district leaders who have published and presented their academic work while maintaining day-to-day leadership on all levels of the NYC school system.
For our students and alumni, a CITE event means the chance to network with a pool of people who care, who value practical training, and who share a common bond across many levels of school leadership in NYC.
For information on our next event, like our Facebook page, and send an email to Joshua Davis, our alumni coordinator.
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CITE is the Center for Integrated Training and Education. For over 25 years, CITE has and continues to train TEACHERS (Early Childhood, Professional Certification, Special Ed,Grad Courses, Bilingual courses, DASA); COUNSELORS (School, Mental Health Masters, Advanced Certificate); and ADMINISTRATORS (SBL, SDL, Public Admin, Doctorate) in all five boroughs of NYC, Yonkers, Westchester, and Long Island.
CITE PD offers CTLE-approved in-school professional development tailored to your school’s needs and your vision. Info: citepd.com