Eastchester Educators Take Part in New York State Master Programs

Eastchester Middle School Counselor Christine Rodriguez Mejia dedicates herself each day to working with students to ensure that they are equipped—both socially and academically—to make the most of the myriad opportunities available to them at EMS. But Mejia isn’t simply an encouraging voice inspiring her young charges to reach higher; she’s also practicing what she preaches. 

In December, Mejia was accepted into the prestigious New York State Master Counselor Program, an accomplishment that is both a testament to her efficacy as a school counselor and her continued efforts to grow as an educator. 

The New York State Master Counselor Program is a four-year SUNY fellowship designed to develop knowledge across three distinct domains: Knowledge of Career Development, Knowledge of Academic Development and Knowledge of Social and Emotional Development. Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements—full-time NYS public school counselors with at least four years of experience who spend 80% or more of their time in direct and indirect service to students and who have been rated “effective” or “highly effective” in their most recent annual evaluation—are selected after a rigorous admissions process. 

Counselors who have been accepted into the program must then spend 50 hours annually participating in professional development opportunities designed to help counselors to provide new opportunities for their students. They are also eligible to receive stipends for professional development, peer-mentorship, and community building.

Mejia said her interest in the program was first piqued just over two years ago, when she attended the New York State School Counselors Conference in 2024. 

“They had an information session at the conference, and even though I had heard about the program before, I didn’t really know a lot about it,” she explained. “But that information session really solidified it for me. I feel honored to be selected, and what’s great about the program is that even though it is a professional recognition, it’s also a big professional development initiative, so it’s an opportunity to advance my counseling practice and learn from my peers.”

Mejia said she is eager to embark on this journey, which will officially begin during an orientation session later this month, but she won’t have to look too far to get feedback about the course, as EHS physics teacher Jon Hatzfeld is currently in his second year in the New York State Master Teacher Program, which is structured similarly to the fellowship for counselors but is centered around teacher development.

Hatzfeld explained that his time in the program has been revelatory from a professional standpoint and that he has benefitted greatly from the work he’s done with other Master Teachers since 2024. 

“There are so many little things, new ways to approach a topic or a concept, or new activities that I introduce to students,” he said. “A lot of what we’ve done is try to find ways to make the classroom less teacher-centric and more student-centric. It’s exposed me to a lot of new skills and philosophies that I’ve been able to bring into the classroom.”

Both Hatzfeld and Mejia note that it’s vital for educators to continually look for ways to develop new skill-sets and techniques.

“It can be easy as a teacher to be holed up in your own room, in your own way of doing things, and you don’t even realize that there may be a more effective way to do things until you start looking around,” said Hatzfeld.

“As educators, we’re all lifelong learners,” added Mejia. “Things are changing so quickly, so it’s always important to seek out opportunities for development and growth.”