Testimonials
Kendra Scott (PA)
“Andrew was awesome! He rolled with our last-minute idea to stream the presentation. He did a great job not only sharing his story but telling shoppers how they can shop at Kendra to support MYM.”
Danielle Lafond, Assistant Manager/Events Coordinator
New Directions – Teen Advisory Council (OH)
“Morgan was our second speaker scheduled from Minding your Mind and she did not disappoint. Morgan was fantastic at sharing her story and the impact on her but leaving our youth with knowledge and skills to manage mental health in a healthy way that fits them best. She answered their questions and was open and honest. Thank you, Morgan!”
Lindsey Lamp, Prevention Coordinator
TEACH Program – CCIU (PA)
“Brooke was a wonderful speaker for our middle school students. She shared relatable experiences, was down-to-earth, and provided a positive, hopeful message to our students who have experienced similar circumstances. We would love to have her back.”
Jenna Freyman, Mental Health Therapist
Mercy Career & Technical High School (PA)
“Andrew’s presentation was excellent! We liked how he gave concrete healthy coping skills and engaged the students. He ended his presentation on a hopeful note!”
Mary Terese C. Lopata, School Social Worker & Director of Guidance
Pinelands Regional High School (NJ)
“Andrew was absolutely wonderful! He was “real”, and I very much appreciate him sharing his story with us.”
Joann Fella, SAC
PA Developmental Disabilities Council (PA)
“So glad to have Jordan and Minding Your Mind as a partner!”
Dana Thompson, Project Officer
Hatfield Public Schools (MA)
“Linda did a very nice job focusing on moving from “surviving to thriving” covid management in the schools. Her workshop had been scheduled later in the morning, following three prior presentations. Linda built mindfulness movement audience participation into her presentation to help all of us stay engaged. Her resource list was especially helpful.”
Jean Hobbie, School Nurse Manager
Hendrix College (AR)
“Andrew was a great presenter. It was a difficult format with the full team in one room on our end where he wasn’t able to see faces very well, but he presented with confidence and ease. I really appreciated how honest he was about being nervous and showing his own coping strategies to the group. His presentation opened the door for me to have more conversations about mental health with each of my players.”
MC Parker, Head Beach Volleyball Coach
Archbishop Ryan High School (PA)
“Mollye provided an excellent parent presentation. Calm and professional.”
Regina Abernethy, Director of Guidance
Virginia Wesleyan University (VA)
“I really enjoyed having Andrew speak with my team. Prior to the team presentation, he and I connected via Zoom and I immediately could sense his authentic nature and care for what he is doing. Andrew did a great job relating to my team, sharing his story, and interweaving humor into an often heavy conversation. He provided resources and encouraged participation from my athletes. We really appreciated him sharing his story and taking the time to connect with us.”
Nicole DeSalvia, Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach
Beaver County Behavioral Health (PA)
“Jordan is a wonderful speaker; his presentation was heartfelt and inspiring! He had stated that he was doing “something new” in his presentation and ended by reading a letter to his 18-year-old self, please let him know that we all thought that was wonderful and INCREDIBLY insightful. VERY well received.”
Jennifer Boeringer, Training Coordinator
Gibbsboro School – Elementary/Middle School (NJ)
“I received several positive comments from teachers/staff after the presentation. I also noticed staff talking directly with the presenters after the presentation. I think the presentation had a positive impact on the audience. I appreciate Scott speaking so openly about his personal story and the coping strategies Sheila shared.”
Susan Backal, School Social Worker
Susquenita High School (PA)
“Andrew did a great job presenting and connecting to our students. From the feedback we have received from our students, they liked the presentation and felt it was beneficial.”
Tori Putt, School Counselor
Maritime Academy Charter High School (PA)
“Andrew was great. The students really connected with his presentation. He was very down to earth and relatable.”
Aimee Bogan, School Counselor
Kempner High School (TX)
“This is the second time that I have used Andrew & Jordan to speak to my students (in two different schools). They are incredible! Their stories are powerful, and their message is so important! Our students were invested, and the presentation was very meaningful to them!”
Ashleigh Glover, School Counselor
Mid Valley Secondary Center (PA)
“Sheila and Andrew were wonderful presenters, and they had the right combination of brain-based information with personal connections. Mind Your Mind sponsored our parent program, and we can’t thank them enough for their interest in helping our school SEL initiatives.”
Michelle M. Higgins, Assistant Principal
Tufts University (MA)
“Amazing presentation. Impactful, fun, got my team talking. Andrew is a genuine and skilled presenter.”
Adam Hoyt, Head Swim and Dive Coach
Miami Country Day School (FL)
“Morgan was amazing! She was real and person, she spoke with teenagers about her struggles and in the end how she overcame them and persevered. Morgan was an example of resilience!”
Lauri Kassewitz, Middle School Counselor
Radnor Middle School (PA)
“Thank you for another wonderful presentation from MYM. This was our only in-person assembly this year and the students truly benefitted from the direct interaction. Sarika shared her powerful story in a way that impacted so many of our students. They were laser focused on her presentation, and a number of students came to the school counselor’s office following the presentation with more specific/personal questions.”
Clyde Diehl, School Counselor
Gill St. Bernard’s School (NJ)
“Lucas was fabulous, we got a lot of student feedback that, even though it can be difficult to hear stories of peoples’ struggle it is really important and was helpful for them to know that they aren’t alone.”
Emily Haberman, Upper School Counselor
Anne Frank Elementary (PA)
“All staff at MYM was a pleasure to work with. Our students and teachers expressed the program being a great resource for our SEL needs.”
Jennifer Smith, School Counselor
“Suzelle Marques was a wonderful presenter. The material was very engaging and relevant for the kindergarten students. Suzelle was so positive and welcoming to the ideas of each student.”
Jessica Morgan, Teacher
“Thank you for a wonderful presentation and resources to support the lesson. The facilitator was prepared, age appropriate, enthusiastic, and responsive to the children’s thoughts, ideas and feelings. Thank you again!”
Audrey Weiss, Teacher
Middletown Village Elementary School (NJ)
“The students and teachers loved the presentation. It brought up great questions and gave us the opportunity to further discuss mental health, being kind, and feelings outside of the presentation.”
Shanna Howell, Social Behavior Support Specialist
Middle School of Pleasantville (NJ)
“I have scheduled MYM numerous times for our students, they have all been wonderful and it has been a pleasure to work with MYM. I truly appreciate the impact and difference they make.”
Mary Gillespie, SAC
Pittsburgh Classical Academy (PA)
“Andrew was very relatable and consistent message with all our grades. Kids who usually don’t stay online stayed on.”
Anna Chough, Social Worker
Hopewell Valley Central High School (NJ)
“Minding Your Mind consistently delivers excellent psychoeducation combined with personal experiences. The parents at the presentation connected with Andrew’s story and were incredibly impressed and motivated by the presentation. It was valuable to our school community.”
Christopher Velderman, SAC
Isaac A. Sheppard School (PA)
“I love how the presenters interacted with the students and called on them for answers. Also, thank you for your flexibility with tech!”
Justine Rybaltowski, School Counselor
GIFT (Gathering Inspiring Future Talent) Training (MA)
“Scott’s story really resonated with the young adults. He has a very engaging and enthusiastic way of sharing his challenging experiences that connect the students to him and his message. We particularly appreciated the visuals in his PowerPoint that demonstrated that depression can come in many forms (his high school pictures).”
Antoinette Jones, Lead Trainer
Kim Bisset, Director and Founder
Pinelands Regional High School (NJ)
“This was our first time having your organization present at our school. It will NOT be the last. Thank you so much!!”
Joann Fella, Student Assistance Coordinator
MaST Community Charter School (PA)
“We would love to have MYM back next year and hopefully in person. Thanks for a great presentation!”
Erica Titlow, School Counselor
Cliffside Park High School (NJ)
“Scott was wonderful. He was very professional & his material was effective & appropriate.”
Joe Del Risco, SAC Counselor
State College Area School District Delta Program (PA)
“What a great presentation/resource for my students! Thank you thank you! We are so thankful for Morgan and the story she shared with our health class.”
Eric Marshall, Health Educator
Lyndhurst High School (NJ)
“Mr. Wolfe was very engaging and really resonated with both students and staff.”
Anne DeForge, Library Technician
Chichester School District (PA)
“Looking forward to having the Kind Minds Presentation at my school next year!”
Lisa Tobin, School Counselor
William Penn High School (DE)
“I absolutely love this program. I started teaching ADAP (Adolescent Depression Awareness Program) about 10 years ago and so many students have stepped forward, some have told their stories and others have noticed signs of depression. This program is the PERFECT connection to the content. Every speaker that I have had over the last couple of years has drawn the students into the story and often after they leave we have discussions about them. I’ll be scheduling MYM with every class that I have.”
Shana Bacon, Health Teacher
Iroquois High School (PA)
“Jordan’s message was powerful and delivered in an engaging way. Our students really related to him. We would love to do this again!”
Julia Boyd, Positive Youth Development Coordinator
Conwell-Egan Catholic High School (PA)
“Every speaker we have from Minding your Mind are absolutely amazing. Kristen had the students fully engaged throughout her presentation. We had a few students want to talk afterwards, which is exactly what we want out of these presentations! Kristen was very professional, kind, and on time. We are very thankful for her.”
Jenny Diamond, Director of School Counseling
Camden County Department of Health & Human Services (AL)
“Lucas did a great job. Everyone was impressed with him and his presentation.”
John Pellicane, Director
Drexel Neumann Academy (PA)
“Jordan and Mollye shared important information with parents, faculty and teachers. They did it in a way that was easily understood. We appreciated their candor and their sharing of personal information. Thank you!”
Barb Brennan, Principal
Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School (PA)
“We LOVE Minding Your Mind! We have been bringing in a speaker every year during Mental Health Awareness Month for the last 3-4 years and we will surely continue this tradition. It is SO beneficial and meaningful to our students. Thank you so much for the services that you are providing to our youth. Kristen was phenomenal and we sent her a “thank you card” with feedback from students who attended.”
Lauren Lombardo, School Counselor
Gunning Bedford Middle School (DE)
“Jordan’s presentation was awesome! The students loved it and found it to be very beneficial.”
Kim Ferraro, Teacher
CSI High School for International Studies (NY)
“Excellent presentation. Could not have asked for more honesty and candor, so heartfelt and honest.”
Elisabeth Coffey, School Social Worker and LGBT Club Advisor
Milton Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (MA)
“The presentation was great and Jon Mattleman always brings energy and good information to our community.”
Laurie Ruth Stillman, Director
Pond Road Middle School (NJ)
“Minding Your Mind was exactly what we were looking for. We wanted a speaker who our students could relate to and engage with. Scott was phenomenal at relaying the message of seeking out support and talking to someone and normalizing the experiences of mental health. Our students were locked into his presentation the entire time. Following are quotes from several staff members and students:
‘That was the best presentation we ever had.’ —Staff member in the district for 10+ years.
‘Can you believe he stood up there and shared his story, we need more people to talk about mental health openly like that.’ —8th grade students in a group together.”
Kaitlyn Schmid, SAC/School Counselor
Barrington Middle School (RI)
“Andrew was a great speaker. He was able to speak to our middle schoolers in a way that allowed them to relate to his challenges he has faced. Throughout his presentation he focused on hope and how he was able to be successful. Our students thoroughly enjoyed his presentation.”
Rebecca Silveira, Assistant Principal
The Herb it Forward Foundation (PA)
“We thought Jordan was wonderful, he put humor into his presentation where appropriate and made our student community feel very comfortable. He received rave reviews from the community. Jordan’s talk and time were so valuable to our event and much needed after a particularly difficult year. We were so glad he was there and able to be a part of our event!”
Jennifer Jones, Executive Director
Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition (PA)
“Jordan is clearly an accomplished speaker and comfortable presenting to groups. We received very positive feedback on his presentation and its message of hope.”
David Measel, Executive Director
Jenkintown High School (PA)
“Students always love the presentations by MYM speakers.”
Renate Costner, Teacher
Mars Area High School (PA)
“Morgan did a very nice job and her story hopefully resonated with a lot of students. Evan was fantastic and did an amazing job. Would love to have him back next year.”
Kristen Stash, Health and PE Teacher
NQA Global Certification Body, North American Headquarters (MA)
“Brandon was friendly, yet professional. He really tried to connect with the group. I got positive feedback that his session was appreciated.”
Kris Erickson, Office Manager
Wickford Middle School (RI)
“Thank you so much! Morgan was flexible and thoughtful about her responses to student questions. We really appreciated having her as part of our annual Mental Health Awareness Week.”
Sherrie Monaco, School Psychologist
Holy Ghost Preparatory School (PA)
“Lucas was awesome. His message was relevant and well received by our students. In uncertain times like these, it is so very important for our students to know that it is ok to need and get help!”
Aaron Pollock, Director of Counseling
Dallastown High School (PA)
“I feel that the Minding Your Mind presentation was one of the impactful activities we have done for our students as part of our Mental Health curriculum. I was amazed at how quickly Morgan was able to build a rapport with the students and allow them to open up to her and ask some tough questions. I know the students related to her story and hopefully inspire them to deal with their mental health in positive ways.”
Greg Thoman, Teacher/ Department Chair
Gettysburg College (PA)
“Thank you so much for an awesome conversation and presentation.”
Nikki Binetti , Assistant Volleyball Coach
Las Americas ASPIRA Academy (DE)
“Moving and wonderfully delivered, age-appropriate presentation!”
Julia Fornoff, Teacher
Malvern Preparatory School (PA)
“Both Andrew and Evan did a wonderful job presenting to our students. Even though the presentation was virtual, our speakers kept our students engaged and involved. We are at an all-boys school and the presenters did an excellent job working with the clientele. I look forward to hearing these presentations and my students’ reactions to the presentation every year.”
Bethany DeWitt, School Counselor
Woodrow Wilson Middle School (NJ)
“Everything was great! Elizabeth was amazing and I would highly recommend MYM to other schools in my district (and to colleagues in other districts).”
Deanna Farkas, Student Assistance Coordinator
Greater Lawrence Technical School (MA)
“Brooke did a great job communicating her story to my students. Brooke also answered questions thoughtfully and in a manner that my students could understand. Great presentation and look forward to having her come back in the future.”
Tara Mansour, Wellness Teacher
University of Chicago – SAAC (IL)
“This is my second time hearing Andrew speak and it was still extremely impactful. He is very engaging, managing to explain his story well while also making the event interactive. He also provided great answers to all of the questions asked at the end, and many of the students who attended the event have been raving to me about how impactful his story and presentation was.”
Klaire Steffens, Co-President of SAAC
Colby College (ME)
“Andrew was extremely personal and relatable, and very open and honest. I think that was the most important part, and our team appreciated the effort he was putting in to make conversations like this more normal and help people understand they are not alone.”
Paige Hanssen, Interim Head Volleyball Coach
Berry College (GA)
“Our student athletes loved the conversation and discussion around mental health. We are hoping to continue to have conversations like this and help people navigate mental health issues for themselves and their peers.”
Jessica Howard, Athletic Trainer
Piscataway High School (NJ)
“Scott was a great speaker. The students can relate to his story. He had great knowledge during the Q & A part.”
Michele Reid, Physical Education Teacher
“Andrew does a wonderful job with his presentation.”
Kenneth Walker, Physical Education/Health Teacher
“The speaker was very professional and well spoken. He was a great listener and was very empathetic to any questions that were asked. His experiences with mental illness were very genuine and I felt that the virtual audience learned a great deal about how to cope with adversity involving mental health.”
Peter Buccino, Health/Physical Education Teacher
Cardinal John Foley Regional Catholic School (PA)
“The Middle School students were touched by Andrew’s story and his courage to share the information. Dr. Jenna DiLossi did a great job with Andrew during the parent presentation. We were very grateful for their time and willingness to share.”
Mary Ann DeAngelo, Principal
Louis Pasteur Middle School 67Q (NY)
“Both Jordan and Lucas were fantastic and inspirational. Both shared their stories and answered questions that were asked from our students. Students, teachers, and other staff members shared that they were moved and inspired by the strength demonstrated by Jordan and Lucas. On behalf of our school community, we would like to thank them again for giving up their time to visit our school and students.”
Michael Viruet, Dean
Friends’ Central School (PA)
“Jordan provided relevant and educational information to the students and answered questions. Thanks, Jordan!”
Lisa Mansure, Health Teacher
Linwood Elementary School (PA)
“The presentations were wonderful and both speakers did a great job engaging the students.”
Courtney McLaughlin, Social Worker
Harold Antrim Elementary School (NJ)
“He was awesome!! Great connection with our middle school kids.”
Darlene Kuzloski, School Counselor
Rising Tide Charter School (MA)
“Jon Mattleman’s presentation was very engaging and on a topic that is extremely important for our families. He is funny and relatable, and our parents gave wonderful feedback. I would love to have him again in the future.”
Shawna Weekly, Wellness Director
Strath Haven High School (PA)
“My students reflected on his discussion and provided all positive feedback and truly felt comforted in his words allowing those with anxiety, depression to feel like there is hope! Thank you again!”
Carly Reid, HE/PE Teacher
Ashland High School (MA)
“We’ve loved all of the MYM speakers and have received nothing but positive feedback! Thank you!”
Alison Batchelder, Health and Wellness Educator
Mt. Lebanon High School (PA)
“Andrew was humble, accessible, and professional. The students indicated through discussion the following day that they benefited a great deal from his talk and highly recommended I bring him in for future health talks. Kelly made a positive impact on the students and myself. We discussed it the following day in class and the students’ comments were overwhelmingly in favor of bringing her back for future classes.”
Madelon Tieman, Faculty
“The two speakers were outstanding. I just finished writing them thank you cards. I had several students email me and thank ME for having them come speak. They were so genuine and so relatable to our students. The organizational experience from start to finish was exceptional. Thank you again!”
Janice A. Billotte, Health Educator
Pacific Lutheran University (WA)
“Considering the modality [virtual], these gentlemen provided a great presentation that really resonated with our student-athlete community.”
Jennifer Childress-White, Assistant Athletic Director/SWA
Bloomfield College Athletics (NJ)
“Jordan and Andrew were great! They created a safe space for our students. Our student-athletes were grateful for their stories and some even made sure to make an appointment to see our college counselor immediately following the program.”
Jennifer Virgil, Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance
Greater Lawrence Technical School (MA)
“Scott was great! He was very knowledgeable, and I love how he offered some strategies for students to implement in order to reflect upon and possibly improve upon their mental health.”
Kerri LeBlanc, Wellness Teacher
Manasquan Elementary School (NJ)
“Jordan did an excellent job on a long day of four in-person presentations for the first time this year. He navigated students’ questions and levels of understanding on mental illness and suicide well, as the audience ranged from 5th graders to 8th graders.”
Anthony Cinelli, School Counselor
Longmeadow Public Schools (MA)
“Scott is a slam dunk — great presentation skills, earnest.”
Paul McNeil, CLOSE Community Coalition Program Director
Lourdes University (OH)
“We love the presentation and I have shared the information with my peers.”
Janet Eaton, Athletic Director
South Plainfield High School (NJ)
“Both Andrew and Scott did a wonderful job. I thought the virtual assemblies went well. I listened to both gentlemen twice. We had a total of four assemblies and each time was just as impactful.”
Lisa Lussier, LCSW/School Counselor
Tufts University (MA)
“Thanks so much to Andrew and Minding Your Mind. Andrew connected with our student-athletes in a way that very few speakers are able to. He was relatable, thoughtful, and provided a great sense of humor. We’re grateful for the opportunity to hear Andrew’s story!”
Jill Pace Head Coach, Women’s Basketball
Hilltop Elementary School (PA)
“Calm, reassuring and very patient as we worked through minor tech issues. Very positive feedback from students’ comments/responses.”
Paul DeAngelo, School Counselor
Uniontown Area School District (PA)
“Andrew did a nice job explaining his situation and how someone like him can get help and continues to get help.”
Aaron M. Scott, Teacher- Health and PE
Watertown Public Schools, Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, and Watertown Youth Coalition (MA)
“I loved this and I have loved all the past assemblies and groups we have done with MYM!”
Stephanie Sunderland-Ramsey, Prevention Program Coordinator
Manasquan High School (NJ)
“Students gave positive feedback and we also received comments from parents of how their child talked about our presenter. The presentation is such an important topic and we will have Minding Your Mind come back to our school.”
Amy Certo, Health and Physical Education Teacher
Fairview Middle School (PA)
“Scott did a great job of making the presentation engaging over a virtual platform. He also fielded the student questions well!”
Hannah Kovacs, School Counselor
Cliffside Park High School (NJ)
“The speaker was dynamic and genuine. I have received NOTHING but positive feedback since her presentation.”
Joe Del Risco, SAC Counselor
Concord High School (DE)
“Thank you so much for presenting to my classes. My students gave feedback that they felt the presentation with the PowerPoint and personal pictures was more engaging that just s presenter talking.”
Nina PIckhaver, Teacher
Blue Ridge School District (PA)
“Our students really connected with Andrew. We felt he was relatable and gave some really good advice. Many teachers and students gave positive feedback with even the Zoom platform and how effective it was.”
Dawn McHale, School Counselor
Burlington County Professional Development Institute (NJ)
“Always extremely valuable!”
Bobbie Downs, Director
The Sloan School-CRSD (PA)
“Andrew did a great job delivering his story to our students. In the days following the presentation, I received lots of positive feedback from other staff members and our students. Many related with different aspects of his story and appreciated the openness with which Andrew talked to them.”
Antonio Checchia, Teacher
Conestoga Valley Middle School (PA)
“Scott was great. His presentation was entertaining and educational.”
Peter Shellenberger, 8th Grade Wellness Teacher
New Directions – Teen Advisory Council (OH)
“The participants in Youth Leadership Day enjoyed Andrew’s presentation, they appreciated Andrew’s story and how it was relatable to them.”
Lindsey Lamp, Prevention Coordinator
King Philip Schools (MA)
“Always a pleasure to work with Jon Mattleman and Minding Your Mind, both for staff and parent presentations.”
Dot Pearl, Director of Wellness
Tufts University (MA)
“Andrew’s presentation/conversation with our team was amazing. He is a thoughtful and insightful person who was relatable and kind and funny and open to all questions and thoughts. This was SO needed, especially during COVID when so many of our kids are struggling with mental health. Thank you!!”
Kristen Morwick, Head Women’s Cross Country/Track Coach
Pittsburgh Allderdice (PA)
“What a wonderful presentation from Miss Kristen. Her personal story of sharing her strength and not giving up was inspirational as well as informative with the information she provided with ways to receive help as well. Thank you for the opportunity for my Health class students to receive this presentation on the important topic of mental health. Also, Ms. Marschall was terrific getting back to me in a timely manner and getting the presentation organized with a day and time with Miss Kristen.”
Keith Goldman, Health/PE Teacher
Waltham High School (MA)
“We are so fortunate to be able to offer your programs to our students! Students who attended this most recent presentation indicated that it came at the perfect time. Our students are returning to the building after a year of remote learning (and our ninth graders are stepping into the building for the first time); the change in routine—after students have already adjusted to a change in routine!—brings forth lots of anxiety and insecurity. Brooke’s message about self-love and confidence was an important reminder for students making this significant transition.”
Sydney Lindstrom, High School English Teacher
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (WI)
“It was so great! Our athletes gave such remarkable feedback afterwards. Can’t wait to do another session!”
Makenzie Bachmann, Student Athlete
York College of Pennsylvania (PA)
“Extremely valuable, impactful, and insightful. The speakers created a safe space for others to be vulnerable, to share, and to understand that they are not alone.”
Jen Muston, Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach/SWA/Assistant Athletic Director
St. Bernadette School (PA)
“Andrew’s presentation was inspirational and professional. Parents and faculty were most impressed and asked me to have him back so more people would have the opportunity to hear him.”
Joanne Montie, Principal
Clifton School #15 (NJ)
“It was a pleasure having you all at School #15. I got great feedback from the staff and children. After Scott’s presentation, a fifth-grade student wrote ‘the presentation gave me a little hope and very inspirational to keep going and stay motivated.’ For the Kind Minds presentation, a third grade student wrote ‘I learned to take a minute to see how you really feel’ and another student wrote ‘It was beautiful and I learned many things.’ Thank you for everything that you do. I hope to see you again in the future!”
Anarosa Duarte, School Counselor
Thomas Jefferson High School (PA)
“I know it looks like I went through and just marked 5’s but I have absolutely nothing negative to say at all. Evan was even able to resolve a technology issue we were having and then adapt his presentation into the remaining time.”
Mike Rose, Teacher
CLOSE Community Coalition (MA)
“An amazing group of professionals, with experience, compassion, and a wonderful knack for audience engagement. Just a joy to feature them at our community event!”
Paul McNeil, Program Director
Pickering College (Ontario, Canada)
“Brooke’s presentation was authentic and real. Students could identify with many aspects of her story and she offered some tangible resources/strategies for them to use.”
Lotem Baram, Guidance Counsellor
Decisions at Every Turn Coalition/Ashland (MA)
“We have partnered with Ashland High School to bring Changing Minds: Stories Over Stigma to all of its Health & Wellness classes this past semester. Students and staff all loved the speakers and we will be bringing back the program for Q3 and Q4. We are also in discussions with the middle school. Michelle Drolsbaugh has been amazing to work with – both in identifying the best speakers for our students and in quickly changing schedules as needed.”
Kristin French, Outreach Director
Watchung Hills Regional High School (NJ)
“Kristen’s presentations were absolutely phenomenal. Not that there was any doubt in our minds because Minding Your Mind has been such a blessing for our students! Her story is so powerful and the students asked many, many great questions. You could tell they were truly engaged and she made them realize they are not alone. In the afternoon of the presentation, I ran a Teen Action Group club meeting (a club I run devoted to ending the stigma around Mental Health) and two seniors in the club that saw Kristen’s presentation shared a lot of what she talked about to the other members of the club! It was very rewarding to hear their takeaways from the presentation and to see them sharing it with the underclassman.”
Jill Gleeson, Health Education Teacher
Redding Middle School (DE)
“Scott was very relatable with our 8th grade students, especially being an ex-athlete. Some of our kids had some fantastic comments for Scott and he was able to get the kids talking about his speech. The kids thought he was ‘real’ and that kept them engaged.”
Mike McGuigan, Teacher
Watchung Hills Regional High School (NJ)
“We have used Minding Your Mind for several years now and MYM has been a godsend to our students, faculty and parents. This was our first time using Sarika and she was absolutely phenomenal! She is down to earth, relatable, and has a great mix of humor and sarcasm to balance out the hard conversation that our students so desperately need. The fact that we had students wanting to come back on to the call at the end of the day to ask more questions is a true testament to Sarika!”
Jill Gleeson, Health Education Teacher
Conwell-Egan Catholic High School (PA)
“Andrew was amazing, on time, and engaged with our students.”
Jenny Diamond, School Counselor
St. Martin of Tours (PA)
“Scott did a great job telling his story to grades 5 – 8. He was animated, captivating, and seemed to hold students’ interest. His presentation was inspiring, and I believe it had a positive impact on our students.”
Samantha Bissey, School Counselor
Braintree Public Schools (MA)
“Jon was great both times we hosted him. He is very relatable and kind, which makes the viewers comfortable enough to ask questions. He does a great job of keeping people’s attention online.”
Sarah Coughlin, Director of School Nutrition
Technical College High School-Pickering (PA)
“Kelly was fabulous. Her message and the way she communicated was superb.”
Erin Petters, Assistant Principal
Hopewell Valley Central High School (NJ)
“We had previously had Jordan speak in person to our students and he was able to switch effectively to Zoom to deliver the same message and engage with our students. I was impressed with the attention and thoughtful questions our students gave as well as Jordan’s ability to address both general and COVID-specific mental health concerns from students.”
Christopher Velderman, Student Assistance Counselor
CLOSE Community Coalition of Longmeadow (MA)
“Jon had an amazingly engaging energy, he was smart, able to connect with the every-parent, and somehow was unbelievably succinct with the timing of his presentation and questions/responses!”
Paul McNeil, Program Director
Ashland High School (MA)
“We loved MYM and are absolutely bringing it back!”
Alison Batchelder, Health and Wellness Teacher
Antonia Pantoja Charter School (PA)
“Scott connected to the students. Relevant and personal. The students were asking relevant and important questions.”
Jenny Leal, School Counselor
Pearl R. Miller Middle School (NJ)
“Both Jordan and Scott provided interesting, inspirational and informative presentation to the middle school students in my school. The students responded extremely well to both young men. We had very positive feedback from the middle school students!”
Tara McClain, School Counselor
Leonardo Elementary School (NJ)
“Scott was incredible & SO relatable for our students. He did such a great job at adapting his story for our 5th grade students. Suzelle did a great job. I like how she used the term ‘body clues’ to talk about noticing how others are feeling; our students were super engaged in her lesson. Marissa was fabulous with our students, especially the younger ones (kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade). She was great at adapting her lesson to be age appropriate & her mannerisms/energy really kept our students engaged. I loved that she did a stretch break mid-way through the lesson with all of the students.”
Jessica Bragen, School Social Worker
Grover Cleveland Middle School (NJ)
“All three speakers (Andrew, Lucas, Scott) did an incredible job sharing their personal stories with our students, while telling them that it is OK to speak about mental health and if anyone is feeling anything that they are uncomfortable with, it is OK to ask for help. They also did a great job of showing them that there is hope and happiness can still be achieved. Thank you again!!”
John Bertollo, Principal
Millis High School (MA)
“Jordan was fantastic. He gave his presentation in a caring and down to earth way that our students could really relate to. His willingness to share his story to help others is admirable.”
Erin Sullivan, School Adjustment Counselor
Carlstadt Public School (NJ)
“Our students and staff enjoyed the MYM program very much! Marissa did a great job engaging the students virtually and the topics were age appropriate and informative!”
Kelly Schroback, School Counselor
Denmark High School (GA)
“We loved the presentation!! I would love to do this again with a bigger audience! Andrew’s story was so inspiring and it definitely helped start a tough conversation.”
Ishani Saha, Student
MasterMine Podcast (NY)
“Jordan was super professional and so informative. We were lucky to have him on the program.”
Mr. G, Educator
Perkiomen Valley High School (PA)
“Our students and teachers enjoyed all of the Minding Your Mind speakers. We appreciate the speakers sharing their stories with us. The students definitely walked away from the presentation with a better understanding of how important it is to talk about their mental health.”
Amy Kohout, Health and Physical Education Teacher
The Crefeld School (PA)
“Jordan was great and had a hugely impactful, inspiring story!”
Michael Herman, Physical Education Teacher
Perkiomen Valley High School (PA)
“Andrew was very professional and inspirational. He kept students engaged even in a virtual setting. I feel like students felt more than comfortable to open up and ask questions. I was blown away by the professionalism and topics that Elizabeth talked about. Also she did a great job engaging students, EVEN through Zoom. I would definitely have minding your mind speakers back at PV for years to come.”
Emily Witman, Health and PE Teacher/Department Head
Jenkintown High School (PA)
“He was very enthusiastic and he had a very good character. I was given a really detailed perspective on what addiction and depression were like from Evan. He was the best speaker we’ve had so far and it was great to hear his story.”
“I enjoyed the presentation very much, Evan was very relatable and he made me think about Mental Health and Substance Abuse in a totally different way.”
“My favorite speaker, I could really relate to him and it was a very interesting story.”
Comments from Student Evaluations
New Foundations Charter School (PA)
“Andrew was an amazing speaker! We received so much positive feedback from faculty, students, and administration. Students emailed our principal to say it was the best presentation they ever attended. We are so appreciative of Minding Your Mind!”
Theresa Niedosik, High School Counselor
Harrison Elementary School (NJ)
“Both Marissa and Suzelle were amazing! We have been looking for something fun and educational that is different from the everyday virtual learning and the Kind Minds Presentation was the perfect thing! It was so fun for the kids to actually move around, make silly faces, and learn some important information.”
Christine Cutinello, School Counselor
Upper Merion High School (PA)
“YOU are the best MYM – organized and so valuable for teens!”
Patty Ehret, Health Teacher
Herricks Union Free School District – Elementary Schools (NY)
“Suzelle worked very hard to coordinate and prepare for this district-wide presentation. She was very eager to accommodate our needs and modify the presentation to the virtual manner that we needed. I felt like she listened carefully to what we were looking for and was able to deliver according to our needs. We greatly appreciated the flexibility and tailoring that made the presentation go so well. The way in which the subject matter was covered was developmentally appropriate and engaging.”
Kathy Wong, School Social Worker
Crozer Chester Medical Center (PA)
“Andrew has been a speaker for our program for a few years. He does a wonderful presentation that helps the students realize that it’s ok to talk about their feelings and that they are not alone. He encourages them to use the bountiful resources available to them if they are struggling. Always a pleasure to have Andrew talk to my students. He does a great job of sharing his message of hope. So very grateful for his work!”
Rosemary Barakat, Medical Careers Instructor/RN
William Penn High School (DE)
“I believe MYM is the best presentation that I have in my classes. So many of the students are drawn in by the speakers.”
Shana Bacon, Teacher
Swenson Arts and Technology (PA)
“I sincerely thank Minding Your Mind and the presenters for telling their story. The students in the classes had amazing feedback and we are appreciative of the opportunity to listen to their experiences while also gaining coping skills and strategies. Thank you again!”
Kevin Lockett, Teacher
Friends’ Centra School (PA)
“Jordan was professional, informative and honest with my students. I’ve invited him back already for next semester whether in person or via Zoom!”
Lisa Mansure, Health Teacher
Young Men and Women in Charge (YMWIC) Virtual Expo-Chester County (PA)
“This our second time with your guys. It is always a favorite!”
Angela Smith, College and Career Advisor
Boston College Women in Business (MA)
“We absolutely loved having Brooke come speak! She was so informative and vulnerable. Especially with everything going on this year, it was awesome to hear her speak about her experiences. She really opened up the conversation on Mental Health for the WIB club at Boston College and we are so grateful!”
Kaitlin McCarthy, Chair for Health and Wellness
MaST Community Charter School (PA)
“The students asked really great questions at the end of the presentation, which showed me that they were very engaged with Jordan’s words, even virtually! He did a great job of explaining good coping skills and how to get support when you need it. Thanks to him for sharing his story.”
Katie MacConnell, Counselor
Watchung Hills Regional High School – 9th Grade Health (NJ)
“We have been using MYM for several years now at WHRHS and the speakers have been a godsend to our students. We are so incredibly grateful for Andrew’s bravery sharing his story. He is extremely relatable and provides a comfortable environment for the students to feel open in sharing how they feel. Since the presentation we have had numerous students reaching out looking to speak with our Student Assistance Counselors. They felt encouraged to do so after hearing Andrew’s key take-aways of asking for help, you are not alone, and it gets better. His story is one of hope and help and we thank Andrew and MYM from the bottom of our hearts for all that you do!”
Jill Gleeson, Health Education Teacher
Pittsburgh Public Schools (PA)
“Sarika and Evan both gave such moving presentations and do so in a relatable and appropriate way for my middle school students. They answered my students’ questions and were so kind and heartfelt in their stories. I appreciate them coming in so much and have already had several students reach out asking for help, which I don’t think they would have done prior to these presentations. I can’t thank Minding Your Mind enough for the impact it has made on my students.”
Kaleena Estrada, Teacher-HPE
Saint Andrew Home and School Meeting (PA)
“Andrew’s presentation was moving and hopeful. He gave our parents some valuable insights regarding anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideations. Most valuable was his message of hope and where to go for help.”
Helen McLean, Principal
Groton-Dunstable SEPAC (MA)
“Everything was excellent from start to finish. Here is what I wrote Jon in an email: Jon, my heart feels full of encouragement and I am certain the rest of the attendees feel the same way. You bring such a unique blend of relatability, humor, honesty, and a deep wisdom about what we need as humans. I think a lot of us are going to be using the rating system with our kids in the very near future!”
Kathleen Leonard, Parent, Groton-Dunstable SEPAC Treasurer
Woodbridge High School (DE)
“Andrew did a fantastic job presenting to my freshmen health classes. His presentation really hit on how to help yourself or someone you know who is struggling with a mental illness/disorder and how to break the stigma towards mental illness. I would highly recommend Andrew to my colleagues and anyone else looking to have a presenter for their classes.”
Matt Moyer, Health & PE Teacher
North Coventry PTO (PA)
“Andrew was awesome! He made it real and a good mix between seriousness and hopefulness. Thank you so much! Will be contacting you for more events.”
Benjamin C. Hendricks, PTO Treasurer
William Penn High School (DE)
“I absolutely love this program!! Every speaker that I have had as a presenter has been able to draw the attention of my students. How they present their stories are so enthralling. They are so forthright with their struggles, and I appreciate it because I believe that students are truly able to tell if somebody is just telling a story versus living the story. I have shared this organization with my co-workers and I can’t wait to schedule for another set of students.”
Shana Bacon, Teacher
Spring Hill College (AL)
“We had students submit follow up assignments and that expressed that they learned so much, could relate to Andrew, and were grateful for this opportunity. On the administrative side, I had a seamless experience booking and then rescheduling due to COVID. Everything surpassed my expectations. Thank you!”
Jamie O’Bryant, Assistant Professor
Haverford High School (PA)
“Minding Your Mind is synonymous with our healthy lifestyle practices. MYM is a presentation that the staff and students look forward to each year.”
Pete Donaghy, Principal
New Vitae Wellness (PA)
“Brandon & Jordan were a great team! Both were well prepared, professional & informative.”
William Hoke, Vice President, Development
Ridge Point High School (TX)
“Great presentation! Very moving and impactful!”
Ashleigh Glover College & Career Readiness Advisor
Hackensack High School (NJ)
“Sheila and Jordan did a great job presenting the material. Sheila’s presentation was very informative. Jordan is a great speaker is his story is so compelling. He is so brave in sharing his story. His message can help so many people. Melissa and Scott were wonderful speakers, they were pleasant and knowledgeable. Melissa’s presentation was very informative. Scott was very personable and his story was very touching.”
Doris De Jesus Levy, Director of Drop-In Center
Neumann University (PA)
“Andrew is an incredible speaker and a brave storyteller. He conveyed a message of hope beautifully and with necessary referrals, wisdom, and encouragement. Last year we had Jordan speak and were equally as impressed. We are huge fans of MYM and your work. We will be recommending to all!”
Elizabeth Barr, Counselor
Springfield Department of Health & Human Services (MA)
“The process to planning this virtual forum was efficient and was made extremely easy for organizations to host one. I have nothing but good things to say!”
Brielle Ruth, Prevention Specialist
Worcester Public Schools (MA)
“Jon is a thoroughly engaging speaker whose humor coupled with real-life clinical examples make for an informative and enjoyable presentation.”
Deborah O’Brien-Thibodeau, Nurse Case Manager
Burlington County Special Services School District (NJ)
“Scott’s willingness and ability to be vulnerable and relatable was tremendous. I got such positive feedback from the participants, who now want him to come to their schools. This was such a meaningful presentation.”
Bobbie Downs, Director
MS 25 The Computer School (NY)
“Both Scott and Sheila were terrific speakers. Engaging, thoughtful, knew how to target their audience (in this case middle school) extremely well, and clearly made our students feel comfortable enough to ask some great questions (even online). I felt their presentation was thorough, informative, and highlighted several quick tools that our students can implement into their lives in order to increase their own mental health and well-being. Our entire school community thanks you!”
Erin Hill, School Counselor
Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School (PA)
“I absolutely LOVE your organization and your speakers! We have had you guys come three years in a row now and I see no plan on stopping 🙂 Deanna was WONDERFUL and was really relatable for some of our students today. Thank you so much for all that you do!”
Lauren Lombardo, School Counselor
King Philip Regional School District (MA)
“Michelle Drolsbaugh was extremely helpful in navigating the change from an in-person to a virtual presentation and arranging all the details. Linda Price’s presentation was outstanding and provided strategies that parents could readily use.”
Dot Pearl, Director of Wellness
Town of Wakefield (MA)
“Minding your mind did a great job managing the tech aspects. I loved that all we had to do was promote the event, and you took care of everything else. Michelle was very responsive with email questions and concerns.”
Catherine Dhingra
National Philanthropic Trust (PA)
“The virtual presentation was well done and touched upon issues that are staff are dealing with during this pandemic and gave them useful tools to help them get through it.”
Kerry Boytin, Executive Assistant
Educational Services Unit (NJ)
“My staff absolutely loved the presentation. They felt that it validated how they were feeling while also giving them strategies to cope with these feelings during COVID-19.”
Bobbie Downs, Director
Westborough High School (MA)
“Jon and Elizabeth (the young adult speaker) were amazing. So insightful and inspiring…and still entertaining!”
Just Noonan, Nurse Leader
Hingham High School (MA)
“Our students could really relate to Brooke, and she provided great real-life examples of how mental health issues impacted her life and how she manages her health today. The students gave high praise about her presentation. Scott was fantastic. The student feedback was overwhelming great for Scott. Our students consistently say that MYM speakers are the best they’ve ever seen.”
Karen Beatty, Health Coordinator/Teacher
Saint Joseph’s University (PA)
“Marissa was extremely informative and engaging for the audience. She provided tangible advice for the practitioners in the room. Moreover, she reminded us of the complexities of mental health, including issues around stigma, equity, and cultural change.”
Aimee Terosky, Associate Professor Educational Leadership
Sterling Community School (CT)
“Elizabeth was an amazing presenter!! We received a lot of positive feedback from our students and teachers about how engaging and informative she was. She did a fantastic job telling her life experience, interweaving it with resources and data, and making what she was saying highly relevant to our population. Thank you again for all of the wonderful work and resources that Minding Your Mind provides to schools and communities!”
Kristen Lanzillo, School Psychologist
E.T. Richardson Middle School (PA)
“Both Evan and Scott did an amazing job! Sheila and Scott did a parent presentation which was also fantastic. Thanks so much!”
Dawn Blair, Wellness Teacher
Red Bank Regional High School student feedback (NJ)
“One point that the guest speaker made that stuck with me was how much one can suffer without it showing on the outside. This personally applies to my life as I myself can be secretive with my emotions and let things build up rather than deal with them directly or talking with someone. The guest speaker’s own story about eventually feeling nothing, a numbness, really opened my eyes to how I could become emotionally stunted if I don’t work on becoming less introverted about some of my struggles. I was grateful for him being able to share his story.”
“I loved the SOS speaker! I felt really engaged the whole time because he talked about his story and less of spitting out facts about mental illness. I feel like he really broke the stigma by talking about his mental health experience because it can be so hard to talk about. I really took away that I shouldn’t put all my hope and joy into one thing especially because mental illness is a present gene in a lot of families and it could possibly be present in mine.”
“One of the most attention-grabbing points she talked about was the way she explained ways she would cope with her depression, and she told us about the thought triangle. It was one of the most interesting guest speakers I’ve ever listened to here at RBR and I’m glad I got to hear her story.”
Stacy Liss, Clinical Supervisor @ The Source
Hingham High School (MA)
“Once again the speakers from Minding Your Mind provided engaging, informative and impactful presentations to our students. We appreciate the professionalism of both Scott and Brooke and the honest and relatable manner in which they shared their stories. Our students were hanging on every word. Thank you for supporting our health initiatives with your powerful program.”
Karen Beatty, Health Coordinator and Teacher
Archbishop John Carroll High School (PA)
“Timmy did a great job! I will be requesting to have him come back to Carroll next school year.”
Kevin Gallagher, Health & Physical Education teacher
Mary White Ovington PS/IS 30 (NY)
“The speaker’s presentation was great! Many students were able to relate to his issues and found the information relevant to their own lives or to those that they hold dear. The presenter opened the floor for questions afterwards, which allowed the students to get clarity on things that felt real to them. Many staff have children or loved ones that suffer with mental health issues, and they too were very appreciative of the presenter’s openness when sharing his story. This was a great benefit to our entire community.”
Audra Allen, School Counselor
Greater Lawrence Technical School (MA)
“Jon was a wonderful presenter and did a great job discussing Just Talk About it. He was willing to integrate self-care at our request. I would recommend Jon without reservation and would love to have him back in the future. Thanks to Minding your Mind and Michelle for your flexibility and assistance in making this happen in such a short turnaround time!”
Susan Zielinski, Language Acquisition Facilitator/SEL Team
Ella Baker School (NY)
“I am BEYOND impressed by the Young Adult Speakers! We hosted Sarika and Katya and could not have been happier. They were both extremely professional: in touch beforehand with materials and on time the day of. They were also both sensitive to student needs, incredibly poised, and admirably courageous for sharing their stories of pain and recovery for the education and benefit of other young teens. It was inspiring to see Sarika and Katya be so real and honest. Our students left with a better understanding of mental health needs and a path to recovery. One student even felt so empowered that after the speakers came, she found the confidence to constructively confront a peer who had been critical and damaging to her self-esteem for years… and the other student was able to listen and change. Now that is powerful! Forever grateful for these women! I can’t recommend Minding Your Mind any more highly, and I look forward to continued work with them. Thank you to everyone who plays a part in this wonderful organization!”
Kira Hammond, Guidance Counselor
Marple Newtown High School (PA)
“Morgan delivered the presentation in a mature manner and kept us engaged the whole time.”
“She really related to us on a different level and made it easier for us to understand. She connected with us on our teenage level, which made it better.”
“A very relatable guy as well as funny and cheerful.”
“I loved how even though it was a tough topic to discuss, he made it relatable for everyone!”
“The presentation helped me realize that I’m not alone. Jordan was great, and his story was amazing.”
“He was perfect for our class and he inspired me to share my story about my struggle with childhood trauma (leading to PTSD, depression and anxiety).”
Comments from Student Evaluations
Upper Merion High School (PA)
“Absolutely amazing presentation! I learned so much and have taken many mindfulness classes. Brandon is professional, resourceful, and insightful. Thank you!”
Patty Ehret
Vineland High School (NJ)
“Scott did an excellent job engaging his audience. Several of our faculty and staff members have since inquired about offering more presentations such as this one to our students. Scott’s story was powerful and relevant.”
Jacqueline Alvarez, Assistant Principal
Holy Rosary Regional Catholic School (PA)
“Our students listened intently to what Jordan shared. He interjected humor which made the audience more comfortable. Several parents contacted me the day following the presentation expressing gratitude for this program and remarked that their children shared a lot of what Jordan spoke about with them. We have decided to have our school counselor follow up with our middle school students to talk about stress, transitions, and time management. Thank you for opening this door for our students.”
Mary Ann Gilman, Principal
Susquenita Middle School (PA)
“Scott was an amazing speaker and captured the attention of everyone in the audience. He was able to connect with students to deliver the important message of talking to someone when you need help. He brought home the point of the having ‘emergency joys’, which was a great takeaway for all of us. Thank you.”
Sonja Brunner, Director of Special Education
Montgomery School (PA)
“Scott was a hit! Both students and faculty loved him and his message. I already have requests to have him back as soon as possible!”
Taryn, School Counselor
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (PA)
“Kelly was amazing! The students took to her and were really engaged in her story. There were even a few afterwards who came up to commend her and ask her further questions! She did a great job of keeping it short yet thorough and informative. She’s also great to work with and a joy to be around. I hope we get to work with her again!”
Leslee Frye, School Psychologist
East Lyme High School (CT)
“Jordan did a great job! We really appreciated him spending time with us and sharing his story.”
Jeff Newton, Superintendent of Schools
Haverford Middle School (PA)
“We are lucky to have had Scott here many times to speak with my 7th grade Health classes. Every time he really connects with the students, and I truly feel they are listening and learning so much from his story. It’s so very important! Thank you!!”
Gina Brocklesby , 7th Grade Health Teacher
West Essex High School (NJ)
“Scott was well-spoken, captivating, and was able to relate very well with our students. He had a strong presence and excellent communication skills. Not only did he share his personal journey but he educated the students on how they can recognize signs and symptoms, and what they can do to help themselves. He taught them how to identify coping mechanisms and how making yourself happy is key. He truly worked to reduce the stigma surrounding depression and mental illness. We greatly enjoyed having him and all of my students benefited from his messages.”
Bettina Plesnitzer, Lead Teacher Health & PE Department
Conwell- Egan Catholic High School (PA)
“Evan was on time and super easy to talk to. His presentation touched a myriad of students. Students were able to open up to the counseling department with struggles they had not wanted to share until they heard Evan’s story and his advice. The presentation was very powerful and needed at our school. We received great feedback from teachers and students. We would love for Minding Your Mind to come again! Thank you for making a difference!”
Jenny Diamond, School Counselor
La Salle University (PA)
“I would have no reservations bringing Jordan & Minding Your Mind back to campus. He was great and gave a very relatable presentation to our college students.”
Jennifer Ruggiero-Patel, Assistant Director of New Student Programs
Upper Merion High School (PA)
“Evan is exceptional! This is what he was meant to do. I see him making a huge difference on so many levels. Deanna’s story is relatable for so many young girls. We continue to be grateful for the courage these young adults do for our students.”
Patty Ehret, Health Educator
Conackamack Middle School (NJ)
“Sarika’s presentation was powerful and meaningful. I got positive feedback from several of the teachers regarding her presentation. I think it was very important for our students to hear from someone who has lived through mental health concerns.”
Alia Siegrist, School Psychologist/Behaviorist
Morrisville High School (PA)
“Every single presenter was simply amazing! I can’t speak highly enough about this program!”
Nicole Culnan, School Counselor
New Foundations Charter High School (PA)
“This is Jordan’s third time at our school. He is amazing and the students were so engaged. Kelly was a great presenter for our 9th grade students!”
Theresa Niedosik, School Counselor
BiCounty Collaborative, The Summit School (MA)
“Brooke was very engaging with her presentation and respectful of our student’s questions and their wanting to share experiences.”
Laurie Abban, Registered Nurse
Interboro High School (PA)
“Kelly did an amazing presentation for the young girls at Interboro.”
Rachel Lambert, Supervisor of Special Education
Flood Brook School (VT)
“Thanks so much for offering this service- feedback was great from Staff and Teachers alike.”
Brooke Paxton, School Counselor
Cushing Academy (MA)
“Our young adult speaker had an excellent balance of sharing their story and giving out general information regarding a multitude of mental health and substance issues. Initially, I was a little concerned that the topics may have been too sensitive to discuss in a large group presentation. However, our speaker, Elizabeth, was aware of these difficult topics and addressed them appropriately for our high school aged students.”
John Price, Director of Counseling
Friends’ Central School (PA)
“Wonderful presentation! My students asked great questions and Jordan provided ‘real’ answers. Even a few students spoke to him one on one after the class since they could relate to his story. Very powerful! Looking forward to Jordan returning to present next semester.”
Lisa Mansure, Health Teacher
Mayfair High School/Middle School (CA)
“Morgan is an exceptional speaker with a very empowering storing. She was engaging and very mindful of her audience as we have students 7th -12th. Students very much enjoyed her presentation and look forward to more. It was a pleasure to have her on our campus. Minding Your Mind is a program that every school should be in the know so we can continue building resilient leaders of tomorrow.”
Maria Contreras, Counselor
Arcadia High School (CA)
“Morgan was a great speaker and her story was engaging to all for the duration of her time. Our students even engaged with the speaker asking questions curious about the speaker’s experience.”
Deja Anderson, Wellness/ Independent Study
SOAR High School, Palmdale site (CA)
“Gaby was an amazing speaker. Her delivery was pristine, and her vulnerability was so fresh and pure. Students were engaged and spoke to me later about how they connected with her story. The student feedback was appreciative, and I had requests for her to return for more!”
Keisha Como, School Counselor
Fay Elementary (CA)
“Kids were engaged and learned a lot – Alex was a great speaker and easy to work with! Thank you!!!”
Emilee Gilbert, Counselor
Longfellow K-8 (CA)
“Would love to have MYM out here again!”
Mimo Masuda, School Psychologist
Ventura County Office of Education (CA)
“Wes and Scott were both so engaging with our Wellness Peers (juniors and senior high school students). Thank you for this presentation!”
Amber Macias, Operations Specialist
Wangenheim Middle School (CA)
“Morgan was amazing and worked with us to provide presentations for all of our 6th and 8th graders. It was a long day both days, but she did amazing. It was a unique presentation that I think many, many students really got something out of because they were not used to hearing about a personal experience when it came to talking about Mental Health. This unique presentation gave a lot of students empathy and a better understanding of Mental Health. I spoke to many students afterwards who said they really appreciated and liked her presentation. I think it really helped tear down some stigmas and made a huge difference to our students.”
Karena Doan, Head Counselor
SAY San Diego (CA)
“Morgan and Sheila have been a pleasure to partner with. They are professional, knowledgeable, warm and engaging. Their presentations and participation on the panel, were insightful and accessible for youth and adults.”
Shannon Stracener, Program Manager
PacWest Conference (CA)
“Our PacWest Student-Athlete Advisory Committee raved about this presentation. They felt that Andrew’s presentation really resonated with them and was one of the things they would remember most about our 2022 Retreat. I would recommend Andrew’s presentation to anyone who was looking for a powerful and approachable way to present mental health to college students.”
Jessica Harbison Weaver, Senior Associate Commissioner
California Lutheran University (CA)
“You never know the impact on students after the fact. I’m glad we presented information on this topic to our student athletes.”
Kevin Judd, Men’s Volleyball Coach / SAAC Advisor
Whittier College (CA)
“Andrew was amazing. He was welcoming and spoke honestly about his experiences. He brought comedic relief when necessary while focusing on the important task at hand. He was relatable to our team as he experienced the life of a student athlete firsthand. The girls responded really well and appreciated the discussion.”
Sara Allison, Head Coach – Women’s Lacrosse
AIE Charter School (FL)
“It is with great pleasure that I endorse this exceptional company, as they have consistently demonstrated exemplary performance and a strong commitment to provide high quality and engaging mental health presentation for youth. I have had the privilege of interacting with Minding Your Mind over the past 3 academic years and during this time, I have been consistently impressed by their dedication to delivering high-quality presentations to our students at AIE Charter School. One of the key strengths of Minding Your Mind is that they do an incredible job of vetting their presenters and making sure that they always deliver high quality content to their audiences. In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend Minding Your Mind as a reliable and outstanding company. Their track record of success, commitment, and dedication to their customers and community make them a valuable asset to any partnership or endeavor. I am confident that Minding Your Mind will continue to excel in their field.”
Felipe J. Regueira, LMHC, Upper School Counselor
The Benjamin School (FL)
“Our school first partnered with Minding Your Mind during the 2022-2023 school year. We researched several evidenced-based programs and MYM kept coming out on top. Our Mental Health and Wellness team, through our connections to other independent schools in the Northeast, had heard great reviews related to their work. We wanted to partner with an organization that focused on prevention and education in an effort to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues. It was evident MYM lived up to their mission and that was important for us. Throughout our partnership, Mr. Guy Iacono and his Florida-based team worked hard to understand the needs of our Benjamin community and assisted us in identifying a speaker who could best address those needs. In the spring of 2023, we brought in one of their trained speakers, Rylee, to speak to our high school students during Mental Health Awareness Month. Rylee was an excellent speaker. Her message was powerful and heart-felt, and her story resonated with our adolescents in so many ways. Post-assembly, she answered individual questions and provided additional resources to our community. She attributed her professionalism to the Minding Your Mind organization and the training she received through their community education efforts. Her presentation was so well-received, leading us to partner with Mr. Iacono and his team again this year. We are excited to partner with them once again with the hopes of furthering their mission to make a difference in the lives of students. We are confident their work matters and can feel the impact in our own community here at the Upper School. We look forward to our continued partnership with Mr. Iacono and his Florida team.”
Dr. Renea Yates, Upper School Counselor
Rosenwald Elementary (FL)
“The speaker was excellent! She kept the student engaged.”
Sandra Lusunariz, School Behavioral Health Professional
Canterbury School (FL)
“The students especially enjoyed the videos on identifying emotions from Inside Out and practicing a breathing technique. The teachers commented that they liked the emphasis on being kind to ourselves with affirmations as well as being kind to others.”
Evonne Clapper, Director of School Counseling
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – Eta Eta Omega Chapter (FL)
“Thank you for your testimony and expertise! Our sorority members, youth participants and their youth leaders/families valued your presentation and are looking forward to hosting you and Minding Your Mind again at any of our events!”
Kirsten Demps, Chair, MLK Celebration Committee
Charles R. Drew Elementary School (FL)
“The program was very informative and was presented at a level that 4th and 5th grade students understood. Several students stayed after the presentation to ask questions.”
Darlene Milner, ESE Support Facilitator
Okaloosa Co Schools – W.C. Pryor Middle School (FL)
“I appreciate this program and its mission! You all were so easy to communicate and coordinate with! Carolyn was wonderful.”
Brittany Sands, School Counselor
Orchard View Elementary (FL)
“Rylee was wonderful very interactive and engaging in her presentation to some sleepy 4th & 5th graders at the end of the day!”
Bonnie Levinson, School Counselor
Miami Country Day School (FL)
“The story was well organized and presented. The slide show was very appropriate for all levels and brought to life Rylee’s experience. Both students and teachers were impacted in a meaningful way.”
Ana Molina, Counseling Coordinator
“Rylee was wonderful! She was so honest and genuine in telling her story and gave our students some coping skills to take with them. We would love to have her speak to our students again.”
Meghan Calfee Regueira, School Counselor
MDCPS/Coral Park Elementary (FL)
“Ms. Alona was excellent. Kept the students engaged.”
Ileana Varas, School Counselor
Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary (FL)
“The presentation was excellent!”
Kanitra Edwards, School Counselor
Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County (FL)
“Sarika was phenomenal! Very engaging.”
Sasha Velez, SEL Program Manager
Watson B Duncan Middle School (FL)
“Our school loves him and would like Guy to come back.”
Michael Hensley, Assistant Principal
Virginia S. Young Elementary (FL)
“Alona was very prompt and engaging for our kindergarten and 1st grade students! They really enjoyed her presentation and how it was tailored to their interest. The information was valuable, and she was very sure to include all the students. Each student was encouraged to participate, and she made sure they all had the opportunity. We are looking forward to our next presentation.”
Andriel Ethridge, School Counselor
Crosspointe Elementary School (FL)
“One of the best speakers I have invited to the school. Scott was friendly, relatable and knowledgeable. Great program!”
Wenda Oscar, Counselor
Coastal Middle and High School (FL)
“Alona has been such a blessing to have during our PDD Days. She makes everyone feel comfortable and gives such amazing feedback, and truly listens when we give our opinions and stories.”
Alexa Hernandez, Lead High School Teacher
Lake Forest Elementary (FL)
“Dr. Dillion was a pleasure to work with. I would invite her back anytime. She gave some practical techniques for our students to use on a daily basis that with help with their social and emotional development.”
David Robertson, School Counselor
Eastside High School (FL)
“Rylee shared her story with poise, perspective and preparation. She was clear in her delivery, relatable, and confident. Her vulnerability was courageous, and her story was touching. I would HIGHLY recommend her again!”
Amy Vaknin, School Counselor
Canterbury School Fort Myers (FL)
“We were impressed with Rylee and her presentation. The students were engaged and I’ve received feedback from students and faculty about how much they appreciated the program.”
Shannon Sweitzer, Director of Counseling and Wellness
Coastal Middle and High School (FL)
“She was amazing, my staff raved about the content and how she taught it. They felt that they gained so much from her presentation.”
Alysha Mosley, Principal
The Benjamin School (FL)
“Rylee was incredible! We are so grateful she was willing to share her journey with our students! We would love to work with MYM and Rylee again in the future!”
Renea Yates, School Counselor
The One Room School House (FL)
“Our teachers really enjoyed it!”
Robin Casey, Business Manager
Villages Charter School (FL)
“Guy Iacono was a pleasure to work with in getting this speaker scheduled for us. We had more questions and changes than I am sure he wanted to deal with, but he was always quick to respond and helpful in every way possible. Rylee spoke to our high school students as part of our Wellness Week, when students receive the Florida State Mental and Emotional Health Education hours. Rylee’s presentations pulled all the pieces together in a way that was engaging and impactful. We have had lots of positive feedback from students. In addition, her willingness to share her story has given the courage to a few students to reach out to their school counselors regarding their own struggles. We will definitely be reaching out to Minding Your Mind again in the future and are very appreciative of those who have provided the financial support to make it happen- they have really positively impacted others.”
Amy Henges, School Counselor
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – Eta Eta Omega Chapter (FL)
“We enjoyed Rylee’s powerful, poignant presentation! Students and adults were engaged in her story. Her testimony awed all because of her transparency and relatability. She left an impression on all who her heard speak and we hope to welcome her back very soon!”
Kirsten Demps, Chair, MLK Celebration Committee
Forest Glen Middle School (FL)
“We absolutely LOVED having Rylee in our classroom! Each of my middle school classes were captivated by her life story. She is an incredible speaker and shared valuable information with my students. I can’t believe that this organization allows us to have such high-quality guest speakers…they’ve been SO easy to work with and I highly recommend them!”
Rose Stoner, MSW, Peer Counseling Teacher
Coastal Middle and High School (FL)
“Everything was very nice. We enjoyed the speaker, and we look forward to our future training.”
Alysha Mosley, Principal
Mater Academy Charter High School (FL)
“Riley was a wonderful presenter, and the students were very attentive and engaged throughout the presentation.”
Sabrina Dridi, Student Services Chairperson
Calhoun County School District (FL)
“Scott is a truly gifted orator. His passion for helping others shines through!”
Teresa Shannon, Mental Health Coordinator
Academir Charter School Middle (FL)
“Kristen was so amazing, well prepared and had a wonderful way of engaging the students. Thank you so much for having someone willing and able to share their experiences in order to help others understand that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. So awesome, I would love for you guys to come out again.”
Alicia Rivas, Counselor
Eastside High School (FL)
“All the speakers have been incredibly heartfelt, relatable and genuine in sharing of their personal stories. We have thoroughly enjoyed each presentation and know it has impacted our students.”
Amy Vaknin, School Counselor
Pinecrest Preparatory Middle High (FL)
“Scott was a wonderful presenter who was able to engage all of our students grades 6-12. He was insightful, well prepared, and extremely professional. He geared his personal story to be relatable to each age group and made an impact on our students. Thank you so much for the opportunity.”
Meghan Calfee Regueira, Mental Health Counselor
Santa Fe High School (FL)
“I’ve already recommended to my colleagues and looking forward to booking another presentation! Very well done and we appreciate your vulnerability and willingness to share your story to help others!”
Kathleen Endorf, School Counselor
Eastside High School (FL)
“We enjoyed Lucas’ presentation and would love to be able to send him a thank you note. Thank you!”
Amy Vaknin, School Counselor
A. L. Mebane Middle School (FL)
“Thank you, it was great info for our students.”
Lilian Weeks, School Counselor
Pinecrest Preparatory Middle High (FL)
“Suzelle is a knowledgeable and engaging therapist with valuable information. Sarika’s personal story really hit home and gave the presentation a personal touch. They are both wonderful.”
Meghan Calfee Regueira, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Osceola Creek Middle School (FL)
“Our teachers gave good feedback about Rebecca’s presentation!”
Erin Sinsley,School Counselor
Curlew Creek Elementary (FL)
“Jonie was fabulous!”
Dee James, School Counselor
RCSA Innovation (FL)
“Scott was amazing. All our fifth graders were interested the entire time, and that says something. He related to them at their level and was a great and engaging presenter. We would love to have him come back again.”
K Bruce, 5th grade teacher
Rivercity Science Academy Innovation (FL)
“The students really enjoyed it and participates with the guest speakers.”
Kayla Slade, Paraprofessional
River City Science Academy Innovation (FL)
“Students were actively listening to his presentation and interested in what he was saying. He presented real-life experiences that were very relatable to my Middle School students and some even cried at the connection they were making to his experiences.”
Ashley Rogan, Dean of Students, Middle School
“Scott was very prepared and was able to adjust his presentation to suit the different grade levels. I got to sit in on both 6th and 8th grade. He adjusted to make both presentations engaging, informative, and age appropriate. He was also very open and honest with the students about his personal experiences with depression and answered any questions the students had relating to the presentation or his personal situation.”
Robert Bolomey, Teacher 6/8
Greynolds Park Elementary School (FL)
“Guy is an amazing person with whom to work! The presenters are all amazing! We had a week-long event (4 days) and while there were some technological hiccups, in the end everything really worked out well!”
Laura Heller, School Counselor
Miami Country Day School (FL)
“Morgan was amazing! She was real and personal; she spoke with teenagers about her struggles and in the end how she overcame them and persevered. Morgan was an example of resilience!”
Lauri Kassewitz, Middle School Counselor
Hatfield Public Schools (MA)
“Linda did a very nice job focusing on moving from “surviving to thriving” covid management in the schools. Her workshop had been scheduled later in the morning, following three prior presentations. Linda built mindfulness movement audience participation into her presentation to help all of us stay engaged. Her resource list was especially helpful.”
Jean Hobbie, School Nurse Manager
Tufts University (MA)
“Amazing presentation. Impactful, fun, got my team talking. Andrew is a genuine and skilled presenter.”
Adam Hoyt, Head Swim and Dive Coach
GIFT (Gathering Inspiring Future Talent) Training (MA)
“Scott’s story really resonated with the young adults. He has a very engaging and enthusiastic way of sharing his challenging experiences that connect the students to him and his message. We particularly appreciated the visuals in his PowerPoint that demonstrated that depression can come in many forms (his high school pictures).”
Antoinette Jones, Lead Trainer
Kim Bisset, Director and Founder
Milton Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (MA)
“The presentation was great and Jon Mattleman always brings energy and good information to our community.”
Laurie Ruth Stillman, Director
Barrington Middle School (RI)
“Andrew was a great speaker. He was able to speak to our middle schoolers in a way that allowed them to relate to his challenges he has faced. Throughout his presentation he focused on hope and how he was able to be successful. Our students thoroughly enjoyed his presentation.”
Rebecca Silveira, Assistant Principal
NQA Global Certification Body, North American Headquarters (MA)
“Brandon was friendly, yet professional. He really tried to connect with the group. I got positive feedback that his session was appreciated.”
Kris Erickson, Office Manager
Wickford Middle School (RI)
“Thank you so much! Morgan was flexible and thoughtful about her responses to student questions. We really appreciated having her as part of our annual Mental Health Awareness Week.”
Sherrie Monaco, School Psychologist
Greater Lawrence Technical School (MA)
“Brooke did a great job communicating her story to my students. Brooke also answered questions thoughtfully and in a manner that my students could understand. Great presentation and look forward to having her come back in the future.”
Tara Mansour, Wellness Teacher
Colby College (ME)
“Andrew was extremely personal and relatable, and very open and honest. I think that was the most important part, and our team appreciated the effort he was putting in to make conversations like this more normal and help people understand they are not alone.”
Paige Hanssen, Interim Head Volleyball Coach
Rising Tide Charter School (MA)
“Jon Mattleman’s presentation was very engaging and on a topic that is extremely important for our families. He is funny and relatable, and our parents gave wonderful feedback. I would love to have him again in the future.”
Shawna Weekly, Wellness Director
Ashland High School (MA)
“We’ve loved all of the MYM speakers and have received nothing but positive feedback! Thank you!”
Alison Batchelder, Health and Wellness Educator
Catholic Memorial High School (MA)
“Thanks for a great evening!”
Jack O’Keefe, Director of Counseling & Student Success
Greater Lawrence Technical School (MA)
“Scott was great! He was very knowledgeable, and I love how he offered some strategies for students to implement in order to reflect upon and possibly improve upon their mental health.”
Kerri LeBlanc, Wellness Teacher
Longmeadow Public Schools (MA)
“Scott is a slam dunk — great presentation skills, earnest.”
Paul McNeil, CLOSE Community Coalition Program Director
Tufts University (MA)
“Thanks so much to Andrew and Minding Your Mind. Andrew connected with our student-athletes in a way that very few speakers are able to. He was relatable, thoughtful, and provided a great sense of humor. We’re grateful for the opportunity to hear Andrew’s story!”
Jill Pace Head Coach, Women’s Basketball
Watertown Public Schools, Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, and Watertown Youth Coalition (MA)
“I loved this and I have loved all the past assemblies and groups we have done with MYM!”
Stephanie Sunderland-Ramsey, Prevention Program Coordinator
King Philip Schools (MA)
“Always a pleasure to work with Jon Mattleman and Minding Your Mind, both for staff and parent presentations.”
Dot Pearl, Director of Wellness
Tufts University (MA)
“Andrew’s presentation/conversation with our team was amazing. He is a thoughtful and insightful person who was relatable and kind and funny and open to all questions and thoughts. This was SO needed, especially during COVID when so many of our kids are struggling with mental health. Thank you!!”
Kristen Morwick, Head Women’s Cross Country/Track Coach
Waltham High School (MA)
“We are so fortunate to be able to offer your programs to our students! Students who attended this most recent presentation indicated that it came at the perfect time. Our students are returning to the building after a year of remote learning (and our ninth graders are stepping into the building for the first time); the change in routine—after students have already adjusted to a change in routine!—brings forth lots of anxiety and insecurity. Brooke’s message about self-love and confidence was an important reminder for students making this significant transition.”
Sydney Lindstrom, High School English Teacher
CLOSE Community Coalition (MA)
“An amazing group of professionals, with experience, compassion, and a wonderful knack for audience engagement. Just a joy to feature them at our community event!”
Paul McNeil, Program Director
Decisions at Every Turn Coalition/Ashland (MA)
“We have partnered with Ashland High School to bring Changing Minds: Stories Over Stigma to all of its Health & Wellness classes this past semester. Students and staff all loved the speakers and we will be bringing back the program for Q3 and Q4. We are also in discussions with the middle school. Michelle Drolsbaugh has been amazing to work with – both in identifying the best speakers for our students and in quickly changing schedules as needed.”
Kristin French, Outreach Director
Braintree Public Schools (MA)
“Jon was great both times we hosted him. He is very relatable and kind, which makes the viewers comfortable enough to ask questions. He does a great job of keeping people’s attention online.”
Sarah Coughlin, Director of School Nutrition
CLOSE Community Coalition of Longmeadow (MA)
“Jon had an amazingly engaging energy, he was smart, able to connect with the every-parent, and somehow was unbelievably succinct with the timing of his presentation and questions/responses!”
Paul McNeil, Program Director
Ashland High School (MA)
“We loved MYM and are absolutely bringing it back!”
Alison Batchelder, Health and Wellness Teacher
Millis High School (MA)
“Jordan was fantastic. He gave his presentation in a caring and down to earth way that our students could really relate to. His willingness to share his story to help others is admirable.”
Erin Sullivan, School Adjustment Counselor
Boston College Women in Business (MA)
“We absolutely loved having Brooke come speak! She was so informative and vulnerable. Especially with everything going on this year, it was awesome to hear her speak about her experiences. She really opened up the conversation on Mental Health for the WIB club at Boston College and we are so grateful!”
Kaitlin McCarthy, Chair for Health and Wellness
Groton-Dunstable SEPAC (MA)
“Everything was excellent from start to finish. Here is what I wrote Jon in an email: Jon, my heart feels full of encouragement and I am certain the rest of the attendees feel the same way. You bring such a unique blend of relatability, humor, honesty, and a deep wisdom about what we need as humans. I think a lot of us are going to be using the rating system with our kids in the very near future!”
Kathleen Leonard, Parent, Groton-Dunstable SEPAC Treasurer
Springfield Department of Health & Human Services (MA)
“The process to planning this virtual forum was efficient and was made extremely easy for organizations to host one. I have nothing but good things to say!”
Brielle Ruth, Prevention Specialist
Worcester Public Schools (MA)
“Jon is a thoroughly engaging speaker whose humor coupled with real-life clinical examples make for an informative and enjoyable presentation.”
Deborah O’Brien-Thibodeau, Nurse Case Manager
Safe Harbor Cohasset Coalition (MA)
“Amazing communication and organized, thank you!”
Nicole Balaschi, Program Director
Lynnfield Schools (MA)
“Michelle’s customer service was wonderful. Very patient with our team trying to get the presenter roles up and running and in making changes to customize the cover slides for our community. Very grateful. Jon Mattleman is a joy to listen to as always. Very engaging and on point. I was impressed at pulling together the 1-hour webinar. That is the perfect amount of time people have patience for and it worked very well with a balance of content and questions for the audience.”
Peg Sallade, Prevention Specialist
King Philip Regional School District (MA)
“Michelle Drolsbaugh was extremely helpful in navigating the change from an in-person to a virtual presentation and arranging all the details. Linda Price’s presentation was outstanding and provided strategies that parents could readily use.”
Dot Pearl, Director of Wellness
Town of Wakefield (MA)
“Minding your mind did a great job managing the tech aspects. I loved that all we had to do was promote the event, and you took care of everything else. Michelle was very responsive with email questions and concerns.”
Catherine Dhingra
Westborough High School (MA)
“Jon and Elizabeth (the young adult speaker) were amazing. So insightful and inspiring…and still entertaining!”
Just Noonan, Nurse Leader
Hingham High School (MA)
“Our students could really relate to Brooke, and she provided great real-life examples of how mental health issues impacted her life and how she manages her health today. The students gave high praise about her presentation. Scott was fantastic. The student feedback was overwhelming great for Scott. Our students consistently say that MYM speakers are the best they’ve ever seen.”
Karen Beatty, Health Coordinator/Teacher
Sterling Community School (CT)
“Elizabeth was an amazing presenter!! We received a lot of positive feedback from our students and teachers about how engaging and informative she was. She did a fantastic job telling her life experience, interweaving it with resources and data, and making what she was saying highly relevant to our population. Thank you again for all of the wonderful work and resources that Minding Your Mind provides to schools and communities!”
Kristen Lanzillo, School Psychologist
Hingham High School (MA)
“Once again the speakers from Minding Your Mind provided engaging, informative and impactful presentations to our students. We appreciate the professionalism of both Scott and Brooke and the honest and relatable manner in which they shared their stories. Our students were hanging on every word. Thank you for supporting our health initiatives with your powerful program.”
Karen Beatty, Health Coordinator and Teacher
Greater Lawrence Technical School (MA)
“Jon was a wonderful presenter and did a great job discussing Just Talk About it. He was willing to integrate self-care at our request. I would recommend Jon without reservation and would love to have him back in the future. Thanks to Minding your Mind and Michelle for your flexibility and assistance in making this happen in such a short turnaround time!”
Susan Zielinski, Language Acquisition Facilitator/SEL Team
East Lyme High School (CT)
“Jordan did a great job! We really appreciated him spending time with us and sharing his story.”
Jeff Newton, Superintendent of Schools
Baystate Franklin Medical Center (MA)
“Joey was amazing and so likable and easy to relate to!”
Kat Allen, Coalition Coordinator
BiCounty Collaborative, The Summit School (MA)
“Brooke was very engaging with her presentation and respectful of our student’s questions and their wanting to share experiences.”
Laurie Abban, Registered Nurse
Flood Brook School (VT)
“Thanks so much for offering this service- feedback was great from Staff and Teachers alike.”
Brooke Paxton, School Counselor
Cushing Academy (MA)
“Our young adult speaker had an excellent balance of sharing their story and giving out general information regarding a multitude of mental health and substance issues. Initially, I was a little concerned that the topics may have been too sensitive to discuss in a large group presentation. However, our speaker, Elizabeth, was aware of these difficult topics and addressed them appropriately for our high school aged students.”
John Price, Director of Counseling
Frontier Regional High School (MA)
“Great work! I hope my school has you back to further discuss how we can support our students.”
Melissa Strelke, ELA/SS Teacher
Franklin County Technical School (MA)
“I cannot say enough about how AMAZING Morgan was. In addition to giving her all 5 stars in questions above, it was so evident the impact she had on my students in such a little amount of time. She was so thoughtful and compassionate and really took to the students who wanted to talk to her after the presentation in more of a private setting. Any follow-up I have heard from colleagues (from their interactions with students) have been super positive as well!! THANK YOU 🙏🏼”
Jenna Carme, Health/PE teacher
Colrain Central School (MA)
“I was very impressed with both speakers.”
Susan Mitchell, District Nurse Leader
Parent Transition Conference (RI)
“Jon was fantastic! He was real and engaging and very funny.”
Anne Fartura, Peer Support Supervisor
Whitman Hanson Regional High School (MA)
“Linda was AMAZING, what a powerful presentation. I have had such positive feedback from all of the parents in attendance as well! We all took so much away from her presentation, I would absolutely recommend Linda to anyone!”
Kaitlyn Robichaud, Adjustment Counselor/Clinical Coordinator-BRYT
Rhode Island School Counselor Association (RI)
“We were so pleased with the addition of Minding Your Mind at our most recent event. We fully intend on future collaboration with MYM!”
Lisa Tenreiro, President, Rhode Island School Counselor Association
Union Club (MA)
“Jordan was a powerful and educational speaker. Michelle was great to work with and the whole process went smoothly.”
Robyn Eastwood, Director of Development
Miss Porter’s School (CT)
“Brooke was incredible and made our Community Day a success! She presented her story in an authentic and powerful way in which every member of the audience could relate in a significant way.”
Amanda Kice, Director of Counseling
Millis High School (MA)
“Jon was an excellent presenter. For such a heavy topic he did a wonderful job of providing some light-hearted moments, while also giving gravity to the subject. Our staff all indicated that the presentation was effective and helpful. I think it opened people’s eyes even more to the ways they can help students dealing with depression and anxiety, and the important role they play as trusted adults. Jon was a pleasure to work with, had great communication along the way, and is a valuable resource on the subject. I hope I will be able to work with him again in the future.”
Mark Awdycki, School Counselor
Constellation: Electricity Provider & Gas Supplier (MA)
“Linda was wonderful. We held mindfulness session at work that she facilitated, and we all really enjoyed it. We have been using the techniques she showed us, and they are working!”
Katharine Harris, Relationship Manager
Communities That Care Coalition, Greenfield (MA)
“Morgan was awesome, and Michelle and Morgan were both so professional and wonderful to work with! Thank you!!”
Kat Allen, Coalition Coordinator
Dedham High School (MA)
“Linda was an excellent presenter and tailored her presentation to the needs of our clinical department. I appreciated the practical tools and opportunities for us to engage in relaxation techniques as a group. I would highly recommend her to my colleagues.”
Ashley Dube, Director of Counseling Services
West Bay Collaborative (RI)
“’Best professional development I have ever attended,’ was the first feedback from my staff!”
Therese Curran, Director of Transition & Vocational Services
Triton High School (MA)
“Jon was wonderful. He was an engaging speaker and brought wonderful information and tips to our staff.”
Meghan Ober, Director of Guidance
Wilbraham & Monson Academy (MA)
“Jon and Joey were great! They were both professional and delivered their information in an efficient and impactful way.”
Tess Presnal, School Counselor
Medford Health Matters Coalition (MA)
“Michelle came to our event to provide an overview of services that MYM provides. It was an excellent excerpt of information that was provided with knowledge and passion. I hope that she was able to make some connections within our community! We will utilize the services offered by MYM in the near future.”
Brooke Hoyt, Project Coordinator
Westborough High School (MA)
“This was wonderful! Thank you!!!”
Courtney Balacco, Clinical Coordinator/School Social Worker
West Suburban YMCA (MA)
“I thought Jon gave a fantastic presentation. He was professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly engaging. Given the time of day and year, he was able to keep a group of teenagers/young adults engaged and learning for the entirety of his presentation, not an easy feat. Thank you again, Jon!”
Ben Kaloupek, Camp Director
Pathways Strategic Teaching Center (RI)
“I really enjoyed the presentation and Jon’s ability to make a heavy topic engaging and accessible.”
Lee Ann Faria, SLP, Special Education Teacher
Waltham Mental Health Awareness Event (MA)
“Joey and Jordan were great, and we got a lot of great feedback about both of them! Super informative!”
Ivy Watts, Event Organizer
Stoughton High School (MA)
“Joey captured and held our students’ attention immediately. He used humor appropriately and handled the heaviness of the conversation with grace. Additionally, he was very flexible with our schedule.”
Juliette Miller, Principal
“Joey was a dynamic and engaging. Students were very attentive, and many felt it was the favorite of the lecture series. Students had many questions after the presentations. Overall, Joey did well answering questions in a factual manner.”
Georgeann Lewis, School Adjustment Counselor
Providence College (RI)
“They were both so lovely and informative. I would have loved to have my entire school hear them speak. Their work is so important, and they are both amazing at what they do!
Julia Barry, Student
Central Catholic High School (MA)
“Minding Your Mind provided us with four excellent speakers. We were able to present this very important conversation to all four grade levels and to a group of parents. The feedback we have received has been tremendous. We are very grateful to Minding Your Mind and we hope to work together again. Thank you.”
Tom Sipsey, Dean of Students
Newton North High School (MA)
“Joey’s presentation for our school was both inspiring and invaluable. His story was so relevant to our student population that it was evident how engaged they were in his story and the discussion thereafter. He was incredibly professional throughout the presentation, as well as personable and hilarious, making it easy for him to connect with the audience. Teachers at the presentation commented that they wish the whole school could have seen him as well as faculty members and parents. I would highly recommend him!”
Brendan Amedio, School Counselor
GIFT program/YouForward Drop-in Center (MA)
“Kristina’s story was amazing! Her presentation was exceptional. She was compassionate, thoughtful, and charismatic! The students of the GIFT training and I were very impressed by how she shared her story in a way that helped us gain more insight into mental health challenges and also a way that encouraged everyone to relate to pieces of her story. We were both impressed and inspired!”
Kim Bisset, Director and Founder
Providence College (RI)
“Brooke was professional yet relatable. Her story is a difficult one, but Brooke was able to bring her story to a very positive and hopeful place. My students were riveted.”
Cheryl Granai, Coordinator of Outreach & Prevention
Old Rochester Regional High School (MA)
“Joey did a great job, and the overwhelming majority of students found the presentation valuable and inspiring.”
Nancy Juvinall, Health Educator
Boston College High School (MA)
“Joey was excellent! The students really appreciated how authentic he was and his humor.”
Bryce Scottron, Adjustment Counselor
Grafton High School (MA)
“Excellent presentation for the school nurses.”
Cecelia Thurber, Nurse Coordinator
Tremont School (MA)
“Once again, we were very impressed with the Minding Your Mind presentation. Andrew’s presentation was informative and engaging. Both our Middle School and High School students continue to reflect on the information he presented and the story he shared about his recovery. I am very grateful for Minding Your Mind for providing this type of programming and to Andrew for sharing his experience and spreading a message of hope and strength to others.”
Maile Munson, Dean of Students
Ipswich Middle/High School (MA)
“Jon and Jenna did a fantastic job bringing a valuable presentation to the parents in our community. A group of our staff members were lucky enough to see Jon speak in the fall at a professional development opportunity and we were thrilled to have him back. This is the first time Jenna has visited our district and we would welcome her back anytime! Her story and creation of the Amazing Campaign are incredibly inspiring, and we are honored to spread the word to our school community. Thank you both!”
Gena Bevilacqua, School Adjustment Counselor
Davisville Middle School (RI)
“Jon delivers an important message in a very relaxed an personal manner. People really appreciated the young adult testimony.”
Michele Humbyrd, Assistant Superintendent
Pike School (MA)
“Brooke was excellent. Her presentation was accessible to her audience. She was able to create a safe an authentic experience in such a short amount of time. I am encouraged to see that Minding Your Mind is focused on mental wellness!”
Lori Goldenberg, Educator
Dover Sherborn High School (MA)
“I have the students complete an anonymous survey and they all recommend Andrew and Joey return in the fall.”
Dara L Johnson, Wellness Coordinator
Hingham High School (MA)
“Our students had overwhelmingly positive feedback about the speakers and how their stories resonated with them and provided great information and hope about dealing with their own mental health.”
Karen Beatty, Health Resource Teacher
Wilbraham & Monson Academy (MA)
“Evan was relatable, confident, and delivered a great presentation. The students really enjoyed it!”
Tess Presnal, School Counselor
St. Andrew’s School (RI)
“Jon is a very engaging, thoughtful, knowledgeable speaker. He is incredibly kind and so easy to work with in terms of scheduling, technology, etc. Brooke was a fantastic speaker and the students were engaged the entire time she presented. I had many students contact me after her talk because they felt more comfortable seeking support after learning how much it helped her. Thank you, Brooke, for sharing your story with us. ”
Ann Allain, School Counselor
Whitman Hanson Regional High School (MA)
“Kristina was amazing. Not only did she share her story, but she touched everyone in the room with her honesty and sincerity. It was amazing to see both adults and students listening to the same presentation, and feeling validated, supported and not alone… in the same, yet different ways.”
Kaitlyn Robichaud, School Adjustment Counselor
Austin Preparatory School (MA)
“Andrew was the perfect fit for our community. He was engaging, articulate, and relatable for our students. He tailored his presentations appropriately based on the group to whom he was speaking (middle school, high school, and parents), which we very much appreciated. He was easy to work with, and the feedback from our families has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s not always an easy topic to discuss, but he managed to deliver the message in a way that underscores the importance of the topic while bringing levity where appropriate. I am thrilled that we made the choice to bring Andrew to our community and hope to work with Minding Your Mind again in the future.”
Caroline Tebbens, Health and Wellness Counselor
“A wonderful experience for students, faculty, and parents. We appreciate all of the planning and preparation. Michelle was instrumental in this. It all went so smoothly. Andrew and Jon were amazing! The program was everything we had hoped and feedback from the community has been 100% positive. Thanks for everything.”
Jessica Lenci, Middle School Counselor
Winchester High School (MA)
“Always an excellent presentation. Thank you so much for being a part of Winchester’s Professional Development!”
Jason Levene, Administrator of Counseling, Health and Wellness
Tremont School (MA)
“Once again, Tremont School enjoyed a wonderful program from Minding Your Mind. Jon Mattleman was very knowledgeable, and his engaging style creates a great environment for faculty professional development. Thank you!!”
Maile Munson, Dean of Students
Massachusetts School Nurse Association (MA)
“Excellent presentation and far exceeded our expectations — both presenters were very engaging and kept to the time limits. They kept the audience interested and used humor appropriately. Excellent!”
Lee Waingortin, Health Services Coordinator
Ipswich Middle School (MA)
“We cannot thank Kristina enough for visiting our students and taking the time to meet with several of them afterward as well. Her presentation was moving, relatable, and full of hope. Many students commented that they were inspired by Kristina’s ability to share her story. We hope that it helps our students to share their own stories, be there for one another, and uphold a positive and supportive school community.”
Gena Bevilacqua, School Adjustment Counselor
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School (MA)
“Kristina was a great choice for our school. Her story sent a message of hope and encouragement. She was engaging and easily developed a connection with the students. The evening parent presentation was equally engaging and tailored to the parent audience. Parents were touched by Kristina’s story. They left with a better understanding of warning signs of depression, eating disorders, and anxiety.”
Maria Paoletti, School Counselor
Rising Tide Charter School (MA)
“We had the largest turn out of parents that we have ever had. They enjoyed the talk and seemed thirsty for more.”
Shawna Weekly, Wellness Director
Natick High School (MA)
“Kristina was genuine, thought-provoking, and validating for many students. She did an excellent job presenting and was so kind to stay and talk with students after the presentation.”
Deanna Kanavas-DeRocher, School Psychologist
St. Mark’s School (MA)
“Andrew did an amazing job speaking to our students! His story and personal journey is one that many of our students could connect with. His message was strong and supportive: encouraging students to take care of themselves, each other and to use the resources around them when they are struggling. We were thrilled with the way Andrew connected with our students and would love to have him back!”
Jennifer Taylor, Director of Counseling Services
Ashland High School (MA)
“Jon was incredibly engaging, and the parent response was nothing but positive. Andrew connected with the students and they reported he talked to them in way that was ‘not preachy.’”
Kelley St. Coeur, Principal
Natick High School (MA)
“Kristina did a fabulous job sharing her story and connecting with students. She is inspiring to both students and staff. We have only heard positive feedback!”
Deanna Kanavas-DeRocher, School Psychologist
Tremont School (MA)
“We were very impressed with both presentations. Thank you very much!!”
Maile Munson, Dean of Students
Winthrop Middle School (MA)
“Andrew’s presentation was very appropriate for our students and really seemed to make an impact on some of them. He was engaging and our kids really responded well to the presentation. I would definitely request Andrew/Minding Your Mind again!”
Taryn O’Neill, Guidance Counselor
“Andrew was fantastic! He presented to all three grades individually and was able to make it age appropriate for each grade. The students were 100% engaged and I strongly feel he made a connection with our kids. This could be a game-changer for our students as they learn how to cope and reach out for help if they suffer from mental health issues.”
Brian Curley, Middle School Principal
“Andrew carried an incredible presence – professional, competent, approachable, warm; he captivated our students (every grade) and was incredibly engaging. So many students have thanked us for inviting Andrew to speak, reporting that they felt hopeful, inspired, understood, and supported. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Thank you Andrew, and thank you Minding Your Mind!”
Megan Knoster, School Adjustment Counselor
Hingham High School (MA)
“Our students loved the presentations, they shared how much they learned and how they spoke to them at their level. The anonymous questions worked great to get the students to ask some deep questions and honestly share what’s going with them. A number of kids reached out to our counselors or parents after the presentation to talk about, for the first time, the struggles they’ve been having. We can’t wait to have you back for our next classes.”
Karen Beatty, Health Resource Teacher
Fisher College (MA)
“Jenna’s talk was honest, brave, and empowering. Our students were deeply engaged and connected to Jenna throughout her shared experiences. We are grateful for her ability to encourage conversation and awareness about mental health on our campus. Thank you so much!”
Caroline Wright, Director of Student Engagement & Retention
Methuen Public Schools (MA)
“The process of booking a speaker and having the presentation was seamless and enjoyable.”
Elizabeth Fulks, Health Educator
MetroWest YMCA Natick and Hopkinton (MA)
“Linda was incredibly responsive to our needs and took the time to make sure that the three-part training was beneficial for us.”
Heidi Kaufman, Executive Director of Education
John Glenn Middle School (MA)
“Linda was amazing! She came for three separate presentations/trainings for our staff members and also ran a parent workshop. She was flexible with her material and really wanted to work with us so that we could get exactly what we wanted and needed from her presentation. She was professional and knowledgeable but also approachable.”
Marcy Beinert, Guidance Counselor
Newton South High School (MA)
“Drew was an incredible addition to our mental health awareness day this year! We were thrilled to be able to host him for a second time and he — somehow — exceeded our expectations once again. He authentically connected with the entire audience (over 350 students) while he shared his story and related recommendations. The students asked such great follow up questions; it was clear they were listening closely and absorbing the critically important information he so authentically shared with them.”
“It was a true pleasure to host Carl again as part of our annual mental health awareness day! Just like last year – his presentation was authentic and riveting. You could hear a pin drop as he spoke to an auditorium packed with over 350 9th through 12th graders – they were transfixed as they processed his story and all the lessons embedded within it. I sincerely hope we have an opportunity to host him again next year.”
Sarah Style, Counselor
Old Rochester Regional High School (MA)
“This was the BEST student assembly I have seen in 20 years in education!!”
Michael C. Devoll, Principal
Wilbraham & Monson Academy (MA)
“Carl was a terrific speaker. He was well organized, communicated very well, and was able to share a very relatable story to our upper and middle school students, as well as faculty. His story about his struggle with anxiety and eventually overcoming it was great to hear, since a number of our students are affected by anxiety. I thought his message about everyone being proactive about their mental health was especially valuable. I would certainly schedule Minding Your Mind to come in again to speak to our school.”
Jeffrey Vartabedian, Health & PE Teacher, Football & Lacrosse Coach
Burlington High School (MA)
“Drew was fantastic. The district would love to have him back to address the whole student body. We are also interested in a faculty training.”
Christine Conceison, School Social Worker
Hingham High School (MA)
“Drew’s presentation was simply amazing. Our students could relate to his story, he used humor to balance the difficult parts and he gave realistic advice about how to take care of their mental health. We received powerful feedback from students who were moved to talk to a trusted adult after his presentation. They commented that he was the best speaker they’ve ever seen. We hope to continue to have speakers from MYM again.”
Karen Beatty, Health Teacher/K-12 coordinator
DanversCARES (MA)
“Andrew did a great job. I heard from a teacher that she had a student approach her to get connected to mental health services, so we are all very proud of him for taking the initiative to ask for help after hearing Andrew speak.”
Lyle Harrod, Assistant Director
Community Rehab Care (MA)
“Jordan was outstanding! The immediate standing ovation says it all! He was able to openly speak on a topic that many see as taboo. We often forget that depression and suicide can impact anyone at any time and any place. Jordan opened discussed his challenges and the support he counties to receive today.”
Janet McBride-Roy, Case Management Supervisor
Auburn Public Schools (MA)
“Drew was excellent! As the saying goes, ‘Know Your Audience’…Drew presented to an audience of over 400 grade 8th & 9th students. During the entire 45-minute presentation you could not hear a sound as all eyes and ears were on Drew. As a practice, the Leadership Team debrief after a presentation; the superintendent, assistant superintendent, director of pupil services and both the middle school and high school were all in agreement, excellent presentation.”
Joe Gagnon, Principal, Auburn Middle School
Salemwood School (MA)
“Drew was fantastic. His story was truly heartfelt and was very relatable for students and staff alike. In the days after the presentation, I still hear students talking about it and I have had so many more students come to me wanting to discuss their mental health.”
James Bouhuys, Guidance Counselor
Old Rochester Regional Junior High School (MA)
“I felt the presentation was appropriate, clear and informative for students in the junior high age group. The presenter did an outstanding job.”
Polly Lawrence, 7th Grade Teaching Assistant
“I have to be honest this was by far the best speaker I have seen yet to date. Drew was I incredible with our students!! He spoke to them in a way that they could really understand a sensitive important topic. I only wish it was longer. I would recommend we have him back but for the whole school!!”
Andrea Shaw, Paraprofessional
Waltham Boys & Girls Club (MA)
“Jon was absolutely fabulous and understood where our teens were coming from. He had a lot of patience for them and delivered his message in a way that they would understand. He took time to answer all of their questions and talked with them after. He was early and well prepared; it was excellent and very meaningful for all involved.”
Jules LeBlanc, Associate Program Director
Pierce Middle School (MA)
“Jon Bergwin was so well-received. He presented to our students and both they and my staff raved about how good he was. Very caring, compassionate, and real. Jon Mattleman presented to our parents and my staff. He was incredibly well-received as he combined much needed knowledge with a sense of humor. He is incredibly down to earth and just ‘oozed’ compassion and understanding. So well organized with a clear message.”
Karen Spaulding, Principal
Winchester High School (MA)
“It was a pleasure to have both Carl and Jon M. (evening program) present in Winchester. Their demeanor and ability to share their stories created a meaningful and positive experience for our students, staff, and parents. Students approached Carl afterwards and connected with his story. Also, students went home and told their parents to attend the evening program which was great. Can’t wait to have you all back!”
Amber Haines, Adjustment Counselor
Groton Dunstable Regional High School (MA)
“Drew was amazing…the student feedback was ‘I could so relate to him’, ‘he told MY story’, ‘so inspiring for me.’ Wonderful experience for all…Thank you!”
Reilly Hutchinson, Health/Physical Education Teacher
John Glenn Middle School (MA)
“Linda was an amazing presenter. We received a lot of positive feedback from our staff who felt that she was knowledgeable and approachable. We liked how she gave concrete practice ideas and allowed us to try them. She made sure that all her suggestions were aimed toward the age group that we work with. We are looking forward to working with her again!”
Marcy Beinert, Guidance Counselor
Pinelands Regional High School (NJ)
“Andrew was absolutely wonderful! He was “real”, and I very much appreciate him sharing his story with us.”
Joann Fella, SAC
Gibbsboro School – Elementary/Middle School (NJ)
“I received several positive comments from teachers/staff after the presentation. I also noticed staff talking directly with the presenters after the presentation. I think the presentation had a positive impact on the audience. I appreciate Scott speaking so openly about his personal story and the coping strategies Sheila shared.”
Susan Backal, School Social Worker
Gill St. Bernard’s School (NJ)
“Lucas was fabulous, we got a lot of student feedback that, even though it can be difficult to hear stories of peoples’ struggle it is really important and was helpful for them to know that they aren’t alone.”
Emily Haberman, Upper School Counselor
Middletown Village Elementary School (NJ)
“The students and teachers loved the presentation. It brought up great questions and gave us the opportunity to further discuss mental health, being kind, and feelings outside of the presentation.”
Shanna Howell, Social Behavior Support Specialist
Middle School of Pleasantville (NJ)
“I have scheduled MYM numerous times for our students, they have all been wonderful and it has been a pleasure to work with MYM. I truly appreciate the impact and difference they make.”
Mary Gillespie, SAC
Hopewell Valley Central High School (NJ)
“Minding Your Mind consistently delivers excellent psychoeducation combined with personal experiences. The parents at the presentation connected with Andrew’s story and were incredibly impressed and motivated by the presentation. It was valuable to our school community.”
Christopher Velderman, SAC
Pinelands Regional High School (NJ)
“This was our first time having your organization present at our school. It will NOT be the last. Thank you so much!!”
Joann Fella, Student Assistance Coordinator
Cliffside Park High School (NJ)
“Scott was wonderful. He was very professional & his material was effective & appropriate.”
Joe Del Risco, SAC Counselor
Lyndhurst High School (NJ)
“Mr. Wolfe was very engaging and really resonated with both students and staff.”
Anne DeForge, Library Technician
CSI High School for International Studies (NY)
“Excellent presentation. Could not have asked for more honesty and candor, so heartfelt and honest.”
Elisabeth Coffey, School Social Worker and LGBT Club Advisor
Pond Road Middle School (NJ)
“Minding Your Mind was exactly what we were looking for. We wanted a speaker who our students could relate to and engage with. Scott was phenomenal at relaying the message of seeking out support and talking to someone and normalizing the experiences of mental health. Our students were locked into his presentation the entire time. Following are quotes from several staff members and students:
‘That was the best presentation we ever had.’ —Staff member in the district for 10+ years.
‘Can you believe he stood up there and shared his story, we need more people to talk about mental health openly like that.’ —8th grade students in a group together.”
Kaitlyn Schmid, SAC/School Counselor
Woodrow Wilson Middle School (NJ)
“Everything was great! Elizabeth was amazing and I would highly recommend MYM to other schools in my district (and to colleagues in other districts).”
Deanna Farkas, Student Assistance Coordinator
Piscataway High School (NJ)
“Scott was a great speaker. The students can relate to his story. He had great knowledge during the Q & A part.”
Michele Reid, Physical Education Teacher
“Andrew does a wonderful job with his presentation.”
Kenneth Walker, Physical Education/Health Teacher
“The speaker was very professional and well spoken. He was a great listener and was very empathetic to any questions that were asked. His experiences with mental illness were very genuine and I felt that the virtual audience learned a great deal about how to cope with adversity involving mental health.”
Peter Buccino, Health/Physical Education Teacher
Louis Pasteur Middle School 67Q (NY)
“Both Jordan and Lucas were fantastic and inspirational. Both shared their stories and answered questions that were asked from our students. Students, teachers, and other staff members shared that they were moved and inspired by the strength demonstrated by Jordan and Lucas. On behalf of our school community, we would like to thank them again for giving up their time to visit our school and students.”
Michael Viruet, Dean
Harold Antrim Elementary School (NJ)
“He was awesome!! Great connection with our middle school kids.”
Darlene Kuzloski, School Counselor
Bloomfield College Athletics (NJ)
“Jordan and Andrew were great! They created a safe space for our students. Our student-athletes were grateful for their stories and some even made sure to make an appointment to see our college counselor immediately following the program.”
Jennifer Virgil, Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance
Manasquan Elementary School (NJ)
“Jordan did an excellent job on a long day of four in-person presentations for the first time this year. He navigated students’ questions and levels of understanding on mental illness and suicide well, as the audience ranged from 5th graders to 8th graders.”
Anthony Cinelli, School Counselor
South Plainfield High School (NJ)
“Both Andrew and Scott did a wonderful job. I thought the virtual assemblies went well. I listened to both gentlemen twice. We had a total of four assemblies and each time was just as impactful.”
Lisa Lussier, LCSW/School Counselor
Manasquan High School (NJ)
“Students gave positive feedback and we also received comments from parents of how their child talked about our presenter. The presentation is such an important topic and we will have Minding Your Mind come back to our school.”
Amy Certo, Health and Physical Education Teacher
Cliffside Park High School (NJ)
“The speaker was dynamic and genuine. I have received NOTHING but positive feedback since her presentation.”
Joe Del Risco, SAC Counselor
Burlington County Professional Development Institute (NJ)
“Always extremely valuable!”
Bobbie Downs, Director
Clifton School #15 (NJ)
“It was a pleasure having you all at School #15. I got great feedback from the staff and children. After Scott’s presentation, a fifth-grade student wrote ‘the presentation gave me a little hope and very inspirational to keep going and stay motivated.’ For the Kind Minds presentation, a third grade student wrote ‘I learned to take a minute to see how you really feel’ and another student wrote ‘It was beautiful and I learned many things.’ Thank you for everything that you do. I hope to see you again in the future!”
Anarosa Duarte, School Counselor
Watchung Hills Regional High School (NJ)
“Kristen’s presentations were absolutely phenomenal. Not that there was any doubt in our minds because Minding Your Mind has been such a blessing for our students! Her story is so powerful and the students asked many, many great questions. You could tell they were truly engaged and she made them realize they are not alone. In the afternoon of the presentation, I ran a Teen Action Group club meeting (a club I run devoted to ending the stigma around Mental Health) and two seniors in the club that saw Kristen’s presentation shared a lot of what she talked about to the other members of the club! It was very rewarding to hear their takeaways from the presentation and to see them sharing it with the underclassman.”
Jill Gleeson, Health Education Teacher
Watchung Hills Regional High School (NJ)
“We have used Minding Your Mind for several years now and MYM has been a godsend to our students, faculty and parents. This was our first time using Sarika and she was absolutely phenomenal! She is down to earth, relatable, and has a great mix of humor and sarcasm to balance out the hard conversation that our students so desperately need. The fact that we had students wanting to come back on to the call at the end of the day to ask more questions is a true testament to Sarika!”
Jill Gleeson, Health Education Teacher
Hopewell Valley Central High School (NJ)
“We had previously had Jordan speak in person to our students and he was able to switch effectively to Zoom to deliver the same message and engage with our students. I was impressed with the attention and thoughtful questions our students gave as well as Jordan’s ability to address both general and COVID-specific mental health concerns from students.”
Christopher Velderman, Student Assistance Counselor
Pearl R. Miller Middle School (NJ)
“Both Jordan and Scott provided interesting, inspirational and informative presentation to the middle school students in my school. The students responded extremely well to both young men. We had very positive feedback from the middle school students!”
Tara McClain, School Counselor
Leonardo Elementary School (NJ)
“Scott was incredible & SO relatable for our students. He did such a great job at adapting his story for our 5th grade students. Suzelle did a great job. I like how she used the term ‘body clues’ to talk about noticing how others are feeling; our students were super engaged in her lesson. Marissa was fabulous with our students, especially the younger ones (kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade). She was great at adapting her lesson to be age appropriate & her mannerisms/energy really kept our students engaged. I loved that she did a stretch break mid-way through the lesson with all of the students.”
Jessica Bragen, School Social Worker
Grover Cleveland Middle School (NJ)
“All three speakers (Andrew, Lucas, Scott) did an incredible job sharing their personal stories with our students, while telling them that it is OK to speak about mental health and if anyone is feeling anything that they are uncomfortable with, it is OK to ask for help. They also did a great job of showing them that there is hope and happiness can still be achieved. Thank you again!!”
John Bertollo, Principal
Carlstadt Public School (NJ)
“Our students and staff enjoyed the MYM program very much! Marissa did a great job engaging the students virtually and the topics were age appropriate and informative!”
Kelly Schroback, School Counselor
MasterMine Podcast (NY)
“Jordan was super professional and so informative. We were lucky to have him on the program.”
Mr. G, Educator
Harrison Elementary School (NJ)
“Both Marissa and Suzelle were amazing! We have been looking for something fun and educational that is different from the everyday virtual learning and the Kind Minds Presentation was the perfect thing! It was so fun for the kids to actually move around, make silly faces, and learn some important information.”
Christine Cutinello, School Counselor
Herricks Union Free School District – Elementary Schools (NY)
“Suzelle worked very hard to coordinate and prepare for this district-wide presentation. She was very eager to accommodate our needs and modify the presentation to the virtual manner that we needed. I felt like she listened carefully to what we were looking for and was able to deliver according to our needs. We greatly appreciated the flexibility and tailoring that made the presentation go so well. The way in which the subject matter was covered was developmentally appropriate and engaging.”
Kathy Wong, School Social Worker
Watchung Hills Regional High School – 9th Grade Health (NJ)
“We have been using MYM for several years now at WHRHS and the speakers have been a godsend to our students. We are so incredibly grateful for Andrew’s bravery sharing his story. He is extremely relatable and provides a comfortable environment for the students to feel open in sharing how they feel. Since the presentation we have had numerous students reaching out looking to speak with our Student Assistance Counselors. They felt encouraged to do so after hearing Andrew’s key take-aways of asking for help, you are not alone, and it gets better. His story is one of hope and help and we thank Andrew and MYM from the bottom of our hearts for all that you do!”
Jill Gleeson, Health Education Teacher
Hackensack High School (NJ)
“Sheila and Jordan did a great job presenting the material. Sheila’s presentation was very informative. Jordan is a great speaker is his story is so compelling. He is so brave in sharing his story. His message can help so many people. Melissa and Scott were wonderful speakers, they were pleasant and knowledgeable. Melissa’s presentation was very informative. Scott was very personable and his story was very touching.”
Doris De Jesus Levy, Director of Drop-In Center
Burlington County Special Services School District (NJ)
“Scott’s willingness and ability to be vulnerable and relatable was tremendous. I got such positive feedback from the participants, who now want him to come to their schools. This was such a meaningful presentation.”
Bobbie Downs, Director
MS 25 The Computer School (NY)
“Both Scott and Sheila were terrific speakers. Engaging, thoughtful, knew how to target their audience (in this case middle school) extremely well, and clearly made our students feel comfortable enough to ask some great questions (even online). I felt their presentation was thorough, informative, and highlighted several quick tools that our students can implement into their lives in order to increase their own mental health and well-being. Our entire school community thanks you!”
Erin Hill, School Counselor
Educational Services Unit (NJ)
“My staff absolutely loved the presentation. They felt that it validated how they were feeling while also giving them strategies to cope with these feelings during COVID-19.”
Bobbie Downs, Director
Red Bank Regional High School student feedback (NJ)
“One point that the guest speaker made that stuck with me was how much one can suffer without it showing on the outside. This personally applies to my life as I myself can be secretive with my emotions and let things build up rather than deal with them directly or talking with someone. The guest speaker’s own story about eventually feeling nothing, a numbness, really opened my eyes to how I could become emotionally stunted if I don’t work on becoming less introverted about some of my struggles. I was grateful for him being able to share his story.”
“I loved the SOS speaker! I felt really engaged the whole time because he talked about his story and less of spitting out facts about mental illness. I feel like he really broke the stigma by talking about his mental health experience because it can be so hard to talk about. I really took away that I shouldn’t put all my hope and joy into one thing especially because mental illness is a present gene in a lot of families and it could possibly be present in mine.”
“One of the most attention-grabbing points she talked about was the way she explained ways she would cope with her depression, and she told us about the thought triangle. It was one of the most interesting guest speakers I’ve ever listened to here at RBR and I’m glad I got to hear her story.”
Stacy Liss, Clinical Supervisor @ The Source
Buena Regional High School (NJ)
“Lucas was great!”
Cathleen Morris, Director, Buena School Based Youth Services Program
Mary White Ovington PS/IS 30 (NY)
“The speaker’s presentation was great! Many students were able to relate to his issues and found the information relevant to their own lives or to those that they hold dear. The presenter opened the floor for questions afterwards, which allowed the students to get clarity on things that felt real to them. Many staff have children or loved ones that suffer with mental health issues, and they too were very appreciative of the presenter’s openness when sharing his story. This was a great benefit to our entire community.”
Audra Allen, School Counselor
Ella Baker School (NY)
“I am BEYOND impressed by the Young Adult Speakers! We hosted Sarika and Katya and could not have been happier. They were both extremely professional: in touch beforehand with materials and on time the day of. They were also both sensitive to student needs, incredibly poised, and admirably courageous for sharing their stories of pain and recovery for the education and benefit of other young teens. It was inspiring to see Sarika and Katya be so real and honest. Our students left with a better understanding of mental health needs and a path to recovery. One student even felt so empowered that after the speakers came, she found the confidence to constructively confront a peer who had been critical and damaging to her self-esteem for years… and the other student was able to listen and change. Now that is powerful! Forever grateful for these women! I can’t recommend Minding Your Mind any more highly, and I look forward to continued work with them. Thank you to everyone who plays a part in this wonderful organization!”
Kira Hammond, Guidance Counselor
Vineland High School (NJ)
“Scott did an excellent job engaging his audience. Several of our faculty and staff members have since inquired about offering more presentations such as this one to our students. Scott’s story was powerful and relevant.”
Jacqueline Alvarez, Assistant Principal
West Essex High School (NJ)
“Scott was well-spoken, captivating, and was able to relate very well with our students. He had a strong presence and excellent communication skills. Not only did he share his personal journey but he educated the students on how they can recognize signs and symptoms, and what they can do to help themselves. He taught them how to identify coping mechanisms and how making yourself happy is key. He truly worked to reduce the stigma surrounding depression and mental illness. We greatly enjoyed having him and all of my students benefited from his messages.”
Bettina Plesnitzer, Lead Teacher Health & PE Department
Conackamack Middle School (NJ)
“Sarika’s presentation was powerful and meaningful. I got positive feedback from several of the teachers regarding her presentation. I think it was very important for our students to hear from someone who has lived through mental health concerns.”
Alia Siegrist, School Psychologist/Behaviorist
Grace M. Breckwedel Middle School (NJ)
“Andrew and Guy were extremely professional and engaging. Our district parents learned a lot from them. Andrew’s student presentation was extremely moving for our middle school students. The biggest thing I heard was how relatable he was to our students – the key. This opened up a great conversation in our school that we plan to continue. Thank you for doing what you do, your speakers embody change and our students truly connected with Andrew. Both speakers got their message across, and we look forward to hosting MYM again next school year.”
Kate Ferraro, ELA/ESL Teacher
West Essex Middle School (NJ)
“Sarika was great! I would love to have her back.”
Michele Riker, 7th Grade Health & PE Teacher
Peck School (NJ)
“Deanna was great. Her presentation was very compelling, and the students were very engaged.”
Julie O’Rourke, Psychologist
West Side High School (NJ)
“You could hear a pin drop during Sarika’s presentation.”
Deanna Morris-Davis, Teen Advisor
The Rumson Country Day School (NJ)
“Scott was incredible! I was so impressed with his ability to speak to our students and articulate his personal struggles. I was amazed by his bravery. The presentation was tailored perfectly for our particular age range. The content was heavy, but Scott kept it light, using humor, but still maintaining the severity of the topic. Our students have never been more engaged and well behaved as they were for Scott’s presentation. We would definitely have MYM back for another student presentation and/or parent presentation.”
Natalie Diehl, The Director of Student Services
Rowan College of Burlington County (NJ)
“I’m definitely on board to making this a regular thing here at RCBC. It was a great couple of events, and I’d love to have MYM back in the future.”
Alex Ward, Instructor
Hopewell Valley Central High School (NJ)
“We got a lot of really positive feedback from our students and staff about Lucas’s presentation. In particular, his story and presentation really resonated with many of our seniors.”
Christopher Velderman, Student Assistance Coordinator
Leonardo Elementary School (NJ)
“We are very eager to have Minding Your Mind facilitators back to our school when the k-4 program is rolled out in NJ. Guy’s presentation for our staff was extremely well-received & provided staff with meaningful education/understanding of Mindfulness/Mental Health/Self-Care that is applicable not only in our classrooms, but also in our own daily practice. Guy did an excellent job of creating a sense of openness and understanding that encouraged staff to share and participate in the program.”
Jessica Bragen, LSW
Eagle Academy (NJ)
“Nothing but wonderful experiences with MYM speakers. They are always awesome.”
Dorothy D. Bowker, School Counselor
Chatham High School (NJ)
“Scott was incredibly impactful with my students. He is relatable, energetic, and engaging. As always, my experience as an educator working with MYM was excellent.”
Samantha Kenny, Teacher
Staten Island School of Civic Leadership, PS 861 (NY)
“Katya’s presentation was exactly what we hoped it would be. Our students identified a need for mental health education/access during research for a civics project. When they found your organization, we didn’t know what to expect. Katya held firm the attention of students in grades 6-8 for nearly two hours, which is quite an accomplishment. A fellow staff member described our assembly as the most relevant in the ten years of our school’s history. I completely agree.”
Thomas Six, Teacher
New York Hall Of Science (NY)
“This was a really good and fun presentation. It was engaging but also informative. My students really enjoyed it.”
Danny Clase, Alumni Coordinator
Unity Charter School (NJ)
“Katya did a fabulous job engaging our middle school students throughout her presentation. Katya’s presentation was heartfelt, real, and dynamic. Her story allowed the audience to see how stigma regarding mental health can hold people back from getting the help they need. Katya gave the kids an understanding of how depression and anxiety if not addressed can be problematic. She gave the kids hope and understanding into how getting help can allow someone to get back their life back and turn things around in a positive healthy way.”
Barbara Smith, School Counselor
Long Valley Middle School (NJ)
“Andrew was amazing! He did a great job of holding the students’ attention and relating to them. Every staff member and student who heard him share his story of hope said he was amazing. Following the presentation, I spoke with my students and they all agreed that they felt like Andrew was someone they could relate to and that they think his message of breaking the stigma is important for all to hear. I have already recommended minding your mind to two of my friends who teach in other school districts.”
Kristina LeViere, Health and Wellness Educator
Union Vale Middle School (NY)
“I am so grateful for your organization & am thrilled we could host you these past two years.”
Kathleen Vogt, Health Educator
Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart (NJ)
“Our assembly started MUCH later than scheduled, so poor Katya had to modify her story drastically to accommodate the new time constraint. She did a great job! Many students told me that they could relate to Katya and that her story resonated with them. Additionally, I loved how incredibly genuinely warm, open, and responsive Katya was with our students who spoke to her privately after the presentation. She was great with them!”
Samantha, Health Teacher
Jamesburg Public Schools (NJ)
“Each presentation reflected the age of the audience and the message was absolutely received. We cannot thank MYM and the speaker enough for delivering such a crucial message to our students in grades 6-8.”
Kate Ferraro, Teacher
Bergen Catholic High School, Indian Hills High School, Ramapo High School, Northern Valley Regional High School (NJ)
“Jordan is a gift to every audience. He is a class act: relatable, informative, and lifesaving! I’ve worked alongside of Jordan for over a decade and he’s always been a joy to work with. Not only am I but the community at large are blessed to have him with us. We love working with Minding Your Mind!”
Grace Carricarte, Executive Director of The Ganley Foundation
Hawthorne High School (NJ)
“I would absolutely recommend this program again. The evening parent presentation was extremely useful due to the educational component to it presented by Guy.”
Christine Wegert, Director of Guidance
Carteret High School (NJ)
“Kristen is a remarkable speaker, she gained the full attention of an auditorium full of HS students, and that’s not easy. I’m sure many students identified with her struggles with difficult feelings. She delivered an important message about the power of positive coping–and what’s most impactful is that she’s not just talking about it, she’s living it.”
Jeanne Neuwirth, LCSW Clinician
Monmouth TLC Meeting (NJ)
“Lucas did an amazing job discussing his story. We are grateful that he was willing to be vulnerable and discuss the needed topic of mental health. Thank you for sharing your story with us!”
Heather Soto, Director/Coordinator
Innovation High School (NJ)
“Thank you for all you do to help students and spread the message of mental health and how it affects the community. It has really helped in our communication with kids and they have been much more forward in opening up about their issues and concern for others. MYM really is an invaluable tool that I’m grateful we have access to! Thanks again for providing this service to our school with no cost! It is much needed and very appreciated!”
Nancy Ortiz, School Counselor
Manasquan High School (NJ)
“Katya is always professional when she comes to speak to my classes. She is very relatable to the student body and does a great job making a hard subject to talk about informative.”
Amy Certo, Health Teacher
Summit High School (NJ)
“We also had Guy come to an evening event for parents – both were outstanding. After attending the presentation, I received students and parents coming forward asking for support and resources. Many students and staff who saw the program stopped in to tell me that it was an impactful presentation.”
Amy Herber, Student Assistance Counselor
Chatham High School (NJ)
“Katya has been in my classes twice this year and spoken to every 12th grade student at Chatham High School. She is relatable, personable, and extremely relevant to my students. Her message is excellent as is her presentation.”
Samantha Kenny, Teacher
Innovation High School Jersey City (NJ)
“Katya left a very good impression on students and staff. They wanted to continue to ask her questions and many just wanted to say thank you and say she did a GREAT job! They LOVED that she explained a lot of the terms that they have heard but didn’t really know what they meant! She left a lasting impression.”
Nancy Ortiz, School Counselor
Red Bank Regional High School (NJ)
“Katya was hilarious and genuine. She really connected with her audience!”
Rebecca Begans, MSW Intern
“Katya was a great presenter. She did an excellent job of sharing her story in a genuine and engaging way that kept the attention of the students. Her story covered a lot of very relevant topics.”
Rebecca Stevenson, Source Clinician
Monroe-Woodbury High School (NY)
“Carl is amazing!! Everyone loved him. His presentations were well-received by students, staff, and guests. Thank you for your support of MW CARES Day!”
Dawn Tauber, Chair – MW CARES Day
Eagle Academy (NJ)
“I’ve seen four or five presenters and they are all fabulous. Katya was perfect for our student population. Many of our disaffected students suffer with anxiety and depression. They loved her.”
Dorothy Bowker, School Counselor
Mercer High School (NJ)
“Jordan was wonderful! He was great with our diverse population and kept their attention. His courage is inspiring to both staff and students. We enjoyed meeting him and hearing about his journey. We are thankful for Jordan and for his strength.”
Heidi Musick, Student Assistance Counselor
Mendham High School (NJ)
“Lucas is great! He tells his story very genuinely. He’s relatable and leaves you feeling hopeful!”
Tamara D’Alessio, SAC
Bloomfield Recreation Center (NJ)
“Oh My Gosh…Katya was so personable she spoke from the heart. She left such an impact on the mixed crowd we had, that when I looked on my Facebook page I saw a few people posting a number she had everyone put into their phone. They spoke about being able to relate to her and some wanted her information to call. It was such a positive response that I would love to have someone from Minding Your Mind at all our functions. She was absolutely wonderful!!!!”
Deirdre Allette Asiema, Director
Kendra Scott (PA)
“Andrew was awesome! He rolled with our last-minute idea to stream the presentation. He did a great job not only sharing his story but telling shoppers how they can shop at Kendra to support MYM.”
Danielle Lafond, Assistant Manager/Events Coordinator
TEACH Program – CCIU (PA)
“Brooke was a wonderful speaker for our middle school students. She shared relatable experiences, was down-to-earth, and provided a positive, hopeful message to our students who have experienced similar circumstances. We would love to have her back.”
Jenna Freyman, Mental Health Therapist
Mercy Career & Technical High School (PA)
“Andrew’s presentation was excellent! We liked how he gave concrete healthy coping skills and engaged the students. He ended his presentation on a hopeful note!”
Mary Terese C. Lopata, School Social Worker & Director of Guidance
PA Developmental Disabilities Council (PA)
“So glad to have Jordan and Minding Your Mind as a partner!”
Dana Thompson, Project Officer
Archbishop Ryan High School (PA)
“Mollye provided an excellent parent presentation. Calm and professional.”
Regina Abernethy, Director of Guidance
Beaver County Behavioral Health (PA)
“Jordan is a wonderful speaker; his presentation was heartfelt and inspiring! He had stated that he was doing “something new” in his presentation and ended by reading a letter to his 18-year-old self, please let him know that we all thought that was wonderful and INCREDIBLY insightful. VERY well received.”
Jennifer Boeringer, Training Coordinator
Susquenita High School (PA)
“Andrew did a great job presenting and connecting to our students. From the feedback we have received from our students, they liked the presentation and felt it was beneficial.”
Tori Putt, School Counselor
Maritime Academy Charter High School (PA)
“Andrew was great. The students really connected with his presentation. He was very down to earth and relatable.”
Aimee Bogan, School Counselor
Mid Valley Secondary Center (PA)
“Sheila and Andrew were wonderful presenters, and they had the right combination of brain-based information with personal connections. Mind Your Mind sponsored our parent program, and we can’t thank them enough for their interest in helping our school SEL initiatives.”
Michelle M. Higgins, Assistant Principal
Anne Frank Elementary (PA)
“All staff at MYM was a pleasure to work with. Our students and teachers expressed the program being a great resource for our SEL needs.”
Jennifer Smith, School Counselor
“Suzelle Marques was a wonderful presenter. The material was very engaging and relevant for the kindergarten students. Suzelle was so positive and welcoming to the ideas of each student.”
Jessica Morgan, Teacher
“Thank you for a wonderful presentation and resources to support the lesson. The facilitator was prepared, age appropriate, enthusiastic, and responsive to the children’s thoughts, ideas and feelings. Thank you again!”
Audrey Weiss, Teacher
Pittsburgh Classical Academy (PA)
“Andrew was very relatable and consistent message with all our grades. Kids who usually don’t stay online stayed on.”
Anna Chough, Social Worker
Isaac A. Sheppard School (PA)
“I love how the presenters interacted with the students and called on them for answers. Also, thank you for your flexibility with tech!”
Justine Rybaltowski, School Counselor
MaST Community Charter School (PA)
“We would love to have MYM back next year and hopefully in person. Thanks for a great presentation!”
Erica Titlow, School Counselor
State College Area School District Delta Program (PA)
“What a great presentation/resource for my students! Thank you thank you! We are so thankful for Morgan and the story she shared with our health class.”
Eric Marshall, Health Educator
Chichester School District (PA)
“Looking forward to having the Kind Minds Presentation at my school next year!”
Lisa Tobin, School Counselor
Iroquois High School (PA)
“Jordan’s message was powerful and delivered in an engaging way. Our students really related to him. We would love to do this again!”
Julia Boyd, Positive Youth Development Coordinator
Conwell-Egan Catholic High School (PA)
“Every speaker we have from Minding your Mind are absolutely amazing. Kristen had the students fully engaged throughout her presentation. We had a few students want to talk afterwards, which is exactly what we want out of these presentations! Kristen was very professional, kind, and on time. We are very thankful for her.”
Jenny Diamond, Director of School Counseling
Drexel Neumann Academy (PA)
“Jordan and Mollye shared important information with parents, faculty and teachers. They did it in a way that was easily understood. We appreciated their candor and their sharing of personal information. Thank you!”
Barb Brennan, Principal
Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School (PA)
“We LOVE Minding Your Mind! We have been bringing in a speaker every year during Mental Health Awareness Month for the last 3-4 years and we will surely continue this tradition. It is SO beneficial and meaningful to our students. Thank you so much for the services that you are providing to our youth. Kristen was phenomenal and we sent her a “thank you card” with feedback from students who attended.”
Lauren Lombardo, School Counselor
The Herb it Forward Foundation (PA)
“We thought Jordan was wonderful, he put humor into his presentation where appropriate and made our student community feel very comfortable. He received rave reviews from the community. Jordan’s talk and time were so valuable to our event and much needed after a particularly difficult year. We were so glad he was there and able to be a part of our event!”
Jennifer Jones, Executive Director
Radnor Middle School (PA)
“Thank you for another wonderful presentation from MYM. This was our only in-person assembly this year and the students truly benefitted from the direct interaction. Sarika shared her powerful story in a way that impacted so many of our students. They were laser focused on her presentation, and a number of students came to the school counselor’s office following the presentation with more specific/personal questions.”
Clyde Diehl, School Counselor
Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition (PA)
“Jordan is clearly an accomplished speaker and comfortable presenting to groups. We received very positive feedback on his presentation and its message of hope.”
David Measel, Executive Director
Jenkintown High School (PA)
“Students always love the presentations by MYM speakers.”
Renate Costner, Teacher
Mars Area High School (PA)
“Morgan did a very nice job and her story hopefully resonated with a lot of students. Evan was fantastic and did an amazing job. Would love to have him back next year.”
Kristen Stash, Health and PE Teacher
Holy Ghost Preparatory School (PA)
“Lucas was awesome. His message was relevant and well received by our students. In uncertain times like these, it is so very important for our students to know that it is ok to need and get help!”
Aaron Pollock, Director of Counseling
Dallastown High School (PA)
“I feel that the Minding Your Mind presentation was one of the impactful activities we have done for our students as part of our Mental Health curriculum. I was amazed at how quickly Morgan was able to build a rapport with the students and allow them to open up to her and ask some tough questions. I know the students related to her story and hopefully inspire them to deal with their mental health in positive ways.”
Greg Thoman, Teacher/ Department Chair
Gettysburg College (PA)
“Thank you so much for an awesome conversation and presentation.”
Nikki Binetti , Assistant Volleyball Coach
Malvern Preparatory School (PA)
“Both Andrew and Evan did a wonderful job presenting to our students. Even though the presentation was virtual, our speakers kept our students engaged and involved. We are at an all-boys school and the presenters did an excellent job working with the clientele. I look forward to hearing these presentations and my students’ reactions to the presentation every year.”
Bethany DeWitt, School Counselor
Cardinal John Foley Regional Catholic School (PA)
“The Middle School students were touched by Andrew’s story and his courage to share the information. Dr. Jenna DiLossi did a great job with Andrew during the parent presentation. We were very grateful for their time and willingness to share.”
Mary Ann DeAngelo, Principal
Friends’ Central School (PA)
“Jordan provided relevant and educational information to the students and answered questions. Thanks, Jordan!”
Lisa Mansure, Health Teacher
Linwood Elementary School (PA)
“The presentations were wonderful and both speakers did a great job engaging the students.”
Courtney McLaughlin, Social Worker
Strath Haven High School (PA)
“My students reflected on his discussion and provided all positive feedback and truly felt comforted in his words allowing those with anxiety, depression to feel like there is hope! Thank you again!”
Carly Reid, HE/PE Teacher
Mt. Lebanon High School (PA)
“Andrew was humble, accessible, and professional. The students indicated through discussion the following day that they benefited a great deal from his talk and highly recommended I bring him in for future health talks. Kelly made a positive impact on the students and myself. We discussed it the following day in class and the students’ comments were overwhelmingly in favor of bringing her back for future classes.”
Madelon Tieman, Faculty
“The two speakers were outstanding. I just finished writing them thank you cards. I had several students email me and thank ME for having them come speak. They were so genuine and so relatable to our students. The organizational experience from start to finish was exceptional. Thank you again!”
Janice A. Billotte, Health Educator
Hilltop Elementary School (PA)
“Calm, reassuring and very patient as we worked through minor tech issues. Very positive feedback from students’ comments/responses.”
Paul DeAngelo, School Counselor
Uniontown Area School District (PA)
“Andrew did a nice job explaining his situation and how someone like him can get help and continues to get help.”
Aaron M. Scott, Teacher- Health and PE
Fairview Middle School (PA)
“Scott did a great job of making the presentation engaging over a virtual platform. He also fielded the student questions well!”
Hannah Kovacs, School Counselor
Blue Ridge School District (PA)
“Our students really connected with Andrew. We felt he was relatable and gave some really good advice. Many teachers and students gave positive feedback with even the Zoom platform and how effective it was.”
Dawn McHale, School Counselor
The Sloan School-CRSD (PA)
“Andrew did a great job delivering his story to our students. In the days following the presentation, I received lots of positive feedback from other staff members and our students. Many related with different aspects of his story and appreciated the openness with which Andrew talked to them.”
Antonio Checchia, Teacher
Conestoga Valley Middle School (PA)
“Scott was great. His presentation was entertaining and educational.”
Peter Shellenberger, 8th Grade Wellness Teacher
Pittsburgh Allderdice (PA)
“What a wonderful presentation from Miss Kristen. Her personal story of sharing her strength and not giving up was inspirational as well as informative with the information she provided with ways to receive help as well. Thank you for the opportunity for my Health class students to receive this presentation on the important topic of mental health. Also, Ms. Marschall was terrific getting back to me in a timely manner and getting the presentation organized with a day and time with Miss Kristen.”
Keith Goldman, Health/PE Teacher
York College of Pennsylvania (PA)
“Extremely valuable, impactful, and insightful. The speakers created a safe space for others to be vulnerable, to share, and to understand that they are not alone.”
Jen Muston, Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach/SWA/Assistant Athletic Director
St. Bernadette School (PA)
“Andrew’s presentation was inspirational and professional. Parents and faculty were most impressed and asked me to have him back so more people would have the opportunity to hear him.”
Joanne Montie, Principal
Thomas Jefferson High School (PA)
“I know it looks like I went through and just marked 5’s but I have absolutely nothing negative to say at all. Evan was even able to resolve a technology issue we were having and then adapt his presentation into the remaining time.”
Mike Rose, Teacher
Conwell-Egan Catholic High School (PA)
“Andrew was amazing, on time, and engaged with our students.”
Jenny Diamond, School Counselor
St. Martin of Tours (PA)
“Scott did a great job telling his story to grades 5 – 8. He was animated, captivating, and seemed to hold students’ interest. His presentation was inspiring, and I believe it had a positive impact on our students.”
Samantha Bissey, School Counselor
Technical College High School-Pickering (PA)
“Kelly was fabulous. Her message and the way she communicated was superb.”
Erin Petters, Assistant Principal
Antonia Pantoja Charter School (PA)
“Scott connected to the students. Relevant and personal. The students were asking relevant and important questions.”
Jenny Leal, School Counselor
Perkiomen Valley High School (PA)
“Our students and teachers enjoyed all of the Minding Your Mind speakers. We appreciate the speakers sharing their stories with us. The students definitely walked away from the presentation with a better understanding of how important it is to talk about their mental health.”
Amy Kohout, Health and Physical Education Teacher
The Crefeld School (PA)
“Jordan was great and had a hugely impactful, inspiring story!”
Michael Herman, Physical Education Teacher
Perkiomen Valley High School (PA)
“Andrew was very professional and inspirational. He kept students engaged even in a virtual setting. I feel like students felt more than comfortable to open up and ask questions. I was blown away by the professionalism and topics that Elizabeth talked about. Also she did a great job engaging students, EVEN through Zoom. I would definitely have minding your mind speakers back at PV for years to come.”
Emily Witman, Health and PE Teacher/Department Head
Jenkintown High School (PA)
“He was very enthusiastic and he had a very good character. I was given a really detailed perspective on what addiction and depression were like from Evan. He was the best speaker we’ve had so far and it was great to hear his story.”
“I enjoyed the presentation very much, Evan was very relatable and he made me think about Mental Health and Substance Abuse in a totally different way.”
“My favorite speaker, I could really relate to him and it was a very interesting story.”
Comments from Student Evaluations
New Foundations Charter School (PA)
“Andrew was an amazing speaker! We received so much positive feedback from faculty, students, and administration. Students emailed our principal to say it was the best presentation they ever attended. We are so appreciative of Minding Your Mind!”
Theresa Niedosik, High School Counselor
Upper Merion High School (PA)
“YOU are the best MYM – organized and so valuable for teens!”
Patty Ehret, Health Teacher
Crozer Chester Medical Center (PA)
“Andrew has been a speaker for our program for a few years. He does a wonderful presentation that helps the students realize that it’s ok to talk about their feelings and that they are not alone. He encourages them to use the bountiful resources available to them if they are struggling. Always a pleasure to have Andrew talk to my students. He does a great job of sharing his message of hope. So very grateful for his work!”
Rosemary Barakat, Medical Careers Instructor/RN
Swenson Arts and Technology (PA)
“I sincerely thank Minding Your Mind and the presenters for telling their story. The students in the classes had amazing feedback and we are appreciative of the opportunity to listen to their experiences while also gaining coping skills and strategies. Thank you again!”
Kevin Lockett, Teacher
Friends’ Centra School (PA)
“Jordan was professional, informative and honest with my students. I’ve invited him back already for next semester whether in person or via Zoom!”
Lisa Mansure, Health Teacher
Young Men and Women in Charge (YMWIC) Virtual Expo-Chester County (PA)
“This our second time with your guys. It is always a favorite!”
Angela Smith, College and Career Advisor
MaST Community Charter School (PA)
“The students asked really great questions at the end of the presentation, which showed me that they were very engaged with Jordan’s words, even virtually! He did a great job of explaining good coping skills and how to get support when you need it. Thanks to him for sharing his story.”
Katie MacConnell, Counselor
Pittsburgh Public Schools (PA)
“Sarika and Evan both gave such moving presentations and do so in a relatable and appropriate way for my middle school students. They answered my students’ questions and were so kind and heartfelt in their stories. I appreciate them coming in so much and have already had several students reach out asking for help, which I don’t think they would have done prior to these presentations. I can’t thank Minding Your Mind enough for the impact it has made on my students.”
Kaleena Estrada, Teacher-HPE
Saint Andrew Home and School Meeting (PA)
“Andrew’s presentation was moving and hopeful. He gave our parents some valuable insights regarding anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideations. Most valuable was his message of hope and where to go for help.”
Helen McLean, Principal
North Coventry PTO (PA)
“Andrew was awesome! He made it real and a good mix between seriousness and hopefulness. Thank you so much! Will be contacting you for more events.”
Benjamin C. Hendricks, PTO Treasurer
Haverford High School (PA)
“Minding Your Mind is synonymous with our healthy lifestyle practices. MYM is a presentation that the staff and students look forward to each year.”
Pete Donaghy, Principal
New Vitae Wellness (PA)
“Brandon & Jordan were a great team! Both were well prepared, professional & informative.”
William Hoke, Vice President, Development
Neumann University (PA)
“Andrew is an incredible speaker and a brave storyteller. He conveyed a message of hope beautifully and with necessary referrals, wisdom, and encouragement. Last year we had Jordan speak and were equally as impressed. We are huge fans of MYM and your work. We will be recommending to all!”
Elizabeth Barr, Counselor
Worcester Public Schools (MA)
“Jon is a thoroughly engaging speaker whose humor coupled with real-life clinical examples make for an informative and enjoyable presentation.”
Deborah O’Brien-Thibodeau, Nurse Case Manager
Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School (PA)
“I absolutely LOVE your organization and your speakers! We have had you guys come three years in a row now and I see no plan on stopping 🙂 Deanna was WONDERFUL and was really relatable for some of our students today. Thank you so much for all that you do!”
Lauren Lombardo, School Counselor
National Philanthropic Trust (PA)
“The virtual presentation was well done and touched upon issues that are staff are dealing with during this pandemic and gave them useful tools to help them get through it.”
Kerry Boytin, Executive Assistant
Saint Joseph’s University (PA)
“Marissa was extremely informative and engaging for the audience. She provided tangible advice for the practitioners in the room. Moreover, she reminded us of the complexities of mental health, including issues around stigma, equity, and cultural change.”
Aimee Terosky, Associate Professor Educational Leadership
E.T. Richardson Middle School (PA)
“Both Evan and Scott did an amazing job! Sheila and Scott did a parent presentation which was also fantastic. Thanks so much!”
Dawn Blair, Wellness Teacher
Archbishop John Carroll High School (PA)
“Timmy did a great job! I will be requesting to have him come back to Carroll next school year.”
Kevin Gallagher, Health & Physical Education teacher
Marple Newtown High School student feedback (PA)
“Morgan delivered the presentation in a mature manner and kept us engaged the whole time.”
“She really related to us on a different level and made it easier for us to understand. She connected with us on our teenage level, which made it better.”
“A very relatable guy as well as funny and cheerful.”
“I loved how even though it was a tough topic to discuss, he made it relatable for everyone!”
“The presentation helped me realize that I’m not alone. Jordan was great, and his story was amazing.”
“He was perfect for our class and he inspired me to share my story about my struggle with childhood trauma (leading to PTSD, depression and anxiety).”
Upper Merion High School (PA)
“Absolutely amazing presentation! I learned so much and have taken many mindfulness classes. Brandon is professional, resourceful, and insightful. Thank you!”
Patty Ehret
Holy Rosary Regional Catholic School (PA)
“Our students listened intently to what Jordan shared. He interjected humor which made the audience more comfortable. Several parents contacted me the day following the presentation expressing gratitude for this program and remarked that their children shared a lot of what Jordan spoke about with them. We have decided to have our school counselor follow up with our middle school students to talk about stress, transitions, and time management. Thank you for opening this door for our students.”
Mary Ann Gilman, Principal
Susquenita Middle School (PA)
“Scott was an amazing speaker and captured the attention of everyone in the audience. He was able to connect with students to deliver the important message of talking to someone when you need help. He brought home the point of the having ‘emergency joys’, which was a great takeaway for all of us. Thank you.”
Sonja Brunner, Director of Special Education
Montgomery School (PA)
“Scott was a hit! Both students and faculty loved him and his message. I already have requests to have him back as soon as possible!”
Taryn, School Counselor
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (PA)
“Kelly was amazing! The students took to her and were really engaged in her story. There were even a few afterwards who came up to commend her and ask her further questions! She did a great job of keeping it short yet thorough and informative. She’s also great to work with and a joy to be around. I hope we get to work with her again!”
Leslee Frye, School Psychologist
Haverford Middle School (PA)
“We are lucky to have had Scott here many times to speak with my 7th grade Health classes. Every time he really connects with the students, and I truly feel they are listening and learning so much from his story. It’s so very important! Thank you!!”
Gina Brocklesby , 7th Grade Health Teacher
Conwell- Egan Catholic High School (PA)
“Evan was on time and super easy to talk to. His presentation touched a myriad of students. Students were able to open up to the counseling department with struggles they had not wanted to share until they heard Evan’s story and his advice. The presentation was very powerful and needed at our school. We received great feedback from teachers and students. We would love for Minding Your Mind to come again! Thank you for making a difference!”
Jenny Diamond, School Counselor
La Salle University (PA)
“I would have no reservations bringing Jordan & Minding Your Mind back to campus. He was great and gave a very relatable presentation to our college students.”
Jennifer Ruggiero-Patel, Assistant Director of New Student Programs
Upper Merion High School (PA)
“Evan is exceptional! This is what he was meant to do. I see him making a huge difference on so many levels. Deanna’s story is relatable for so many young girls. We continue to be grateful for the courage these young adults do for our students.”
Patty Ehret, Health Educator
Morrisville High School (PA)
“Every single presenter was simply amazing! I can’t speak highly enough about this program!”
Nicole Culnan, School Counselor
New Foundations Charter High School (PA)
“This is Jordan’s third time at our school. He is amazing and the students were so engaged. Kelly was a great presenter for our 9th grade students!”
Theresa Niedosik, School Counselor
Interboro High School (PA)
“Kelly did an amazing presentation for the young girls at Interboro.”
Rachel Lambert, Supervisor of Special Education
Friends’ Central School (PA)
“Wonderful presentation! My students asked great questions and Jordan provided ‘real’ answers. Even a few students spoke to him one on one after the class since they could relate to his story. Very powerful! Looking forward to Jordan returning to present next semester.”
Lisa Mansure, Health Teacher
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