M.Ed/Ed.S in School Psychology

Beacon Fellow, Class of ‘27

Hi! My name is Abby and I am a first year student in the School Psychology program! I graduated from UConn with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Since graduating, I’ve had experience working in the classroom, residential treatment, and research. My experiences in the workforce helped me realize my passion was working with children in a school system where I can be an advocate for students. In my future career, I plan to foster an environment where struggling students can seek the support they need and I’m excited to help students navigate challenges so they may find success in and out of the classroom.

M.Ed/Ed.S in School Counseling

Beacon Fellow, Class of ‘26

Hello! My name is Ahhabya Leconte! I was born and raised in Massachusetts. I am happily married to my husband of 10 years and counting! As well as a proud mother to 4 beautiful children! I enjoy traveling, spending quality family time, and cooking gourmet meals for my loved ones that represent our culture and background. I am currently in my first year of the dual online school counseling/school adjustment counseling program. I graduated from UMASS Amherst with my BA in Children’s Development and minor in Psychology. My passion is working with the youth of my community as I specialize in social & emotional learning, adolescent development, and mental health. 

Currently I work with 700+, Kindergarten-4th grade students, a week as their Character Ed. Teacher and provide students with mental health knowledge, stress management tools, and SEL resources and lessons. I encourage students towards positive character traits such as empathy, kindness, self-love, and overall model being a responsible and respectful citizen. I hope and pray for my success to be blessed as I work towards my goals and aspirations to help the youth navigate through hardships and overcome trauma. I am very happy to be a part of Project Beacon and look forward to completing my MEd to create more opportunities to make more positive differences within our school systems!

M.Ed/Ed.S in School Psychology

Beacon Fellow, Class of ‘27

Hi everyone! My name is Cecilia Teixeira, and I am in my first year of the school psychology program. I graduated from Framingham State University in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in sociology. Originally from Brazil, I moved to the United States during my sophomore year of high school and faced the challenge of learning English as a second language. This experience has fueled my passion for helping students navigate similar difficulties. I aspire to support and guide these students, ensuring they have the resources and encouragement they need to succeed academically and personally. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to be a part of Project Beacon and look forward to seeing where this journey takes me.

M.Ed/Ed.S in School Counseling

Beacon Fellow, Class of ‘26

I grew up in Brighton Massachusetts , where I struggled to understand school as a child. The lack of representation of teachers and staff made me feel unsupported and misunderstood which kept me from having a sense of belonging.

I am incredibly grateful for Project Beacon for providing me with the opportunity to pursue a career in school counseling. As a woman of color, I am driven to be the change I wish to see in the education system. I firmly believe that when children come to school struggling, it is essential to explore any underlying issues that may be contributing to their challenges.

I am dedicated about ensuring that children are represented, have a strong sense of belonging, and feel fully supported in their educational journey. This passion led me to become a member of a parent advocacy group where I have sat on the district-wide parent advisory council, advocating for all students. Additionally, I took the initiative to start a school site council at my place of work to build community for our children and ensure they have a fulfilling educational experience. I believe in the power of community and collective support in creating thriving environments for all students.

M.Ed/Ed.S in School Psychology

Beacon Fellow, Class of ‘27

Hi everyone! My name is Isabel Adams and I’m an incoming first year in the School Psychology program. I was born in Washington state and moved to Chicago when I was about 8 years old. I have spent the past four years at the Ohio State University earning my Bachelor of Science in Psychology along with a minor in Spanish. One aspect of school psychology that I’m really looking forward to is learning how to be an effective advocate for all students. With this I’m eager to learn more about the ways in which students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds impact their academic, social, and emotional experiences in school.

M.Ed/Ed.S in School Psychology

Beacon Fellow, Class of ‘27

Hello! My name is Jamanee, and I am a UMass Boston graduate with a BS in Psychology. I am currently pursuing a master’s in School Psychology. I have had experiences advocating for a more equitable and inclusive learning environment in my local high school and working at Head Start. These experiences have shaped my interest in working with children in education and my passion for mental health. I hope to become a successful advocate for students’ well-being and academic success and to improve their educational environment. I am excited to be back at UMass Boston to accomplish my career goals, and I am thankful for the opportunity to be a Beacon Fellow.

M.Ed/Ed.S in School Counseling

Beacon Fellow, Class of ‘26

Hi, my name is Jon Tuttle. Born on the Navajo Nation, I have since lived in California, Colorado, and Maine. I am currently in my first year in the school counseling program. After working as a bilingual elementary teacher for several years, I decided to pursue school counseling in order to help schools understand their students better, collaborate with their families more, and address their challenges more effectively. Outside of school, I enjoy running, playing basketball, as well as spending time with my family, especially my younger cousins, nieces, and nephews.

M.Ed/Ed.S in School Psychology

Beacon Fellow, Class of ‘27

Hello! My name is Katie Luna and I am a first year School Psychology student. I’m originally from Miami, Florida, and graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor’s in psychology and a minor in Dance. Working as a registered behavior therapist and tutor for the last two years made me realize that I enjoy working with children in a school setting. ​​As a first-generation college student, it became a mission of mine to advocate for students who come from similar backgrounds and grant them the opportunity to succeed. I also want to end the stigma in my community against seeking mental health care such as therapy or counseling. Aside from working and studying, I enjoy traveling, learning new languages, and theatre. I am looking forward to the beginning of my new journey!

M.Ed/Ed.S in School Counseling

Beacon Fellow, Class of ‘26

Hello! My name is Katrina.  I have lived in multiple states across the country, including New Jersey, Colorado, and Washington, before settling in Massachusetts to be closer to family.  I received a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Visual Arts from the University of Washington Seattle.  In Massachusetts, I made the shift into education to follow my passion for youth mental health.  I have been working in Special Education within various public school districts for the past three years.  My passion for social emotional skills and mental health has grown tremendously during that time.  I enjoy working one-on-one with students as well as facilitating social groups or group activities in integrated classrooms. I am a strong advocate for children with disabilities and will always promote inclusion in all settings.  I hope to encourage each student that through self expression, communication, and a primary aim for self growth they will be able to reach their highest potential.  The future of our society relies on each and every child growing into the most genuine, confident, and healthily self assured individuals. I cannot wait to be a part of that journey!

M.Ed/Ed.S in School Psychology

Beacon Fellow, Class of ‘27

Hi! My name is Kevin, I am a first-year graduate student from Connecticut. I graduated from UConn in May of 2023 with a B.A. in Psychology and I am now pursuing my masters in school psychology. During my gap, I worked as a Behavior Technician for children with special needs and as a coach for my old high school. During my time with both programs, I got to witness firsthand how important mental health is for not just adults but children as well. More than that I enjoyed making connections with and serving as a mentor to everyone I worked with. One of my biggest passions is being able to serve as a positive role model for the people around me and I was able to accomplish that in both settings. Along with helping others, I am very passionate about fashion, music, nature, and self-care. I want to be able to use my passions in all walks of life to help make the topic of mental health more inclusive and representative of everyone. I aim to use my personal experiences to better relate with and help people from underrepresented communities achieve their goals. I am excited to be a part of Project Beacon and to begin my graduate journey at UMass Boston!

M.Ed/Ed.S in School Psychology

Beacon Fellow, Class of ‘27

Hi, I’m Lindsay! I grew up in Massachusetts and am a proud alumni of the Massachusetts public K-12 education system. I remained in the state for my undergraduate studies, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Spanish from Clark University. I also studied in Seville, Spain and tutored middle school students who were learning English, where I became deeply interested in the connection between language and education. As a School Psychology student, I hope to identify how our schools can foster stronger relationships with students and their families to limit language barriers as an obstacle in navigating the education system. I want to be a Massachusetts resident forever, strengthening my desire to improve our schools for the success of all of our students.

M.Ed/Ed.S in School Counseling

Beacon Fellow, Class of ‘26

Hello! My name is Matt Alzamora, I have a nickname Dubba, which almost everyone I know calls me. I am from Holden, Massachusetts, and I was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. I completed my undergraduate degree at Worcester State University and majored in Liberal Studies. I am in my first year of the School Adjustment Counselor Program here at the University of Massachusetts Boston. I am passionate about education, and helping young students be successful. My family has all worked in the education field, and I hope to do the same. I currently work at Perkins School for the Blind, in Watertown, MA. The staff and the students at the school have been an inspiration for me to pursue this degree in school adjustment counseling, and I look forward to entering the field!

M.Ed/Ed.S in School Counseling

Beacon Fellow, Class of ‘26

Hello! My name is Mateus Souza, and I was born and raised in Brazil. I have been dedicated to school counseling for 2 years now, currently working at Quincy High School. My passion is utilizing my Portuguese language skills and working with children from diverse backgrounds, particularly immigrant students. I first recognized the importance of cultural and linguistic support in high school, and the majority of my work experience has focused on aiding Portuguese-speaking families and students. While language specialists are vital, I strive to bridge the gap between immigrant children and the education system. Acknowledging the system’s flaws, I am committed to being an advocate for these children, ensuring they have the best and most equitable chance for a successful future.

M.Ed/Ed.S in School Psychology

Beacon Fellow, Class of ‘27

Hello! My name is Tyanna and this is my first year in the School Psychology program. I was born and raised in Boston and graduated from UMASS Boston with my bachelor’s in psychology in 2021. I am a big sports fan (Go Boston) and enjoy reading and spending time with loved ones. My journey in education started in 2022 and I have been working with middle and high school kids since. My passion is working with minority youth, giving them the skills and tools they need to navigate through life and school, as well as helping with social-emotional learning. I look forward to being an advocate for and servicing youth who look like me.

M.Ed/Ed.S in School Counseling

Beacon Fellow, Class of ‘27

Hello! My name is Zuzana Kline Novakova. I was born and raised in Slovakia and moved to the USA after completing my degree in Social Work. I have been here for almost 20 years and have been working as a school counselor for the last three years. I enjoy working in a school, and I am excited to have the opportunity to pursue my Adjustment Counseling degree at UMass Boston to further enhance my professional knowledge and expertise.

Beacon Fellow, Class of ’25

Hello! My name is Alexandria, I was born and raised in Massachusetts. I am currently in my first year in the school counseling program. My passion is Sign Language and working with children who are deaf! I was exposed to sign language in high school and the majority of my work experience has been in the Deaf community. Although interpreters are essential to this community, I want to bridge the gap for children who are deaf and the education system. Knowing the system is flawed, I want to be an advocate for these children so they have the best and most fair chance of a successful future.

Beacon Fellow, Class of ’26

Hi everyone! My name is Sophia and I am a student in the School Psychology Masters Program. I graduated from Salem State University in May of 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. During my gap year, I worked for the Henry J. Robinson Middle School in Lowell, MA. as a paraprofessional. I loved my experience at the Robinson and it really reiterated the fact that I am passionate about special education. I will be returning to the Robinson for the 2023-2024 school year! Besides working at the Robinson my other experiences include early intervention, ABA therapy, a dance teacher for special needs dance classes, and many babysitting gigs. My passion for this field simply comes from the desire to help children be agents in their own education! I am so excited to meet all of you and start the school year!

Beacon Fellow, Class of ’26

Hi! My name is Raz Kamal and I am a first year School Psychology MEd/EdS student. I graduated from UMass Boston in May of 2021 with a Bachelors in Psychology. I have been working in schools and after-school settings in different capacities for over seven years now, and I love it! I also enjoy swimming, reading, and drinking iced coffee (even if it’s winter). I am incredibly passionate about promoting positive youth development, providing trauma-informed care, and providing mental health services within school settings. As a Kurdish American, I continuously aim to help collaboratively break down any barriers affecting marginalized and underrepresented communities/students. I am very grateful and excited to be a part of Project Beacon and back at UMass Boston to start my graduate journey!

Beacon Fellow, Class of ’25

My name is Ryan Lange and I’m originally from Goffstown, NH. I graduated from UConn with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Accounting.  I’ve worked 3 different jobs in the accounting field over the last 7 years but after some thoughtful reflection realized I’ve only ever truly felt my purpose when I’ve worked with kids in need during coaching and volunteering programs.  I have a passion for listening, understanding, and encouraging kids to reach their full potential.  I want to help students find their voices in a world full of distractions.  I look forward to connecting with all my students and helping them grow each day!  

Beacon Fellow, Class of ’25

Originally from Cincinnati, OH, I’ve been calling Boston home since 1997.  I graduated from UMass Boston with a BA in English and earned an M.Ed in Advanced Pedagogy from Simmons University.  I enjoyed a fulfilling career as an English teacher for 18 years before deciding to retire in 2022.

Seeing the impact that the pandemic had on the well-being of students, particularly those students in underserved communities, I decided to transition into the field of school counseling. This transition reflects my unwavering commitment to supporting students holistically, not only in their academic pursuits but also in their personal and emotional development.

Beacon Fellow, Class of ’25

Hello! I’m Michael, a first-year student in the school counseling program. Having spent more than two decades in the Advertising industry, I was eager for a change that would allow me to make a difference. I’ve always found joy in assisting people to find their happiness and guiding them to achieve it. My goal is to provide hope and support to students who are struggling. I aspire to help young individuals explore their identity, and interests, and uncover their passions and purpose. When I’m not studying, I love spending time with my husband, our daughter Madeline, and our two furry companions, Gunther and Kodie. 

Hello! My name is Andrea Encarnacao Martin. I am a school counselor at Boston Latin School, the oldest school in America, where I counsel a student caseload of 250 students in grades 10th-12th on academic, social, and emotional issues. I have worked with the high school grades for 17 years where I have written collage admission letters of recommendation for over 60 seniors annually to the most competitive colleges and universities in the world. As a member of the faculty, I have led various programs including the very successful Career Day in which I have led our team for over 10 years to recruit more than 100 Alumni annually to share their experiences with members of the Junior class. It is one of the largest school-based alumni programs. I serve as one of the Senior Class Advisors and last year as an instructor in the after-school program. In addition, for six years, I was the Head Coach of the Varsity Girls’ Soccer team, the assistant Varsity Girls’ Soccer coach, and the Freshmen Girls’ Basketball Coach. This past year I was named Massachusetts School Counselor of the Year.

My name is Annisha and I’m a recent graduate of the UMB school psychology doctoral program. I was born and raised in Indonesia. I also  have had the privileges of living in other parts of the world such as Melbourne, Boston and now Vancouver, Canada . I’ve worked in urban school settings supporting students’ academic and behavioral wellbeing through assessment, counseling, tier 1 and 2 support.  I am particularly passionate about supporting middle school multilingual learners’ reading skills through effective instructions and interventions.

School Psychologist, Pascagoula-Gautier School District, Mississippi

Born and raised in Mississippi, I have been practicing as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) since 2018. It has been my intention to always serve the students, families, and communities in my home state. As the current president of the Mississippi Association of Psychology in the Schools, my focus has been on professional development and advocacy efforts to improve the visibility and quality standards of our state practitioners. Additionally, my professional interests include systems-level change within the academic setting and building community-school relations.

My role as a school psychologist primarily involves consultation, professional development, behavioral assessment, behavior interventions, and crisis management. In this role, I support and assist students and staff across all grades, K-12; however, I directly serve three separate campuses, including an alternative school. I have also served on district-level committees for discipline, behavior, and mental health as a way to contribute and expand my reach within the schools. In addition to my position as a practitioner, I am a doctoral student at Mississippi State University, pursuing a Doctorate of Psychology in Combined Health Service Psychology with a Concentration in School Psychology.

My name is Bryce and I’m a recent graduate of the UMB school psychology doctoral program. I  have had the privilege of working with a number of populations from children to teens to young adults, in a variety of settings such as, schools, community mental health centers, and college counseling centers. As a former college athlete, I specifically enjoy working with student athletes. In addition to counseling, I enjoy coaching and mentoring young professionals as they work toward building their future.

School Psychologist, East Hartford Public Schools

My name is Jen, and I am a school psychologist. I work in an urban district, primarily in an assessment role. I specialize in bilingual (Spanish) and early childhood assessment. I am also an adjunct professor, teaching future school psychologists.

School Counseling Administrator, TechBoston Academy, Boston Public Schools

Jessica Descartes is the Director of Student Services at TechBoston Academy [Boston Public Schools] and is in her tenth year of school counseling. A 2018 graduate of UMass Boston’s Masters in School Counseling Program, Jessica began her career at TechBoston, a grade 6-12 school, where she started as the school counselor for students in Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) and Students with Limited/Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE).  Jessica also served as a co-content facilitator for the school counseling team, leading the development of the scope & sequence for the school counseling curriculum and facilitating the MyCAP implementation at TBA. In her current role, Jessica oversees all aspects of student support services at TBA, is the 12th Grade Lead Administrator and she is also a trained bullying specialist. Jessica is the proud daughter of 1st generation Haitian immigrants, which has shaped who she is and how she supports her students and staff.  Her school counseling philosophy revolves around building authentic, trusting relationships that foster positive development and encourage lifelong learning throughout a student’s academic career and personal growth.  She firmly believes that in order to build these relationships, one must believe that all students, regardless of differences and background, have the right to learn and need to be welcomed in a safe and trusting learning environment. For her work, Jessica was named the 2021 MASCA School Counselor of the Year.

School Psychologist, Boston Public Schools

I have been a school psychologist for 12 years. My passion lies in implementing school-wide approaches to increase the behavioral well-being of all students and staff. I’m dedicated to addressing mental health disparities for marginalized and LGBTQ+ students through family collaboration and external connections. My goals involve further improving my counseling skills, partnering with school administrators, and continuing to establish an inclusive and safe environment for all students, families, and staff.

Assistant Professor, Social Work, Bridgewater State University

I’m Maggie, a recent graduate of the UMB school psychology doctoral program. I’m Cape Verdean American and from the Rhode Island area. I’m dual trained as a behavioral psychologist and a social worker. I work primarily with children, adolescents, and young adults to support their behavioral and mental health needs. I’m passionate about empowering people to live authentically and achieve their goals.

Hi everyone, my name is Tyeshia. I am a proud HBCU graduate (Hampton University) and I earned two masters’ degrees in my hometown at Springfield College. I love all things school counseling and education. I work for Springfield Public Schools, where I currently get to serve in a role that oversees the work of some dynamic school counselors and also allows me to have a seat at the table with other administrators making whole school decisions. In my free time (what does that really mean) I love reading classic Black Lit (shout out to Baldwin and Morrison) and hanging out with the really cool little humans I am blessed to be raising.

Hello! My name is Vladimir Casseus and I am a School Psychologist working in the Boston Public Schools district. I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology from the College of the Holy Cross and a master’s degree in School Psychology from Tufts University. I have been a School Psychologist for 7 years and have served students, teachers, and families by providing counseling, assessment, and consultative services. I am passionate about supporting students as they navigate the various academic and social-emotional demands of school. My role as a School Psychologist is to ensure that all students have access to the skills and resources needed to become the best version of themselves and achieve their goals.