Laura Shectman
Guidance Counselor
Laura began her career in education as a teacher. During the ten years that she taught science, she also sought out many experiences outside of the classroom. Some of her extracurricular adventures included observing forest monkeys in Kenya through a research fellowship awarded from Earthwatch Institute, learing how to snowboard with students by partnering with the nonprofit organization CHILL, and doing cartwheels alongside students as she worked with a teaching artist from Midori & Friends to lead an after-school Capoeira program. Her love of working with students to increase self-awareness and exploration led her to pursue her master’s degree in school counseling at Queens College. She started her career as a guidance counselor at Queens Community House, where she helped develop the ongoing high school transition program called STEPs (Successful Transition and Empowerment Program). Laura is thrilled to be a part of the MELS community as a guidance counselor and is honored to be part of such a passionate and inspiring team.
