Kristina Berynets is the Associate Program Director for the Masters of Education in School Counselling program at City University in Canada. She has been an educator teaching in various contexts for the past 15 years, supporting students as scholar-practitioner-advocates, and building a strong community of practice. Leaning on her multicultural background and a lived experience of colonization and coloniality, she is passionate about decolonizing pedagogical practice as well as approaches to inquiry and writing. She is currently a PhD Candidate at Simon Fraser University.
Lisa Porter is an Associate Program Director and instructor for the Masters of Education in School Counselling program at City University in Canada, and a doctoral candidate in Counselling and Psychotherapy. With nearly 30 years in BC and Alberta's public schools, she brings a strong commitment to practical, student-centred counselling and has mentored many future school counsellors. She believes deeply in the transformative power of counselling and the essential role school counsellors play as advocates and leaders in our schools and communities. Lisa continues to support the public school system through her work as a conflict mediator and remediation facilitator, applying a decolonial lens to conflict resolution and restoration, as well as school counselling.
Deanna C. C. Peluso is a Principal Faculty Member, and Graduate Supervisor for the Masters of Education in School Counselling program and Masters of Arts in Counselling program at City University in Canada. With over two decades of experience in psychology, education, and research, her work centres on lifelong learning, reflective practice, and multimodal, culturally responsive approaches to teaching and inquiry. She is passionate about supporting students in developing diverse and transformative ways of engaging with research and school counselling practices.
Maria Stella is a Program Director for the Masters of Education in School Counselling program at City University in Canada. A registered clinical counsellor specializing in somatic trauma-informed practices, she brings a relational, holistic approach to counselling education. Her work bridges academic and relational practice, with a focus on emotional regulation, self-care, and embodied leadership in the service of meaningful student and faculty growth.