Congratulations to Weston’s school counselor, Dana Correnti, for being given the
Governor’s Educator of the Year Award!
Governor’s Educator of the Year Award!
Mrs. Correnti has been a school counselor for 7 years, and has been working in the
Manville School District for 6 years. Correnti says, “I have worked at the middle school level
for a year – long maternity leave prior to coming to Manville, and have really found the
elementary level is my passion. I love being able to meet kids when they first start their
educational journey, and helping them work through all the early development of their
social skills, friendship building, and coping skills.” When asked how Correnti chose her
specialization, she says, “I had always known I wanted to work with children. I had an
amazing high school counselor who really helped me, and when I was deciding on a career I
thought back to the people in my education who played a big role.” Mrs. Correnti received
her education from undergrad at Rutgers University with a BA in Psychology and a Masters
in School Counseling from Kean University.
Being a school counselor comes with more responsibilities and duties than you may
think. Correnti runs individual and group counseling sessions, and also works in the
classrooms teaching monthly character education themes. She is currently the 504
coordinator for Weston, and runs Intervention and Referral Services. She and other
counselors also run an after school club called Girl CODE that services 1st and 2nd grade
girls.
If Mrs. Correnti could give advice to a novice counselor, she would say, “Prioritize the
students. Getting to know each individual student has made such a difference in my
relationships with both them and their families. When students know they have a safe space
with you, it helps them trust you and open up to you about things that weigh heavy on
them.” Correnti is constantly reflecting on her counseling approach and presence with the
students to make sure she is the best counselor she can be. She loves feedback from
classroom teachers on lessons and any social emotional needs they see.
Mrs. Correnti is currently a mom of a 2 1/2 year old girl named Olivia. When she is
home, she loves spending time with her daughter, husband and their dog, Piper. She and her
husband love going on walks and exploring outside. Correnti spends her summers anywhere
warm, as she loves the beach and the ocean. She also enjoys taking advantage of her free time
to read and get into a good novel.
Congratulations to Mrs. Correnti on receiving this outstanding Governor’s Educator
of the Year Award!
