Nicholas Murray Butler School No. 23

Mr. Alfred Aguilar

Music Teacher

Alfred Aguilar has been a member of the Elizabeth Public Schools community since 2000 and is currently a music teacher at Nicholas Murray Butler School No. 23.

Ms. Chantel Naomi Hernandez

School Counselor

As much as I loved teaching, what I felt most passionate about during my years as an educator were the more nuanced moments I got to spend with my students… listening to them, guiding them, and navigating them through to the other side of a conflict. I knew I had to follow my heart and orient myself into the best position to support students as much as possible, so I went back to school to become a school counselor. I genuinely feel called to do this work.

There isn’t a “hat” that I don’t wear in my position as school counselor. My responsibilities include any and everything within my wheelhouse to support students. This ranges from running data reports on student grades, scheduling parent meetings, meeting with individual students to address their academic and social/emotional needs, meeting with groups to mediate conflicts, and meeting with teachers to support them in all of the above. I am a member of several of our school’s committees and I’m always involved in planning initiatives to celebrate our students’ successes. I believe the connections that I have cultivated with my students, parents, and fellow staff have made a positive impact on our school community. My students know that my counseling office is a safe space, and that they can come to me whether it’s for a band-aid, a snack, or a sympathetic ear. My genuine passion for all I do is perhaps what resonates with others.