MESA Charter High School
Shannon Sarthou is a seasoned clinical social worker currently serving as the Senior Clinical Social Worker and Counseling Department Leader at MESA Charter High School since November 2015. In this role, Shannon provides clinical supervision, oversees the hiring and professional development of counseling staff, and delivers various onsite counseling services. Shannon also champions student leadership in multiple clubs, facilitates staff training on trauma-informed practices, and actively participates in DEI initiatives. Prior to this position, Shannon held several roles at Inwood House, including Senior Teen Choice PREP Group Worker and Assistant Program Manager, specializing in group work, training, and residential program development. Shannon's foundational experience also includes a Clinical Case Manager role at Safe Space NYC, focusing on LGBTQ and homeless youth. Shannon holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from New York University and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.
MESA Charter High School
Math, Engineering, and Science Academy (MESA) Charter High School is a community high school in Bushwick, Brooklyn. We opened our doors on August 19, 2013, and we now have 465 students in grades 9-12. We graduated our first class of seniors in June 2017 and our graduation rate is 92%. Our students come from more than forty different middle schools, including public, parochial, and charter schools. Some are advanced students coming from magnet schools; others are beginning English Language Learners. What they all have in common is a desire to succeed. MESA students come to school every day, ready to work—we have a 95% attendance rate and a 97% punctuality rate, both significantly higher than other high schools in our district! When it comes to regents pass rates, MESA outperforms its peers by a rate of 20-30%!