Student Services Team

Ms. Samantha Best

School Counselor (5th Grade: A-HOM & 6th Grade: A-GAM):

This is Ms. Best’s third year working in East Brunswick. Ms. Best graduated from Muhlenberg College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media and Communications. While working at a Public Relations firm in New York City, Ms. Best thought a lot about her passion for working with children. This sparked her decision to go back to school and pursue a career in School Counseling. Ms. Best has been a Student Assistance Specialist at Lawrence Brook for the last two years but is very excited to be coming back to Hammarskjold! Her counseling journey first began when she interned with Mrs. Schweighardt in the HUES Student Services department while she completed her Master's in Counseling Services from Rider University. In addition to counseling students, Ms. Best loves spending time with her friends, family, and two German Shepherds–Shay and Jax. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, and going to the beach. Ms. Best is very excited to support the students at HUES and help them to have a fun and successful year!

Ms. Elizabeth Stankiewicz

School Counselor (5th Grade: HON-PAT & 6th Grade: GAN-PAS)

Ms. Stankiewicz is excited to start her first year at Hammarskjold Upper Elementary School as school counselor. Ms. Stankiewicz earned her Bachelor’s in Education from Monmouth University where she was able to earn certifications in elementary, art, and special education. She has taught at Central Elementary School from 2014 - 2019. Eager to support more students beyond her classroom, Ms. Stankiewicz returned to school to earn her Master’s in School Counseling at Seton Hall University in 2020.  

She then spent the last 5 years at Churchill Junior High School as a school counselor for 8th and 9th graders, supporting students' academic and social/emotional needs. Currently, she lives in East Brunswick with her fiance and their three dogs: A German Shorthaired Pointer, Kenzie, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, Sarabi, and a Siberian Husky, Malakai. Together they enjoy hiking, camping, and anything else the great outdoors has to offer. Ms. Stankiewicz has a passion for working with students and supporting their every need, allowing them to reach beyond their potential and be successful students at HUES.

Mrs. Stephanie Schweighardt

School Counselor (5th Grade : PAU-Z & 6th Grade: PAT-Z):

This is Stephanie Schweighardt's 24th year as a school counselor in East Brunswick. Stephanie graduated from Rowan University with her Bachelors in Arts and a degree in Special Education. She began her career as a Special Education teacher and taught 4th and 6th grade for about 2 years. Stephanie has always known she wanted to go back to school, and advance her career in other areas of education. Continuing in education and becoming a school counselor was what she had her heart set on!  Stephanie earned her masters at The College of New Jersey in school counseling.  She is looking forward to supporting and guiding the students into a successful school year!