This was previously published in our February 2026 issue.
While school can take a toll on students’ mental health, a new addition to the Emmaus High School staff is here to help. As of January, school therapist Carolina Stern has been welcomed to the EHS community through a grant funded by the Lehigh County’s Commissioners office. As of now, the grant allows Stern to serve in her role at EHS through the end of December.
Stern joins EHS from Valley Youth House in Bethlehem, where she has been a school based counselor since her hire in 2023. Valley Youth house is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the needs of children and young adults in order to help them achieve their best possible futures. The organization provides housing assistance, counseling, and educational support to those in need.
Prior to her position at Valley Youth House, Stern had worked in outpatient therapy. She has worked at seven other schools in her time with Valley Youth House. Stern’s roles in these schools have varied from educational and behavioral work to mental health support.
Director of Educational Alternatives in the EPSD Jennifer Carolla worked with Valley Youth House to secure the grant for EHS. Carolla believes the existing relationship between East Penn School District and Valley Youth House was crucial.
“Five of our seven elementary buildings have a grant that we are working with Valley Youth House on,” Carolla said. Principal Beth Guarriello believes the
grant and its programs have the capacity to be beneficial for the school due to the opportunity they provide at no cost to students or families. “Because it’s a grant funded program, parents don’t have to pay for it… It’s here at the school, and nobody has to drive or worry about scheduling appointments or anything like that,” Guarriello said.
Prior to Stern’s addition, EHS had nine counselors available to students for assistance. Stern’s support will differ from these counselors by assisting students in her caseload who need more in-depth and long-term care. Stern will counsel students in the Violence Prevention Program, using the Too Good For Violence and Drugs and the Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Trauma in Schools curricula.
“Through this program, I am able to learn what each student referred to the program needs and offer them mental health support that is available to them at no cost and during the school day,” Stern said.
Stern wants students to know her counseling sessions are a safe and comfortable space for students to grow.
“I truly care about their well-being and will be here to support them in any way that is truly beneficial to them…” Stern said. “They can always be honest with me in regards to what is helpful and what is not.”
Principal Guarriello believes Stern can help students form better decision making and reflection skills. She hopes that with Stern’s help, students will be
able to be more independent in their thought processes.
“I think it can only help,” Guariello said, “I mean, to have another person where our kids can go to establish a relationship, create a trusted, safe place to be open and vulnerable and to get help.”
Additional Reporting by Carter Teti and Kritha Bharath.
