Felice Solomon, Director of Guidance, recently introduced four new counselors to the Plainview-Old Bethpage School District.

Jessica Baker and Jennifer Block are counselors at Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School. Danielle Caroleo is a seventh-grade counselor at Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School and Gilda Candela is a sixth grade counselor at POB Middle School, who is substituting for Tracey Nachamie, who is on maternity leave.

Jessica Baker is beginning her second year as a guidance counselor at POBJFKHS. She comes to the district with experience working as a college administrator as well as a private school counselor. Baker is thrilled to be able to share her knowledge and expertise with the students and parents of POBJFK.

Baker graduated from Hofstra University with a BA in psychology and a minor in communications. She received her MS in counseling from C.W. Post. Mrs. Baker likes to stay active in her career and does so as a member of professional organizations such as Nassau Counselors Association and the American School Counselors Association.

Danielle Caroleo is beginning her first full year at POB Middle School as a seventh-grade counselor. Caroleo came to Plainview-Old Bethpage in January 2003. Although new to the Plainview-Old Bethpage School District, Caroleo has previously worked as a middle school counselor in New Haven, Connecticut and New York City.

Caroleo graduated from St. John's University with a BA in government politics and a minor in social work. She received her Master of Science degree in counseling from CW Post.

Caroleo enjoys working with kids of all ages and in her free time volunteers as a mentor to troubled teens with Long Island Youth for Guidance. Miss Caroleo is very excited to be a part of the POBMS team and in helping to make a difference in the world of a child.

Gilda (Jill) Candela has been a guidance counselor for 22 years and an elementary classroom teacher for 10 years before that. Although she is officially retired, Candela enjoys her career so much that she just couldn't pass up the chance to assist POB School District when the need arose. Last year she was split between POBJFK High School and POB Middle School and this year she is a sixth-grade counselor at POB Middle School full-time filling in for Tracey Nachamie while on maternity leave.

Candela received her BS in psychology and elementary education at Hofstra University and her Master of Science in guidance and school counseling at Queens College of the City of NY. Candela runs a women's group and teaches a course in encouraging self-esteem in the classroom. "There is always enough energy to do the things you love......as long as you get enough sleep."

The newest addition to the Plainview-Old Bethpage High School Guidance Department is Jennifer Block. Block attended the University at Buffalo where she received a Bachelor's Degree in sociology with a minor in management. She is a certified school counselor with a Master's Degree from Hofstra University. She has worked as a school counselor for five years, most recently at West Babylon High School.

In her free time, Block enjoys traveling, most recently returning from a summer trip to Israel. She is looking forward to meeting her students and their parents.