Meet Our Student Counseling Services Team

James O'Hara joined as Director of School Counseling in Mahwah in 2025.  Mr. O'Hara has 18 years of experience as a School Counselor and Director of School Counseling.  Before coming to Mahwah, Mr. O'Hara served as a School Counselor and Director of School Counseling in the Rye City School District in Rye, NY.  Prior to that, Mr. O'Hara served as Guidance Counselor and College Counselor at Xavier High School in Manhattan.  He earned a bachelor's degree from The College of New Jersey and a Master's in School Counseling from Manhattan College.  He is a member of the American School Counselor Association, National Association of College Admissions Counselors, the Bergen County School Counselors Association.

James is passionate about the field of school counseling and the transformative role that educators can play in the lives of students.  He is excited to join a supportive group of professionals in the Mahwah Schools.  

email:  johara@mahwah.k12.nj.us 

Phone:  201-762-2312

Before coming to Mahwah, Mrs. Beatty was a college and career specialist at Chatham High School and prior to that worked in Human Resources at KPMG in Montvale.  She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Marist College and a Master of Arts in School Counseling from Montclair State University.   She is a member of the New Jersey Association of College Admissions Counselors, National Association of College Admissions Counselors, and the Bergen County School Counselors Association.

Contact: mbeatty@mahwah.k12.nj.us Telephone: 201-762-2316

My name is Brian Gregson and I am the new school counselor at Mahwah High School. I am so happy to be joining the Mahwah family and have heard such wonderful things about the school, as well as the community, and am excited to be a part of it. 

I grew up in Waldwick, NJ and attended Eastern Christian High School. After graduating, I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Rutgers University. I then went on to receive my Master of Arts degree in counselor education with a certificate in prek-12 School Counseling at The George Washington University. My most recent experience has been working as a school counselor at Delran Intermediate School, about 20 minutes outside of Philadelphia.

Rayhan Jalil has been a School Counselor at Mahwah High School since 2012. Before coming to Mahwah, Mr. Jalil worked for Montclair High School as a Social Studies teacher.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and his Master of Arts in School Counseling from Montclair State University.

Contact: rjalil@mahwah.k12.nj.us; Telephone: 201-762-2314

Stacy Mandel has been a School Counselor at Mahwah High School since 2006. Before coming to Mahwah, Mrs. Mandel worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers, Electronic Brokerage Systems (EBS) and Stern’s Department Stores in various Human Resources roles.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Business, with a concentration in Marketing and Management Information Systems from the University at Albany, Master of Science in School Counseling from Long Island University and her Director certificate from Montclair State University.   She is a member of the Bergen County School Counselors Association.

Contact: smandel@mahwah.k12.nj.us; Telephone: 201-762-2317

Joan Stewart has been the Student Assistance Counselor at Mahwah High School since 2005. Before coming to Mahwah, Mrs. Stewart worked as the SAC at Glen Rock High School and Bergen Catholic High School.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in both Psychology and Sociology from St. Olaf College and her Master’s Degree in Counseling from Montclair State University with a concentration in Group Therapy.   Mrs. Stewart is a member of The Association of Student Assistance Professionals as well as Bergen County Association of Student Assistance Professionals. She is a certified Student Assistance Coordinator as well as an Active Parenting Specialist. Contact: jstewart@mahwah.k12.nj.us; Telephone: 201-762-2313

Rebekah Cusick has been a School Social Worker for the Mahwah Public School since 2007.  Before coming to Mahwah, Ms. Cusick worked at Essex County Vocational Technical School in Newark, NJ and the High Point School of Bergen County. She earned her Bachelor of Arts at William Paterson University and her Master of Social Work at Fordham University School of Social Services. She has previous experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Comprehensive Behavioral Health and private practice. She also has earned additional credits in Special Education through various institutions including The College of New Jersey.  Ms. Cusick is a member of the New Jersey School Social Workers Association.

Contact: rcusick@mahwah.k12.nj.us; Telephone : 201-762-2288.

Jacqueline D’Angelo has been a Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant for the Mahwah Public School since 2007. Before coming to Mahwah, Mrs. D’Angelo was an LDT-C at Christopher Columbus Middle School in Clifton, NJ. Prior to her position as a LDT-C, Mrs. D’Angelo was an elementary school teacher. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master in Education from William Paterson University. She has also earned additional credits in Special Education through various institutions including The College of New Jersey. Mrs. D’Angelo is a member of the Learning Disabilities Association. Contact:jdangelo@mahwah.k12.nj.us; Telephone:201-762-2286

School Psychologist

Meaghan Tibus joined the Mahwah Public School District in 2025. In June 2025, she graduated with her Masters Degree in School Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Ms. Tibus obtained her School Psychology certification after completing her internship hours at River Dell Regional School District. Prior to her Masters degree, Ms. Tibus earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Rutgers University.

Contact: mtibus@mahwah.k12.nj.us; Telephone: 201-762-2290

Federico Lucas our ESS Coordinator. Mr. Lucas has been a clinician for Effective School Solutions at Mahwah since 2014 and has been with the company since 2012.  Before this, Mr. Lucas was an outpatient clinician providing therapeutic services for children ages 5-18.   He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Monmouth University and a Master’s degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from William Paterson University.

Mr. Lucas enjoys his work with teenagers and believes the combination of emotional support along with academic supervision allows for a great mix in the growing process of a child, both as a student and a person.  His mission is to promote healthy growth, encouraging positivity, resilience and hard work and providing a conducive environment for this.

Contact: flucas@mahwah.k12.nj.us; Telephone: 201-762-2318

Dhara Pandya is a clinician for Effective School Solutions at Mahwah High School. Before coming to Mahwah, Mrs. Pandya served as a Program Coordinator for another high school in Bergen County, NJ. Prior to that, she was a psychiatric partial hospital and intensive outpatient clinician. Mrs. Pandya earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Rutgers University and a Master of Counseling Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mrs. Pandya works closely with families, students, and staff to improve attendance, grades, and behavior through the Effective School Solutions model. Her mission it is to deliver a comprehensive therapeutic program that helps all students and families develop mechanisms to manage stressors and improve quality of life. 

Contact: dpandya@mahwah.k12.nj.us; Telephone: 201-762-2341