• MS. SCHECHTER

     I have been a School Counselor since 2009.  Before coming to Medina Central School District, I worked at Charter Middle School for Applied Technologies in Buffalo, NY.  I also served as a counselor in Williamsville and Starpoint Central School Districts. I have two Master’s degrees, one in Child and Adolescent Psychology from Leiden University, The Netherlands and the other in School Counseling from the University at Buffalo. I completed my Bachelor of Science at The Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA. I am also a member of various school counselor associations. I enjoy running, swimming, kayaking, and gardening. I believe strongly in the power of positive, solution-focused counseling and look forward to serving the Medina community.  

    I work with students in grades 9-12 whose last names begin with the letters A-K, as well as all Special Education students in grades 9-12. I am happy to meet with any student when available. If unavailable, I ask that students schedule an appointment with me for a time that is convenient for both of us. Families can reach me by phone at: 585-798-2885 or by email at: Jschechter@medinacsd.org. Follow-through is very important to me. 

    My main responsibilities at MHS are to support the college/career, academic, and social/emotional success of our students. I also create student schedules. I ask that students take initiative in planning for their future. My main goal is to teach responsible decision making to achieve rewarding lives. I plan to take an active role in providing individual counseling, running groups, engaging students in classroom guidance, and working collaboratively with staff, students, families and the community alike. Please take time to explore our webpage for useful college and career information.

  • MRS. HA

     I was born and raised in Greece, NY and both my parents were teachers. I attended Binghamton University and received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology. After that I earned my Masters in Education (MS.Ed) and Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Counseling with a School Emphasis from SUNY College at Brockport.

    It has been my pleasure to work at every level here in Medina. I began as the school counselor at Towne and Oak Orchard Elementary Schools for the 1994-1995 school year. My position was cut and I spent a year working with students at an alternative high school program and substituted in long term counseling positions in both Spencerport and Greece following that. I was then lucky enough to be called back to work in Medina, this time as a middle level counselor at Wise Middle School where I worked for the subsequent 15 years.

    When the district re-distributed the students, I came with my eighth graders over to Medina High School. I have been blessed to see students go through each level of this school system from kindergarten to graduation and I have fully enjoyed each grade level.

    Along this journey, I married an engineer/business person and am raising three brilliant daughters with him. We live in Brockport, and the whole family is learning Taekwondo. Many evenings are filled with the various adventures of an active household. So if you are a busy parent reading this, I feel you! Please know that I make every effort to be as available as possible to the parents and students of this school district and work hard to help develop our students into effective, responsible, and hardworking adults. In this I know we have a common goal.

    To that end: I am very active in running counseling groups, providing individual counseling, and working collaboratively with my colleagues, community agencies, and parents to clear away obstacles to students’ graduation from school and personal growth. I believe in teaching students the process of how to work through a situation: whether it’s coping with stress/anxiety, or a difficult home situation. Imparting these skills will stand the student in good stead throughout his/her life, enabling him/her to meet any of life’s challenges and overcome them.

    Other tasks related to my job include, but are not limited to:

                Scheduling students for classes.

                Providing college and career readiness education.

                Referring students to outside agencies.

                AVID Site team member and AVID program counselor.

    If you should need to contact me, I can be reached at 585-798-2885 (Medina High School Counseling Office) or you can e-mail me at sha@medinacsd.org. Students can stop in to the counseling office and ask to make an appointment. If a student is in emotional crisis we have three counselors and two part-time psychologists working in the office so we can usually address immediate needs in a timely manner as well.

    Ultimately I am here to assist in any way I can, so please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or concerns about your child.

  • MRS. DOLL

    Prior to joining the Medina counseling team, I so gratefully served in the United States Air Force for seven years.  During my enlistment, I received my Associates degree from the Community College of the Air Force while also attending the University of Alaska Fairbanks. After four long years in the bitter cold, I moved to warm and sunny California where I received my Bachelor’s from Pepperdine University in Malibu. Although difficult to leave, I knew it was my time to move back to my home state of New York. Since my return, I attended the University of Rochester in which I received my Master’s in human development and school counseling with a concentration in leadership. In the past two years, I worked in the inner city of Rochester, gaining valuable experience working with a diverse range of students. 

    Growing up just down the road in Akron makes me extremely appreciative to be a part of a community that was similar to my own. A main goal of mine is to provide students with the tools necessary to reach their fullest potential in the areas of academic achievement, career readiness, as well as social-emotional development. My mission is to be there for students in their most onerous times as well as their most triumphant, and to aid them towards self-advocacy. Additionally, I forever seek to promote equity via providing the appropriate resources and supports available as I believe that advocacy is a crucial part of a school counselor's role as well.

    My caseload consists of students, grades 9-12 with last names beginning with L-Z, except those that are in the AVID program. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns via my email: adoll@medinacsd.org or phone: 585-798-2885. Students are encouraged to come down and make an appointment if in need of assistance. 

    Thank you!

    Nya:weh

  • MS. DUPONT

    I am fortunate to have been appointed in the new role of School Social Worker at Medina Jr/Sr High School for the 2022-2023 school year.  Previous to this, I worked for an alternative school with students with special needs and mental health diagnoses.  I also worked for several years within Niagara County providing mental health support and counseling to families.  My Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology was obtained at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. I then received my Master of Social Work Degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

    I am proud to be a part of the Medina community and to send my children to Medina Central School District. You may find my family and I at local football games, Orleans County 4h, fishing at Glenwood Park, or hiking one of the beautiful local Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge trails. 

    In my role as School Social Worker, I meet with students to provide Tier 3 interventions. This typically means consistent, individual meetings with students to discuss social and/or emotional needs.  Coping skills appropriate for school use are reviewed and practiced, as well as communication strategies to help teenagers manage social dynamics. The collaborative relationship with families, school staff and agencies working with the student cannot be underestimated. My goal is to create a safe, trusting environment for students where they know they’ll always receive respect, support and the skills to be self-empowered. 

    Please reach out to me at ndupont@medinacsd.org or 585-798-2885 with any questions or concerns.  I can also provide referrals to local mental health agencies and community services.