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Guidance Counselor Off To An Enthusiastic Start

By Tanjua Damon

Energy is definitely one thing Newtown Middle School guidance counselor Susan Connelly brings to her new job. A big smile is the welcome students and staff see when they run into her in the office or hallways.

Ms Connelly is new to the Newtown School District, arriving from Torrance, California. She was looking for a job in Fairfield County.

“Newtown grabbed me first,” she said. “It’s a great area with beautiful, wonderful people.”

She is excited about being a member of the Newtown team and is ready to add to the positive atmosphere.

“My ability to work as a team member and to be an agent of change in a school system willing to change,” Ms Connelly said. “I’ve had extensive work in parent support groups and specific student support groups for bereavement and anger management.”

Ms Connelly’s job will consist of many different things including scheduling, Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) preparation, intervention, and contact with parents.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Boston College and has two maters, one from Boston College and the other from Loyola Mary Mount in Los Angeles. Ms Connelly grew up in Fairfield and currently lives there with her four-year-old son.

Ms Connelly was a teacher for nine years at the middle school level and was a special education teacher for preschool children. She has been a guidance counselor for two years.

Middle school is where Ms Connelly finds great pleasure in working with students. Being a guidance counselor allows her to have a great impact on children’s lives.

“I love their humor and unpredictability,” she said. “It’s fun and keeps you guessing. I loved teaching, but as a special education teacher with students who had really intense emotional needs, needed outside help. But as a counselor you can be a stronger force of change. I have more ability to help parents.”

Ms Connelly promotes a positive attitude. “Negative attitudes are a waste of energy,” she said.