Kimberly Watson, LMSW
Kimberly Watson, LMSW is a Licensed Master of Social Work and graduate of New York University (NYU). She has over 10 years of experience working with children, youths, families and individuals as an agent of support and guidance. Her professional life includes a commitment to serving the needs of children, youth, families, and the school itself as Edward R. Murrow High School Social Worker.
She has studied many modalities to bring healing to those in need. She is a life, long learner inspired by the abundance of opportunities available to broaden and enrich the lives of her students. Ms. Watson is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) and has been formally trained in the Morningside Restorative Practices and Social-Emotional Learning curriculums. Ms. Watson has also received training from the New York City Department of Education, Cornell University Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools (TCIS). She is part of a school-based team that presents workshops on Emotional Intelligence, Trauma-Informed Practices, and Cultural Responsiveness to staff and the school community.
She has additional expertise in areas of Trauma, Social Emotional Learning Initiatives, Family Systems, Positive Parenting, Crisis Intervention, Mindfulness, Response To Intervention, and Restorative Practices. Kimberly is especially sensitive to the needs of children who find the classroom and school environment an unsettling forest of sounds, energy, and demands. Kimberly is also the Title IX coordinator.
Fatima Walker, LCSW
Fatima Walker has worked in the field of Social Work for the past 15 years. Her experience spans case management, juvenile justice, crisis intervention, young women’s leadership, psychoeducation for parents, individual and group therapy for teens, professional development for education professionals and clinical approaches for teens in psychotherapy.
Fatima has worked with adolescents struggling with depression, ADHD, suicidality, psychiatric conditions, school anxiety, LGBTQ and transgender students, self-esteem issues, low school performance, family conflict and much more.
As a part of the School Assessment Team, Fatima provides clinical recommendations and interventions for students to enhance their overall high school experience. I also provide counseling services, crisis intervention and general clinical support to parents, students and staff at Edward R. Murrow High School.
Ashleigh Andersen, LMSW
Ashleigh Andersen, LMSW is a RAPP Coordinator at Day One. During the academic year she implements the Relationship Abuse Prevention Program at Edward R. Murrow High School, which includes: trauma- informed counseling, educational workshops for students, parents and staff, and the development of a peer leadership program to promote healthy relationships in the school community. In the summer months, Ashleigh plans and facilitates an intensive peer leadership training program where young people gain knowledge and skills to be supportive peers and agents of social change in the movement to end intimate partner violence.
Prior to this role, she worked as the Intervention Coordinator at the NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault and as a case manager at a domestic violence shelter. She also has experience as a social work intern at Brooklyn Defender Services Immigration Practice and Day One while receiving her Masters of Social Work from Hunter College, Silberman School of Social Work. She has used the last several years of working with survivors of GBV, SV, and IPV to develop a strength-based, anti-oppression, and intersectional approach that continues to inform her prevention and intervention advocacy.
Katelyn Necastro, LCSW, MA
Katelyn Necastro is a social worker for Brooklyn Center for Psychotherapy program which provides in-school mental health counseling for Edward R. Murrow students. Katelyn provides support for students struggling with various challenges which may include stress management, identity formation, suicidality, anxiety, depression, and interpersonal relationship skills. She obtained a dual masters in Social Work and Child Development from Sarah Lawrence College and New York University. Through her professional experience thus far she has developed a relational and strengths-based approach to counseling which places value on building trusting, supportive relationships with students. Brooklyn Center for Psychotherapy provides individual and classroom level support and is able to assist students and families that may seek additional services outside of the school building.
Dana Mendelson, LCSW MA
Hi! My name is Dana Mendelson and I’m a social worker from Brooklyn Center for Psychotherapy Counseling Program. Our program provides mental health counseling services for students at Murrow! We help students navigate interpersonal relationships, suicidality, anxiety/depression, identity formation, family dynamics, and stress management. I hope to motivate students to reach their true potential and promote a safe and comfortable atmosphere at school. I look forward to meeting you! Brooklyn Center for Psychotherapy provides individual and classroom level support and is able to assist students and families that may seek additional services outside of the school building
Mr. TJ Sealey (SPARK Counselor) BSW, CASAC/T, and Mental health first responder.
TJ Sealey is an alumni of Midwood HS and Tuskegee University’s school of social work. He has over 25 years experience working with adolescents. Mr. Sealey is extremely personable and is committed to assisting in the development of Edward R. Murrow High School's students.
He employs a plethora of skills, knowledge, and evidence base curriculum to ensure students are well equipped and versed to face society and be productive citizens.
Moreover, he possess expertise in the areas of social emotional learning, life skills, crisis intervention, mindfulness, student relationship development, group and individual counseling; geared towards proactive education of substance use and more.
Mr. Sealey is also a man of many talents ranging from being a vocalist, a thespian, a stepper, powerlifting, and the media arts; just to name few.
“I’m here to be of assistance and rest assure my door is always open!!”
David Holness, LMSW
David Holness is a Licensed Master of Social Work, having graduated from New York University School of Social Work. His depth and breadth of education and practice, provides him a multi-modal perspective on student engagement and allows him to see students from various viewpoints. He has worked for more than 20 years with populations and settings including: adult and child survivors of domestic violence, school aged students in grades K-12, and adolescents, children and families self-referred to mental health clinics throughout New York City.
David has an undergraduate degree from Binghamton University/SUNY Binghamton majoring in Environmental Studies and Geography. He has a Master of Urban Planning degree (specialization in Environmental Planning from the University at Buffalo), and a third graduate degree, a Master of Traditional Oriental Medicine, from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine after which he began practicing Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. In addition, David has a Certificate in Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy from MITPP (Metropolitan Institute for Training in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy), has completed Meditation Instructor Training at The Interdependence Project), Tier 1 Restorative Practices at Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility, and is currently completing an Advanced Certificate in Trauma Informed Clinical Practice from NYU.
At Edward R. Murrow, it is David's sincere wish to aid students in developing: independent curiosity and groundedness of SELF, authentic wonder and engagement of OTHERS, and an appreciation and understanding of COMMUNITY and the WORLD around them. A life-long love and enthusiasm for learning was instilled in David by his parents who immigrated to the US from Panama. They passed on their own bicultural and bilingual gifts; David speaks Spanish and a smidge of Mandarin poorly...Duibuqi!
Special interests of David's include the martial arts, incorporating the body into mental health, meditation practices, relationships and using music and film as venues for Social Emotional Learning.
