Duanesburg Central School District > Departments > Student Support / Counseling

Student Support / Counseling

DCS has a network of staff members and resources to support the social and emotional well-being of our students. For some, that support might include new tools or the right strategies to help manage challenges or stress. Others might benefit from talking to someone outside of their friend and family circles. Our school counselors are available to assist students who are having difficulty at school or home and work with students, teachers, administrators and parents to help children have a positive and successful school experience.

“Having a sense of connectedness to an adult in our school can be invaluable to a child moving through moments of stress and uncertainty,” DCS social worker David Presson said.

Meet Our Team:

Along with a social worker at each school building, students are supported by a team that includes a school psychologist, licensed mental health counselor, school counselors and nurses. They work together to provide general counseling, crisis counseling and special education services. In addition to social and emotional supports, school counselors assist with character education, course selection, computer-assisted career and college counseling, college admissions and post-high school planning, advisement, job search information, financial aid and scholarship information.

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Kristina Goebel
Jr./Sr. High School Counselor
kgoebel@duanesburg.org
(518) 895-3000, ext. 261

a man wearing a plaid shirt with a beard smiles
Joshua Moeckel
Jr./Sr. High School Counselor
jmoeckel@duanesburg.org
(518) 895-3000, ext. 226

a woman wearing a gray cardigan smiles
Dana Kamer
DES School Counselor & DES DASA Coordinator
dkamer@duanesburg.org
(518) 895-8310 and ext 244

Amy Walsh
Jr./Sr. High School Counseling Secretary
awalsh@duanesburg.org
(518) 895-3000, ext. 227

Mary Havlik
DCS School Psychologist
mhavlik@duanesburg.org
(518) 895-3000, ext. 236

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David Presson
Jr.-Sr. High School School Social Worker
dpresson@duanesburg.org
(518) 895-3000, ext. 232

a woman with blonde hair wears a purple sweatshirt
Janell Sindoni
Elementary School Nurse
jsindini@duanesburg.org 

a woman with brown shoulder length hair wears a white and blue top in front of a blue background
Stephanie Yauchler
Jr.-Sr. High School Nurse
syauchler@duanesburg.org

Dignity for All Students Act (DASA): 

New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (The Dignity Act) seeks to provide the State’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function. The Dignity Act was signed into law on September 13, 2010 and took effect on July 1, 2012.

The district’s DASA coordinators are:

Dana Kamer (Elementary School Coordinator)
dkamer@duanesburg.org 

Kendra Shedina (District Coordinator & Jr/Sr High School Coordinator)
kshedina@duanesburg.org

Learn more about DASA at Duanesburg Central School and/or file a DASA complaint here.

District Policies – Student Protection: 

Title IX and Sex Discrimination (Policy 3421)

Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment in the District (Policy 3420)

Student Gender Identity (Policy 7552)

Family Emergency Support and Counseling Resources
 

24/7 Crisis and Mental Health Support

If you require immediate assistance, please call 911.

Here are additional resources for children, families and adults experiencing emotional and/or behavioral crisis.

  • Northern Rivers Mobile Crisis:  (518) 292-5499
  • Emergency Room at Ellis Hospital:  1023 State Street, Schenectady; Mental Health Walk In Clinic at The Family Room; (518) 243-1523/3300; https://www.ellismedicine.org/services/the-family-room.aspx
  • The Massry Family Children’s Emergency Center at Albany Med:  43 New Scotland Avenue; (518) 262-3125
  • St. Mary’s in Amsterdam Emergency Psychiatric Services:  (518) 841-7237
  • Duanesburg Ambulance Corp (DAC):  518-895-2200
  • Mohawk Ambulance Service:  (518) 374-4401; Fee for service (Medical transport but not a 911 emergency)
  • Call or text 988 for Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

    Short Term Crisis Residences

    Grief Support Services

    No cost support is available for grieving children, aged 3-17, who may have experienced the death of a family member or friend due to natural causes, illness, suicide, homicide or accidents. 

    Community Hospice:  (518) 724-0200
    https://www.communityhospice.org/services/grief-support/

    24/7 ChildHelp National Child Abuse Hotline

    Reach a professional crisis counselor who—through interpreters—provides assistance in over 170 languages 24/7 in the U.S. and Canada. All calls are confidential. Services include crisis intervention, information, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources.

    800-4-A-CHILD or 800-422-4453 or https://www.childhelp.org/hotline/

    National Domestic Violence Hotline

    Advocates are available 24/7/365 to talk or text confidentially with anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship. 

    800−799−7233 or https://www.thehotline.org/

    Schenectady Child and Adolescent Counseling Programs

    • St. Mary’s Child/Adolescent Counseling: 518-841-3747
    • Ellis Hospital – Outpatient Child/Adolescent Psychiatry Department: 518-243-3300
    • Ellis child adolescent treatment services: (518) 382-2290
    • Sharon Rivlen – Reflective Counseling (Esperance):  (518) 868-9734
    • Elizabeth Iseman (Delanson):  (518) 657-9061
    • Kelly Keohan (LMHC) adolescents (eating disorders, anxiety, DBT, mindfulness):  (518) 441-8346
    • CAPTAIN Community Human Services:  (518) 399-4624 (basic needs)
    • Conifer Park (Chemical Dependency Programs):  (518) 372-7031 
    • Family and Child Services of Schenectady:  (518) 393-1369
    • Northeast Parent and Child Society – Child Guidance Center:  (518) 381-8911 
    • St. Peter’s Addiction Recovery Center (SPARC), Schenectady, NY:  (518) 357-2909
    • Union Street Counseling Services:  (518) 374-6263 
    • Samaritan Counseling:  (518) 374-3514

        Albany Child and Adolescent Counseling Programs

        • Pediatric Psychiatry and Psychology at Albany Med 25 Hackett Blvd; (518) 262-5511
        • HPA/LiveWell:  (518) 218-1188  (takes all insurance)
        • Ellie Mental Health:  (518) 400-5180 Latham
        • Psychology Wellness Practice (Albany, NY):  (518) 608-4271
        • Mindwell (SUNY Albany clinical grads) (518) 510-3100
        • The Counseling Center at LaSalle (Albany, NY):  (518) 242-4731 (on the path to PINS)
        • Capital Psychological Associates (Albany, NY):  (518) 453-9220
        • Upstate Counseling:  (518) 517-4535
        • Freedom First Psychological Services (Latham & Middleburgh, NY):  (518) 560-4277
        • Karner Psychological Services (Guilderland, NY):  (518) 218-5056 
        • St. Peter’s Addiction Recovery Center (SPARC) (adolescents) in Guilderland, NY:  (518) 452-6742

        Telehealth Counseling 

        • Cornerstone Mobile Counseling( only takes FIDELIS Insurance):  (315) 868-1000
        • Better Help:  (888) 688-9296
        • Charlie Health:  (866) 484-8218   https://www.charliehealth.com

        Additional Options

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