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,” elementary school 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.
Kristina Goebel
Jr./Sr. High School Counselor
kgoebel@duanesburg.org
(518) 895-3000, ext. 261
Joshua Moeckel
Jr./Sr. High School Counselor
jmoeckel@duanesburg.org
(518) 895-3000, ext. 226
Dana Kamer
Jr./Sr. High School Student Assistance Counselor
dkamer@duanesburg.org
(518) 895-3000, ext. 232
TBD
Jr./Sr. High School Counseling Secretary
(518) 895-3000, ext. 227
Elizabeth Whitney
DCS School Psychologist (interim)
ewhitney@duanesburg.org
(518) 895-3000, ext. 236
David Presson
Elementary School Social Worker
dpresson@duanesburg.org
(518) 895-8310, ext. 244
Janell Sindoni
Elementary School Nurse
jsindini@duanesburg.org
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
Children, families and adults experiencing emotional and/or behavioral crisis.
- Northern Rivers – 518-292-5499
- Suicide Prevention Hotline – 800-273-8255 or call 911
- NYS COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline – 844-863-9314
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 or https://www.hospicegriefservices.com/
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/