Meet the 2026-2027 Youth Mental Health Education Fellows!

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We were astounded by the breadth of experience, passion, and empathy displayed by the applicants of our very first Youth Mental Health Education Fellowship. After a grueling and difficult decision process, we could not be more thrilled to announce the very first cohort of ten fellows, spanning subject-specific classrooms to district-wide counseling support in high school settings across the United States. 8 out of 10 fellows work in Title I schools, and all fellows give us hope for the future generations. Through them, we know there are leaders nationwide sharing their wisdom, learning journeys, and insights, nurturing changemakers and trailblazers after their own star-forged paths!

Now, read on to find out more about this incredible cohort, in no particular order:

Matthew Colley

Public Service Pathway / John O'Connell High School / SFUSD

Matt Colley teaches in the Public Service Pathway at John O'Connell High School in San Francisco. He teaches a mental health and wellness unit that focuses on understanding the root causes of mental health challenges for teens and supporting students to take action and share what they learned to improve their school community. The unit also aims to expose students to various career paths in the mental health field. When he is not teaching, Matt enjoys spending time with his family and surfing.

"I want my students to learn how to empower themselves and others to improve the overall mental wellbeing of their community."

Kaitlyn Marinelli

HPHS

Kaitlyn Marinelli is an English teacher and grade level lead at Hartford Public High School in Hartford, CT where she has worked with multiple grade levels for twelve years. In December 2025 she earned her CAGS in School Counseling and is working to transition to a school counselor role in the near future. Her favorite part of her work is advising the women's leadership group she created at her school, OWLS, and collaborating with other grade level leads to build supports for all students. Outside of school she loves hiking with her husband and dog, baking, and finding the best ice cream!

"I want students to feel supported, seen, and have access to everyday strategies and tools to help them thrive."

Christopher Chavez-Martires

DCAC College Advisor

Christopher Chavez-Martires is a college advisor that supports Rancho Dominguez Prep in Long Beach, California. Chris is an alumnus of the school he works for, and he works with the 9-12 grade class that are part of the Early Academic Outreach Program that is ran through UCLA. He is proud to be serving the very same school who raised him alongside the counselor who changed his life. When not working, he enjoys playing video games and is currently trying to learn how to draw!

"I want to empower my students by supporting students in their mental health, and to destigmatize looking for mental health services when in need of them!"

Dr. Shauntae Lockett-Lewis

District Coordinator of Student Services

Dr. Shauntae Lockett-Lewis is the Coordinator of Student Services for Madison County Schools, Alabama's seventh-largest school district, where she supports more than 20,000 students, including over 5,000 high school students. Her work centers on improving student well-being through equitable discipline, mental health supports, restorative practices, and positive school climate. As a former school leader and teacher, Dr. Lockett-Lewis believes thriving schools begin by ensuring adolescents feel seen, supported, and connected while empowering educators with practical, relationship-centered strategies that build trust, strengthen school culture, and create environments where every student can succeed.

"I want our students to gain the knowledge, confidence, and emotional resilience to prioritize their mental health, build healthy relationships, seek support when needed, and know that they are valued and capable of achieving their goals."

Peter Elliott

Lake Creek Academy

Peter, a 25-year teaching veteran, is a Humanities teacher at Lake Creek Academy in Conroe, Texas, where he has taught adolescents since the school's 2025 opening. A published contributor to NCTE's English Journal, he’s presenting on Dungeons & Dragons as social-emotional pedagogy at NCTE's annual convention this fall. He runs a D&D club that functions as a collaborative storytelling environment, social-emotional learning space, and place of therapeutic play. Peter’s particularly interested in how literature, drama, and play help adolescents talk about mental health and know themselves better. He has run a marathon and sometimes thinks about doing it again.

"I hope that every student discovers that they have something to say and the courage to say it."

Oseia Seaforth

Brooklyn NY High School

Oseia Seaforth is a dedicated school counselor and educational leader with over seven years of experience supporting the academic, social-emotional, and college and career development of high school students. She currently serves as a Guidance Counselor in Brooklyn, New York, Oseia is passionate about fostering equitable learning environments where students thrive, She leads initiatives that promote student inclusion, mentorship, and community engagement, including her very own after school program “Sisterhood in the City”. Outside of school she is an avid traveler and fitness enthusiast.

"I would like my students to feel mentally liberated and in flow!"

Yesenia Muñoz

Santa Barbara Unified School District

Yesenia Muñoz is an educator and registered nurse currently teaching at Santa Barbara Unified School District. Before transitioning into education, Yesenia worked as a registered nurse in a Neurology/Urology Step-Down Unit and in Home Health. She has been teaching at the secondary school level since 2021. Yesenia is passionate about promoting mental health in schools by implementing evidence-based strategies that foster student well-being. She also hopes to collaborate closely with school mental health clinicians to increase access to services and ensure that more students receive the support they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally

"I want my students to learn practical, evidence-based mental health strategies they can use to support their well-being, build resilience, and create a positive classroom environment."

Brittany Sinitch

The Unbreakable Organization

Brittany is the founder of The Unbreakable Organization, where she leads programming and strategic initiatives focused on youth mental health, resilience, and community building. She brings expertise in education and program development, with a passion for creating accessible, student-centered mental health resources. Brittany taught students in grades 6-12 and has served as a guest lecturer at Florida State University and Princeton University. Through her work, Brittany is committed to ensuring every young person has access to the support, connection, and resources they need to thrive. Outside of her work, she enjoys musical theatre, baking sourdough, and soaking up every moment watching her daughter grow.

"I hope the students we work with leave empowered to create communities where every young person feels seen, supported, and comfortable reaching out for help when they need it."

Kaley Brown

MSAD #54

Kaley Brown is a social studies teacher at Skowhegan Area High School in Skowhegan, Maine, where she teaches Dual-Enrolled U.S. History and Psychology. She is passionate about creating a classroom where students feel challenged, supported, and genuinely seen, believing that meaningful relationships are just as important as meaningful learning. She advises Your Mind Matters, a student-led mental health group, and Student Council, helping students build leadership skills while fostering a positive school community. Outside of school, she enjoys hiking, spending time by the water, watching and playing basketball, and exploring the outdoors with family and friends.

"Above all, I hope my students leave this year believing that they matter--that they are capable of overcoming challenges, that they never have to face life's struggles alone, and that kindness, empathy, and taking care of themselves and others are just as important as anything they learn in my classroom"

Katelin Urgese

Brunswick High School

Katelin Urgese is the Dean of Student Support and Engagement at Brunswick High School in Brunswick, Maine. She is starting her 5th year in the BHS community. Prior to working in Brunswick she was Director of Student Services, Aspirations Coordinator, and a school counselor at Lewiston High School in Maine. Through her work with students, families, and fellow educators, Katelin has supported a diverse student body with a variety of needs and goals, be they academic or personal. Katelin has focused much of her work on the relationships fostered within a school community, building on the value of those relationships to support the individuals within that community.

"I would like to learn about ways we can support students and educators in authentic social emotional learning in school."

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ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP

The Letters to Strangers Youth Mental Health Education Fellowship selects ten outstanding educators in American high school settings each year, providing a year-long cohort experience with $1000 USD in implementation stipend per fellow, 15 hours of certified Professional Development, and most importantly, a complete clinically-validated curriculum package with monthly expert sessions to enable mental health education and training for young people and the teachers, counselors, and administrators who support them.

The 2026 Fellowship received almost 200 applications. 26% of applicants represented Title I schools and 10% came from tribal or rural schools. 61% have never had any formal mental health training.

To learn about the Letters to Strangers Youth Mental Health Education Fellowship, please check out this page here.