Mission Statement
The East End Counselors Association (EECA) is a chapter of the New York State School Counselors Association (NYSSCA) which is the Chartered Division of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). Our mission is directly aligned with the objectives of NYSSCA.
Our goal is to enhance the professional experience of our membership with the following practices:
- Fostering personal and professional relationships among school counselors, school social workers, mental health professionals, college and career counselors and other
school related personnel - Advocating for school counseling and school counseling concerns
- Raising the standards of school counseling
- Providing opportunities for the discussion of ethical, legal, social and technical issues related to school counseling
- Initiating professional development opportunities relevant to school counseling
- Developing strategic partnerships with organizations that benefit the members and their students
- Remaining current on academic, career and personal social developmental programs
- Publishing and disseminating scientific, educational and professional informatio
- Operating as a not for profit professional organization
A Letter From the President
I welcome you back to another school year; I hope that you were all able to use the summer to relax, recharge, and spend enjoyable time with your family and friends.
The East End Counselors Association is dedicated to supporting our members and school communities across the East End of Long Island.
We remain diligent in collecting resources and information to support school counselors in facilitating student progress in their academic, career, and personal and social development. We had a successful year last bringing back our professional development meetings, college tours, and in-person college fairs.
As we start the 2024-2025 school year, please be sure to mark your calendar for the following dates:
- NCAA/Financial Aid Night- September 30, 2024, at Riverhead High School, 5:30-7:30pm
- Welcome Back Meeting- August 29, 2024 at Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard, 4-6pm
- Fall College Fair- October 16, 2024, at Riverhead High School, 5-7pm
- Bring an Administrator to Breakfast- TBD
- Administrative Assistant Luncheon- TBD
- Spring College Fair- Westhampton Beach High School – TBD
- College Tour for Counselors- TBD
Please use our News and Resources page for updates. In addition, we have assembled resources from NYSED, ASCA, NYSSCA, SUNY and other sources to provide you with helpful links to information on the college admissions process, financial aid, and other resources for school counselors.
Have a great school year,
Brandi Hopkins
President
Who We Are
| President | Brandi Hopkins |
| Past President | Christa Narus |
| President Elect | Vacant – Accepting Applications |
| President Emeritus | Barbara Ackermann |
| Treasurer | Caroline Stuke |
| Secretary | Avery Reisig |
| Membership Chairpersons | Kristen Domeishel & Martha Tuthill |
| Scholarship Chairperson | Kathleen Sutton |
| Consultant to the Executive Board | Barbara Ackermann |
| College Fair Co-Chairs | Philip Antz, Caroline Stuke – Fall Joe Garvey, Caroline Stuke – Spring |
| College Tour | Brandi Hopkins, Julie Peterson, Jane Hayden |
| Trustees | Erin DaSilva, Julie Petersen, Lisa Simonetti, Veronica Stelzer |
| Newsletter & Public Relations/Historian | Tom Rabbitt |
History
For over 50 years, East End Counselors Association (EECA) has provided professional development opportunities and leadership for secondary and primary school counselors, college admissions counselors, school administrators, and mental health counselors. Through a variety of events and activities, the association achieves its primary goal of professional development and networking to its membership.
Among EECA’s annual initiatives are the Fall and Spring College Fairs; Financial Aid Night; Spring College Tour; and our student scholarship awards. Additionally, EECA sponsors annual college, career and mental health workshops not only for its professional constituency. We annually recognize the outstanding achievements of counselors with our Counselor of the Year Award and the Rising Star Award.
While these professional endeavors have long been the focus of the EECA, a mention must be made of the memorable social networking activities that we have hosted through the years: the End-of-the-Year Windmill Meetings on the property of the former Southampton College (currently SUNY Stony Brook Southampton); our annual Holiday Meetings, hosted by colleges and universities; and the annual Secretaries Luncheon, honoring the work and commitment of our departments’ secretaries. In 2019 the EECA celebrates 60 years in existence.
