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EDUCATOR* AUTHOR* COUNSELOR*

 

PERSONAL

Brett lives in Ocean County, New Jersey, with his wife of twenty-seven years, Darla, and his children Billy, 24, and Samantha, 19. Brett has had previous experience as a Licensed Foster Parent. 

Additionally, he has volunteered as a Human Services Secretary for the Salvation Army, The American Red Cross, as an Emergency Medical Technician for local volunteer emergency medical services, served on his local school board, Family Promise for the Homeless, and Ocean County CASA.

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EDUCATIONAL

He holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, PA, and a Master's Degree in Family Therapy from Friends University in Wichita, KS as well as post-degree work and certification in School Social Work from Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ and in Educational Leadership and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from American College of Education, Indianapolis, IN. Brett is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and State Certified as a School Social Worker.

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EXPERIENCE

Brett has worked as a School Social Worker/Counselor for the last twenty-two years and is an adjunct instructor at Rutgers University and Rutgers Health in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Stockton University in Pomona, NJ.  Additionally, over the last twenty-four years, he has been licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice, community mental health, and substance abuse settings.  Novick has supervised family counseling, school counseling, and centers for abused and neglected children and adults with developmental disabilities as well as seniors with mental health issues. 

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PUBLICATIONS

He has also authored national and international articles in the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Autism Parenting, National Education Digest, NJEA Review, National Association of Special Education Teachers, NASSP Principal Leadership, Better Mental Health, and ASCD Educational Leadership Magazines. He has authored four books on education entitled Parents and Teachers Working Together and The Likeable, Effective, and Productive Educator, The Balanced Child: Teaching Children the Gift of Practical Social Skills, as well as Beyond the Behavior Contract: A Practical Approach to Dealing with Challenging Student Behaviors each traditionally published by Rowman and Littlefield Publishers as well as a children’s book entitled Brain Bully: Standing Up to Anxiety & Worry traditionally published by Childswork/Childsplay.  Additionally, he had traditionally published two self-help books entitled: Don't Marry a Lemon:  A Marriage Therapist's Guide to Finding the Right Spouse and Crappy to Happy: A Practical Guide to Happiness; both published by Train of Thought Press.  Three children's/SEL games have also been created under the Brain Bully series

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AWARDS & HONORS

He has been humbled by numerous awards for his work in education, inclusive education, counseling, character education, and human rights.  Including NJEA Martin Luther King Jr. Human and Civil Rights Award, NJSCA Ocean County School Counselor of the Year Award, the Ocean County Mental Health Advocate Award,  NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities Community Award, NJ DOE Holocaust Memorial Hela Young Award, NJ DOE Inclusive Educator of the Year & Exemplary Educator Awards, NJSCA Human Rights Advocate Award, ETS/Kids Bridge Character Educator of the Year Award, Freemasons Educator of the Year and U.S. Congressional Recognition for Community Service as well as the NJ State Governor's Office Jefferson Award for Public Service, and the American College of Education Distinguished Graduate Awards.