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. 

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.

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.

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, 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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.