Denise is passionate about the holistic perspective of development for each child. She believes education is half of the equation in order for children to develop intellectually, emotionally, and physically and achieve their hopes and aspirations. She feels extremely privileged to collaborate with the Board of Education in Paterson and to be working with such amazing children and families.

I am licensed as a Psychologist in several states including New Jersey and New York, with over 20 years of direct counseling and therapeutic experience with individuals of all ages and families. In addition to continuing my therapeutic services in vocational and individual counseling, I administer psychological evaluations and vocational assessments. In order to keep myself abreast of the most current academic advances in the field of psychology, I serve as an Adjunct Faculty Member in higher education in New York City and supervise graduate level Mental Health Counseling students.

I graduated from McGill University with a concentration in Social Entrepreneurship. I have always been passionate about building communities and supplying them with the tools needed to thrive. I have an extensive background in nonprofits and political campaigns—both of which harnessed my skills in community engagement, political activism, and campaign management. As operations manager, I ensure that our health centers run smoothly, efficiently, and in compliance with regulations. I do this job with compassion and genuine care for our students in need.

Dr. Gloria Mejia, MD, the Director of Pediatric Services at FSCS, has been servicing our Paterson community for over 20 Years and counting. Dr. Mejía is a general physician who graduated from the University of Cartagena (Colombia) in 1985; she obtained her pediatric degree at the Bronx Lebanon Hospital -Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. Dr. Mejía takes great joy and responsibility for caring for children. Her nurturing persona represents the qualities any parent would want caring for their children. She considers herself a lifelong learner. Not only has she received advanced medical training in pediatrics, but continually pursues ongoing education to stay abreast of the latest in child health care.