Palmyra senior tells State Board school-based mental health, counselors and peer programs reduce absenteeism

Anna Paskowitz, a senior at Palmyra High School in Burlington County, told the New Jersey State Board of Education on Feb. 25 that longstanding stigma around mental health is keeping students from using school-based supports and contributing to absenteeism.

"One of the most important ways to help students' mental health is by talking about it," Paskowitz said during public testimony, urging schools to normalize conversations, expand counseling access and adopt proactive social-emotional learning and peer-led workshops.

Paskowitz highlighted several district-level steps she said have helped at her school, including workshops, peer initiatives and the use of therapy dogs to provide emotional relief during high-stress periods. She cited national statistics she said show mental-health challenges among adolescents and linked improved supports to better attendance and learning.

Commissioner Kevin Damer and multiple board members thanked Paskowitz and said her testimony reinforced departmental work connecting mental health and attendance. Board members noted New Jersey has taken steps during and since the COVID-19 era to address chronic absenteeism and to expand counseling and social-emotional learning supports.

The board did not take any formal action in response to the testimony; Paskowitz’s remarks were part of a larger public-testimony segment the board scheduled on chapter 8 (standards and assessment). The department reiterated it is continuing to provide guidance and training for districts on social-emotional programming and counselor supports.