Leadership

Margo Adelsberg serves as the Clinical Director of Sage Alliance, Rochelle Park. Margo received her bachelor's degree in social work from Kean University, and a master's degree in social work from New York University. She is a New Jersey Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and has worked exclusively with children, adolescents, and their families for over 25 years. 

Prior to joining the leadership team, Margo served as a lead therapist at Sage Alliance Boonton. Margo has extensive clinical experience working in an inpatient crisis unit at a regional hospital, in an outpatient mental health agency, as well as in elementary and middle public school education settings.

Margo strongly supports and fosters the mission statement of Sage Alliance and believes the therapeutic milieu offered at Sage Alliance assists in facilitating students' social, emotional, and academic growth. Margo feels that the relationships established within the Sage Alliance community help students develop connections and ultimately fosters student success. These relationships then promote a culture of curiosity and interconnections. Margo practices with an eclectic approach and meets students where they are in their explorations and journey.

In addition to her Clinical Director role, Margo is often seen in the hallways, cooking various culinary creations with the students, and planning community activities that cultivates a vibrant school culture. 

Margo Adelsberg, LCSW

Clinical Director

Lauren began her career in education with a BA in Elementary Education from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She quickly discovered her passion for helping students with mental health and personal development, which led her to earn a M.Ed in Educational Psychology from the University of Utah, specializing in College and Career Readiness. Lauren then served as a high school counselor, supporting students in academics, social-emotional growth, and college and career planning. She found this role deeply rewarding, as it allowed her to make a meaningful difference in student's lives, but she knew she could have a more significant impact as a school leader. Lauren earned her Ed.D in Learning and Organizational Change from Baylor University, which strengthened her abilities as an educational leader and prepared her to tackle challenges in schools with a fresh perspective. Today, Lauren is committed to improving the educational landscape by fostering environments where students thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.

Lauren Bleggi, Ed.D.

Principal

Dr. DePinto is the District Coordinator of School-Based Mental Health Services for the Ridgewood Public Schools in Ridgewood, NJ. She was honored to be selected as a member of the review committee and contributing author of Chapter 6: Frameworks for Risk Response and Assessment in the recently published New Jersey Comprehensive School-Based Mental Health Guide. Dr. DePinto earned her Doctorate in Clinical Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania School for Social Policy and Practice, a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University, and Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Sociology from Seton Hall University. Additionally, she received a PostMaster's Certificate in Clinical Practice with Adolescents from New York University Silver School of Social Work and has specialized clinical training, including but not exclusive to, Trauma-Informed Care and The Sanctuary Model, Post-Traumatic Stress Management and Psychological First Aid (PFA), as well as Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and Crisis Intervention and Mental Health First Aide.

Prior to her tenure in public education, Dr. DePinto started her social work career in community-based mental health and psychiatric emergency screening. She joined the Ridgewood Public Schools in 2005 as a School Social Worker on the Child Study Team before moving into her clinical school social work role as Crisis Intervention Counselor and most recently, as the first appointed K-12 District Coordinator of School-Based Mental Health Services for the Ridgewood Public Schools in 2019. She is a longstanding member of the NASW and an approved NJ Clinical Social Work Supervisor as well as a member of the School Social Worker Association of America (SSWAA) and the New Jersey Educational Association (NJEA). She holds a NJDOE School Social Work Certificate and is a NJ Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Dr. DePinto also maintains a private psychotherapy practice in northern Bergen County that has been established since 2013.

With nearly 25 years of clinical social work experience, she specializes in supporting the social, emotional, psychological, and educational needs of children, adolescents, and families through integrated evidenced based mental health services in education and school-based mental health scholarship. Her research interests include advances in school-based mental health practices and programming, relationship-based discipline models, the role of neuroscience in understanding human relationships and its impact on development and learning, secure base functioning in the classroom, and examining the practical application of attachment theory as a framework for understanding and interpreting student and staff behavior in addressing barriers to learning, as well as therapist attachment narratives and its impact on therapeutic outcomes. Dr. DePinto is dedicated to clinical social work education and has developed and facilitated numerous professional development training courses for RPS school administration and staff and had the honor of authoring and co-facilitating a nationally recognized presentation entitled, "Creating a House that Smiles: Optimizing School Culture and Climate Through Relationship-Based Practices" alongside Basil Pizzuto at the 2019 Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health in Austin, Tx. and again, at the Virtual 25th Annual School Mental Health Conference in October 2020 in addition to a presentation supporting her own doctoral research entitled, "The Attuned School Clinician: Attachment-Based Clinical Practice in Schools."

Lauren DePinto

Clinical Director

Robert Friedland has been the Principal at Sage Day in Rochelle Park since 2013. He began his educational career at the University of Connecticut, where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics. After earning his master's degree in secondary education with a concentration in mathematics, Robert began teaching math at the English High School in Boston, Massachusetts in 2001. In 2003, he began teaching math at Sage Day, teaching all levels from algebra to calculus. During his ten years in the teacher role, Robert also provided instruction in various electives, including culinary arts, band and physical education.

After completing his master's degree in educational leadership at Montclair State University, Robert served as an Instructional Supervisor at Sage Day. In this capacity, he coached new and veteran staff, in addition to coordinating master scheduling. In 2013, he began his tenure as Principal, supervising an educational staff and co-supervising a clinical staff.

With more than 20 years in the therapeutic education setting, Robert has amassed a wealth of experience and countless strategies to help support students with varying needs. He has been a dedicated advocate for services for students in need. His passion is found in providing students with the necessary soft skills and tools in order to best succeed beyond high school.

Robert Friedland, M. Ed.

Principal

John Immerman has served as the principal of Sage Day Lower and Middle School since 2011. John has a track record for establishing meaningful benchmarks with respect to high academic achievement and the belief that all learners can be successful.

During his tenure at Sage Day, John has crafted programs that empower student learning through meaningful strategies that address the whole child and strives to incorporate positive discipline and strong social emotional values into the Sage Day School community. John has an undergraduate degree from The George Washington University with a major in biology and psychology, a master's degree in human growth and development from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a professional development certificate in educational leadership from Montclair State University.

John is a student-centered administrator with extensive experience working with middle and high school students. John's career has spanned more then 40 years, serving as a teacher, school administrator and recreational consultant. John has devoted significant time, both personally and professionally, working with students who have special needs.

John and his wife Kathie live in Chatham, New Jersey, and have one son Michael, who resides in Gladstone, Missouri.

John Immerman, MA

Principal

Dr. David Leigh is the Principal at New Alliance Academy in Paramus, New Jersey. Dr. Leigh holds a B.A. in psychology from S.U.N.Y at Stony Brook, a master’s degree in Educational Psychology and Certification as a School Psychologist from Montclair State University, and doctorate from the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology of Rutgers’s University. Dr. Leigh earned his principal’s certificate from the Foundation for Education Administration.

With 30 years of experience as a principal, director of special services, and school psychologist, Dr. Leigh has a wide range of experience in working with students who have experienced social, emotional and behavioral challenges that have substantially impacted learning. Prior to joining the New Alliance team, Dr. Leigh focused on developing tiered interventions and programs that would support students so that they were better able to access educational opportunities and maximize potential for learning. Since joining New Alliance Academy, Dr. Leigh has enjoyed working with staff to foster an environment that meets students where they are emotionally and academically challenged and allows them to reconnect to a belief in themselves as having potential to be productive, capable and contributing members of their school and home communities.

In addition to working as an educator, Dr. Leigh has worked for the past two decades as a child and adolescent psychologist offering a cognitive-behavioral approach to mental health issues. Dr. Leigh works closely with parents to understand the nature of the condition that is impacting the functional behavior of the client, while establishing targeted goals that require specific, practical interventions.

David Leigh, Psy. D.

Principal

Samantha (Sam) Messer is the Regional Vice President for Sage Alliance and Thrive Alliance. Sam brings over twenty-five years of experience in the education field. Throughout her career, she has taught elementary, middle and high school and has worked as a school-based administrator as well as a district administrator, and a school board president. Sam has worked in a range of schools including private schools, charter schools and urban and suburban schools. She founded a high school for students with special needs in New York and built autism programs for students in Newark. Sam served as the Senior Director of Student Support Services for Uncommon Schools, leading special education in 52 schools across New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. When Sam served as the Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction in Newark Public Schools, she was responsible for ensuring the success of Newark’s Alternative High Schools. Prior to joining New Story, Sam was the responsible for running 14 schools in Newark, serving over 6,500 students. Sam holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in Secondary Social Studies Education from New York University, a certificate in Educational Technology from Columbia University, and a master’s degree in Education Policy and Management from Harvard University. Sam holds a New Jersey Superintendent’s license.

Samantha Messer

Vice President, Operations

Dr. Tara Nelson serves as the Director of Clinical Services of Sage Alliance, New York City. Dr. Nelson earned her Ph.D. in Social Work from Yeshiva University, a Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing from Howard University. She is a New York City Licensed Social Worker and has worked with individuals and families with complex trauma and severe mental health disorders in various settings for over 19 years.

Prior to joining the leadership team at Sage Alliance, Dr. Nelson served as a psychotherapist at Montefiore Medical Center Outpatient Clinic for seven years. She has extensive clinical experience working with the most vulnerable populations, in an outpatient clinic, shelter settings, and in outpatient mental health agencies in New York City.

Dr. Nelson is passionate about mental health and is dedicated to serving the families of Sage Alliance New York City. She is a member of the Scholars Network on Masculinity and the Well-Being of African American Men at the University of Michigan and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Her research interests include barriers Black men face when seeking mental health services. She is also interested in research that impacts the mental health of children and families.

Tara Nelson, PhD, LMSW

Director of Clinical Services

Elizabeth Sardinsky received her B.A. from Rutgers University with a double major in Psychology and American Studies.  She began her career as a Project Manager, and stayed in that role for eight years.  Elizabeth always felt a pull for a more meaningful path, and that is when she decided to earn her Master’s degree in Counseling with a concentration in School Counseling from Montclair State University.

After Internship and Practicum placements in an NJ Option II high school, Elizabeth was able to land her final internship placement with Sage Alliance in Rochelle Park.  After spending 4 months in this placement,  Elizabeth felt she deeply understood the demographic and wanted to continue working with the students in Sage Schools.  Fortunately enough, a position opened up and she was hired on as the College & Career Counselor and Transitions Coordinator for all of the schools under the Sage Alliance umbrella.

In this role Elizabeth is able to work with all students on exploring their passions and help them align those interests with possible career paths.  She does this through individual meetings with students, class presentations, guest speakers, and class trips to higher education institutions.  Elizabeth also works closely with students, parents, districts, and all stakeholders in order to assure a smooth transition from high school to whatever path comes next.  Sage’s warm and welcoming environment is carried throughout all of the schools and allows seamless collaboration between Elizabeth and all admin, teachers, and therapists.

Elizabeth Sardinsky, MA

College and Career Counselor

Corie Stone holds a bachelor’s degree in English Education from Ithaca College and a master’s degree in English from Southern Connecticut State University. After teaching for eight years, Corie developed a passion for working with teachers as well as students, so she decided to pursue a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University. Corie has also completed the necessary coursework to earn her certification as a Teacher of Students with Disabilities from New Jersey City University.

Following her passion for learning and reading, Corie began her career in education as a high school English teacher in Westbrook, Connecticut. After relocating to New Jersey, Corie felt incredibly fortunate to have found and become a part of Sage Day Schools. At Sage Day, Corie sought opportunities to broaden her impact on the educational community through mentoring new teachers and serving as the English Department Head. In 2013, Corie took on the role as the Instructional Supervisor before transitioning to her current role as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction in 2016. In addition to overseeing the development, review, and implementation of curriculum, she also provides professional development support to staff.

Throughout her time at Sage Day, Corie has focused her work on providing students with instruction and experiences that are meaningful, relevant and personalized to the needs of the students. Corie believes strongly in creating an educational environment where students feel empowered, challenged and supported.

Corie Stone, MAT, M.Ed.

Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Dr. Amanda Wagner serves as Clinical Director of New Alliance Academy. Dr. Wagner earned her doctorate in counseling psychology from Saint Elizabeth University, where she wrote her dissertation on the importance of collaborative home-school partnerships to increase the likelihood that all students are provided what they need to succeed. Dr. Wagner understands the importance of a positive school culture and climate and works to promote that within the New Alliance Academy community.

Dr. Wagner is a New Jersey Licensed Professional Counselor and certified school counselor with a master’s degree in counseling psychology that she earned from the College of Saint Elizabeth. Dr. Wagner completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in theater arts from Ramapo College.

Dr. Wagner has extensive clinical experience and has worked with children, adolescents and their families in numerous settings and at varying levels of care. Dr. Wagner is in private practice and uses an integrative ecological approach to psychotherapy. She hopes one day to expand her practice to include equine/assisted therapies and other non-traditional treatment modalities.

Amanda Wagner, Psy. D., LPC

Clinical Director