Fair Lawn Senior Guidance Counselor Forced to Middle School Position

FAIR LAWN, NJ - A long-time high school guidance counselor said she has been moved from her high school position to the middle school against her will and for no apparent reason.

Dena DeSantis, a Fair Lawn High School guidance counselor for 20 years, said she was reassigned to the middle school as a student assistance counselor, and it was something she did not seek, request or volunteer for.

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"While I understand the district's right to assign roles based on certifications, I last served as a part-time middle school substance awareness counselor two decades ago," DeSantis said at a Board of Education meeting on June 20. "In my early career, while I worked toward my guidance counselor certification, upon completing this certification, I intentionally sought out a high school guidance counselor position because the middle school population does not resonate with me."

DeSantis went on to state the open position at the middle school was not advertised and questioned why the students would not be better served with someone who desired the position.

"It feels like I am being penalized for holding a certification in a role I long ago realized was not a good fit for me," she said to the Board.

The Board voted 6-2 on June 20 to move the counselor from the high school to the middle school.

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When asked for comment, the Fair Lawn school administration said they could not discuss personnel matters.

DeSantis has an annual salary of $114,580, which remains the same when she takes her position as a Student Assistance Coordinator on September 1.

According to internet sources, "the average annual pay for a School Counselor in New Jersey (as of July 2024) is approximately $57,889. On Indeed, Student Assistance Counselor positions in New Jersey are listed with a salary range of $65,741 to $97,972 per year for both part-time and full-time roles. Additionally, the Student Support Counselor salary range in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, is $60,755 to $81,738."

Several individuals spoke on behalf of DeSantis, from students to colleagues, praising her work over the past two decades.

Colleagues noted she has worked with students and the community on several charitable ventures, including raising funds and installation of the veterans' monument at Fair Lawn High School in 2022.

One colleague, whose name was indecipherable, said DeSantis has helped to get a service dog for a disabled soldier, spearheaded blood drives biannually, and, most recently, helped to raise money for suicide awareness.

"Dena is deeply involved in the culture at Fair Lawn High School, and it would be to the community's detriment that she'd be transferred," an individual told the Board of Education.

Kristen Burke, a teacher at high school, has worked along side DeSantis for 20 years.

"She and I have been working collaboratively outside of our primary roles for the last 19 years...In 2005, Dina approached me about having our clubs work together on a joint effort to bring a military service dog home to the states. From Afghanistan, the return of Tiger stateside was the start of our collaborative community service journey, and we haven't stopped since."

Parent Tony Morrow said she was struck by DeSantis stating she does not have "passion" for the role the board has assigned her to, "so why would you want to put somebody in a role that they really don't have any passion for and don't want to do something that she hasn't done in 20 years?"

A student and member of the Interact Club at the high school, Don Chozam, asked the board not to move DeSantis from her position.

"She has consistently supported me by introducing me to program such as RYLA, also known as the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, to further encourage me to expand my leadership skills to not only benefit the Interact Club but also my social skills to benefit speaking with others," Chozom said. "Ms. Santos has dedicated her time and energy to Interact and Interact would not function properly without her.

"I would like to ask you to not remove her from the high school. She is extremely important to all of us, and we can't bear to lose her."

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