Simon Gabriella

Dr. Simon Gabriella is an Associate Professor and Head of the Center for Continuing Education in Psychology at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Károli Gáspár Reformed University in Budapest, Hungary. With a distinguished career spanning educational research, mental health development, and teacher mentoring, she has established herself as a leading expert in educational psychology and school-based mental health programs.

Dr. Simon earned her PhD in Educational Science from ELTE (Eötvös Loránd University) in 2018, with a dissertation titled "Attitudinal components of mentoring competencies." Her academic journey began with dual MA degrees from ELTE BTK (Faculty of Humanities): a degree in English Language Teaching (1998) and another in Hungarian Language and Literature Teaching (1986). She has also completed specialized qualifications including a Supervisor certification (2021), Teacher's Professional Exam (2007), and Mental Health Professional certification (2005) from Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church.

Dr. Simon's research focuses on critical areas at the intersection of education and mental health. Her work explores mental hygiene and mental health development in school settings, online counseling approaches, and innovative programs for beginning teachers. She has pioneered research on mentoring competencies and has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between parental involvement and student performance. Her work with national competency assessment data has provided valuable insights into educational equity and the impact of socioeconomic factors on learning outcomes. Through her leadership in projects like the "Innovations in Teacher Training and Public Education Research Group" (2020-2022) and the "National Competency Assessment Research Group," she has shaped educational policy and practice in Hungary.

Analysis of Dr. Simon's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on school-based mental health initiatives, teacher mentoring frameworks, and educational assessment. Her 2024 article "Establishing a Dynamic-Transitional Model of Personal Support in Mentoring" represents the latest evolution of her theoretical work on mentorship. The 2023 publications on school mental hygiene demonstrate her ongoing commitment to developing practical mental health frameworks for educational settings. Her extensive work with national assessment data (2019) showcases her methodological expertise in educational research and her dedication to evidence-based educational improvement.

• Béla Buda Award (2023) from KRE BTK

Dr. Simon has led and participated in numerous significant research projects including the "Support for institutions at risk of student dropout" (EFOP-3.1.5-16-2016-00001, 2018-2020), "Support for teacher training" (TÁMOP 3.1.5/12-2012-0001, 2013-2015), and "Development of educational program packages" (HEFOP 3.1.4, 2005-2008). Her work on the National Competency Assessment Research Group (2018) has been particularly influential in shaping educational assessment practices in Hungary.

As Head of the Center for Continuing Education in Psychology, Dr. Simon oversees specialized training programs including the Online Mental Health Counseling specialization course. She has been instrumental in developing mentorship frameworks for beginning teachers and has contributed significantly to the integration of mental health perspectives into educational practice through her work with the Hungarian Mental Health Association and other professional organizations.