Milford Schools Hire Staff To Support Social Emotional Learning

MILFORD, NH — The Milford School District has hired five new employees to new positions in the district in an effort to enhance social emotional well-being and growth which is part of the district's new strategic plan. The plan was announced in June. The district has created three new social worker positions, a new school psychologist, and a second mental health therapist.

School Superintendent Jessica Huizenga said the new hires will take part in a district-wide and school-based tiered system of behavioral support teams which will oversee interventions and assist in the development and implementation of individual and personalized support plans for students.

"Districts all over the nation are working hard to address mental health and social emotional learning," said Huizenga. "As we create these new positions, bring in new mental health professionals, expand our partnerships with social service agencies and put wrap around services for families in place, we're taking a tremendous step forward in meeting the needs of our students and their families."

The employees will start in late August.

The new social workers include Erin Richardson, who will join staff at Milford Middle School; Stephanie Bielik, who will work at Heron Pond Elementary School; and Tracy Holland, who will support students at Jacques Memorial Elementary School.

Richardson has worked since August 2017 as a project IMPACT counselor at the Youth Council in Nashua, and has a master's degree and bachelor's degree, both in social work from the University of New Hampshire. Bielik has worked as a district social worker at Pelham School District since May 2017, and has a master's degree in social work from Wheelock College and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Milligan College. During her 13 year career in social work, Holland has worked as a school social worker at Nashua School District, as a clinical coordinator at Riverbend Community Health, and as a clinic supervisor, clinic manager and clinician at various locations. She holds a master's degree in social work from Augsburg College and a bachelor's degree in psychology from the State University of New York (SUNY) Brockport.

Chris Joy, the district's newest therapist, will support the Therapeutic Behavioral Program at the Jacques Memorial Elementary School and Heron Pond Elementary School. He has counseling and peer support experience, a master's degree in mental health counseling from Capella University, and a bachelor's degree in liberal studies with a focus in early childhood behavior from Kaplan University.

The district has also hired a new school psychologist, Yesenia Schuler, who will work with kindergarten and first grade students, as well as high school students. Schuler has worked previously as a school psychologist at the Pelham, Litchfield, Newfound Area, Mascoma Valley Regional and Barrington school districts, and as a special education teacher/case manager at Inter-Lakes Middle Tier and Laconia Middle School. She holds a master's degree in organizational psychology from Columbia University, a bachelor's degree in psychology from Manhattan College and certificate of advanced graduate studies in educational leadership and school psychology from Plymouth State University.

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