Teacher Profile: Bob Rousseau, Newtown Middle School

By Tanjua Damon

He is the new psychologist on the block, but Bob Rousseau loves Newtown and working with middle school students, which is why his new job at Newtown Middle School suits him.

The small town, rural atmosphere is attractive to Mr Rousseau and is one reason he decided to work here.

“I like the fact that it is rural,” he said. “I like the land and the quiet.”

Mr Rousseau will be doing a number of things including counseling, testing, and helping students be placed in the appropriate classes, and make modifications to schedules or courses to best suit them.

I have to do PPT [Pupil Placement Team] meetings, testing,” he said. “But the part I like most is counseling, trying to help kids.”

Being a psychologist allows Mr Rousseau to be able to do many different things that will affect students positively.

“I think psychology is a profession I like because I can do so many things,” he said. “I can make recommendations academically, emotionally, and behaviorally, the whole gamut. I’m finding my niche.”

Working with middle school students is something Mr Rousseau looks forward to and enjoys.

“I like older students and the interaction with them,” he said.

Mr Rousseau plans to be someone people can use as a resource, whether it is students, parents, or even staff at the middle school. He does not want students to not know he is at the school.

“My first main focus is I just want to become someone people can use as a resource,” he said. “If that happens in my first year then I’ve been successful.”

He has an undergraduate degree in psychology from Iona and his master’s and school psychology certificate from Queens.  Mr Rousseau was raised outside Yonkers, N.Y.

Mr Rousseau lives in Seymour with his wife Dorothy and their dog Odin.