Joanne Pisani, Ed.D
Commack
Summary
I believe together we can create a climate and culture that supports the whole child by investing in the social and emotional well-being of all students. My deep passion and commitment for inspiring wellness can be seen in the history of programs, activities and events created and carried out with fidelity which has fostered change and resiliency. My core values of integrity, trust and compassion have assisted me to maintain positive relationships with students, parents, faculty/staff and administration. These values are exemplified in my strong leadership throughout my educational career.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Student Services formerly PPS
Connetquot Central School District
07.2022 - Current
- Supervised Student Services Central Registration clerical staff (9), Social Workers (16) and Nurses (22)
- Managed PPS Department Budget reducing operational cost
- Streamlined administrative processes and developed successful training programs
- Spearheaded partnership with PM Pediatrics School Crisis Response Program & Northwell School Mental Health
- Instituted Suicide Safety for Staff presentations district-wide faculty meetings
- Facilitated annual Community Wellness Day, Parent Mental Health Workshops, Wellness Wheelhouse Newsletter
- Developed Bully Prevention Action Plan K-12, reduced SSEC reports by 50%
- Chaired Mental Health Advisory Council, Bullying Prevention Task Force, Wellness and Nutrition Committee
- Co-facilitated Drug & Alcohol Prevention Task Force and developed targeted outreach services for students OSS
- Title IX Officer, District-level DASA Coordinator, alternate 504 Compliance Officer, liaison district attorney
- Organized EAP mental health supports for all employees with a three series workshop & local committee
- Led Behavioral Threat Assessment Team – developed crisis response protocols, monthly meetings, assessments
- Oversaw support services for special education students in collaboration with Special Ed Director
- Presented and organized Superintendent Conference Day – Mental Health Awareness
- Revised Polices: Code of Conduct, Attendance, Student Harassment and Bullying Prevention Education, Allergy Action Plan, Wellness Policy, Home Tutoring, Suicide Prevention, Student Health Services and Student Records
- Prepared NYS SSEC and Federal CRDC reports, track district-wide CPS Reports, Student Suspensions
- Coordinated Superintendent Hearings, Alternative Learning Center, Home Tutoring and Homeschooling
- Transformed school climate through focused initiatives on positive behavioral interventions, SEL/EASL Character Education program, Mental Health Education Literacy Model
- Streamlined medical accommodations procedures in collaboration with Chief Medical Officer
- Oversaw District McKinney-Vento Liaison - designation, supports, transportation, State Aid for homeless population
- Monitored hospitalization for medical/psychiatric diagnosis and coordinated tutoring services
- Revamped suspension procedures and created Mental Health Resource tab district website
- Facilitated district-wide faculty/staff GCN training
- Fostered a positive school culture supporting a high school student’s Peace Poles Project – May Peace Prevail on Earth
- Mentored CCSD graduates with special projects, Suicide Awareness and Teen Health Emergency pamphlets
- Prepared and submitted RECOVS Mental Health Grant
- Implemented Cohen’s Strong Mental Health Program
Interim Director of Pupil Personnel Services
Connetquot Central School District
04.2022 - 06.2022
Mental Health Literacy Coordinator – Teacher on Special Assignment
Connetquot Central School District
08.2021 - 04.2022
- Facilitated SEL Social Emotional Learning RULER approach district-wide, created Google Doc training resources
- Conducted RULER introduction training at Superintendent Admin Council, developed building teams K-12
- Enhanced Teacher Aide and Teacher Assistant training for behavior management
- Visited K-12 buildings, assisted with RULER implementation, assessed social emotional needs for students/staff
- Led staff development revising K-5 Health Curriculum aligning with state mandates for Mental Health Education
- Organized SEL district-wide surveys, collaborated district mental health support staff, collected and analyzed data
- Collaborated with AP to review 2018 K-12 Guidance Plan, course offerings, college night, junior conference planning
- Assisted Home Schooling follow-up procedures, NYSED requirements
- Coordinated Too Good for Drugs district-wide program provided by YES Youth Enrichment Services
Youth & Family Services Coordinator
Helen B. Duffield Elementary School
09.2002 - 04.2022
- Provided crisis intervention, individual, group counseling, parent consultation, referral to community-based agencies
- Effective collaboration stakeholders, created caring atmosphere whereby children’s needs were met through prevention, early identification and intervention
- Delivered highly effective counseling program which met academic, social, emotional well-being of students
- Taught health lessons K-5 through HealthSmart curriculum
- Created class placements for students K-5 caseload 350-415
- Facilitated Peer Mediation Program, training 5th grade students to mediate student conflicts
- Spearheaded Peaceful Bus Program, trained student Bus Ambassadors, Bee Buddies
- Created Parent University – Power of Food-Mental Health and Nutrition
- Facilitated Character Education, DASA week, SEL, Mindfulness, Drug-Prevention Week
- Organized Athletes Helping Athletes program with High School Guidance Counselors
- Assisted Middle School Counselors with 5th grade transitioning to Middle School visitation and virtual presentation
- Facilitated prevention programs TRACKS, BOCES Today’s Smoke, Stranger Safety, Healthy Habits
- Instructional Support Team Member, attended CSE meetings, created goals for IEP/504
- Leader in Me facilitator, taught job application process - Tower Garden Reps, Crossing Guards, Historian, Humorists
- Mindful Yoga Club advisor and created Mindful Monday’s PA announcements
- Pre-K Story Hour – presented counseling program to new incoming Kindergarten parents
- Facilitated Anti-Bullying Club ABC, coordinated with High School ABC, Career Day, Heritage Day
- Created Duffield’s Down-to-Earth Tower Garden Project and Google Classroom - The Counseling Classroom
- Spearheaded Parent Ambassador Program for the ENL population
- Developed RISE Up Strategies Parent virtual workshop
- Committee Member Emergency Crisis Team, Discipline, Diversity, SBMT, District-wide Mindfulness, DASA/Anti-Bullying, Wellness, Human Services Council, Mental Health Advisory Council, Re-Opening Committee
Administrative Intern
Helen B. Duffield Elementary School
06.2021 - 12.2021
- Created Master Schedule and made revisions to Opening Day Binder
- Revised behavior incident report, think sheets both primary and intermediate, assisted in student suspension
- Collaborated and created schedule for the Foreign Language in Elementary Schools FLES program
- Spearheaded Parent Ambassador Leader program for ELL student population
- Conducted observations utilizing the Danielson rubric
- Participated in grade level meeting and Teachers College TC planning
- Teacher in Charge – act in place of the principal when out of the building
Pupil Personnel Services
Arthur Premm Learning Center
- Analyzed student data YRBS, prepared comparison charts grades 6, 8,10, 12, BOE and departmental presentation
- Complied School Safety and Educational Climate SSEC - Violence and Disruptive Incident Report VADIR
- Participated in the APPR re-certification BOCES virtual training
- Lead coordinator for GCN compliance - activation, technical issues and completion
- Assisted COVID protocols re-opening plan and scheduled over 450 unvaccinated staff for weekly testing
- Allocated CRRSA funds for mental health related supports
- Reviewed district policies regulations, parent meeting diffusing contentious communication
Education
Ed.D. - Educational Administration & Supervision
St. John’s University
Queens, NY05.2025
Educational Leadership Program SDL/SBL -
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY01.2021
M.S. - School Counseling
Long Island University LIU
Brentwood, NY01.2002
B.A. - Psychology
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY01.1998
Skills
- Leadership
- Instruction Development
- Professional Development
- Mental Health Education
- Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Accreditation
- Training
- Counseling Approaches
- De-escalation Strategies
- Trauma Informed Approach
- Curriculum Development
- Grant Writing
- Project Based Inquiry Learning
Certifications And Special Skills
- Recipient Dr. Gene Geisert Award for Outstanding Dissertation St. John’s University 2025
- School District/Building Leader – NYS SDL/SBL
- Professional Certificate School District Leader 03/01/22
- School Building Leader Certificate 09/01/25
- Mandated Reporter update 2025, GCN completed and Epi-Pen trained/certified
- APPR teacher observation and training course
- New York State Certified School Counselor-Permanent Certification, Tenure 2005
- New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor LMHC
- Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider CMHIMP
- National Board-Certified Counselor NBCC, Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor CCMHC
- Member ASCA, WSCA, NYMHCA
- Proficient in Eschool, MS Office/Excel/PowerPoint, Google, Smart Board, NVision, Frontline
Skills And Accomplishments
Developed innovative instruction and professional development across multiple content areas, Revamped school wide discipline plan and suspension procedures, Developed district-wide SEL program customized EASL, Middle States Accreditation Team and Leader In Me facilitator, Spearheaded Mental Health Education Literacy Framework, Led RULER district training for SEL systemic implementation, Facilitated CPS Reporting, Mindfulness in the Classroom, RULER, RISE skills, Trained faculty and staff in advanced counseling approaches, de-escalation strategies, trauma informed approach, Coordinated Youth Mental Health First Aid training district-wide, Pioneered Mental Health Education Literacy Framework K-12, Analyzed SEL Survey assessed students stress levels K-12 re-opening of schools, Transformed K-5 Health curriculum, aligned with NYS mental health education mandates, Researched, composed, and received multiple CFAC grants: Tower Gardens, implemented Duffield Down-to-Earth project collaborating with STEM teacher Project Based Inquiry Learning
Timeline
Director of Student Services formerly PPS
Connetquot Central School District
07.2022 - Current
Interim Director of Pupil Personnel Services
Connetquot Central School District
04.2022 - 06.2022
Mental Health Literacy Coordinator – Teacher on Special Assignment
Connetquot Central School District
08.2021 - 04.2022
Administrative Intern
Helen B. Duffield Elementary School
06.2021 - 12.2021
Youth & Family Services Coordinator
Helen B. Duffield Elementary School
09.2002 - 04.2022
Pupil Personnel Services
Arthur Premm Learning Center
Ed.D. - Educational Administration & Supervision
St. John’s University
Educational Leadership Program SDL/SBL -
Stony Brook University
M.S. - School Counseling
Long Island University LIU
B.A. - Psychology
Stony Brook University