Principal Terri Morgan thought you might appreciate a little background about me, so when you have a moment, brew a cup of coffee or steep a mug of tea and read on all about me.
My roots on this campus are very deep. I was born in West Irondequoit and baptized here at Christ the King Church. My mother's funeral was here in the early 70's and my father's funeral was here in 2006. My parents both battled long illnesses, but they led exceptionally blessed lives. Both are at rest at Holy Sepulchre. They are missed dearly and visited often. My husband of 25 years and I were married here at the Christ The King site. The late and beloved Father John Hale met us for pre-Cana counseling and married us later that summer. Fun Fact: Did you know there is an annual golf tournament fundraiser in his name?!
I have led a blessed career and life, but have endured extreme hardships as well, in my late 20's with my own battle with Cancer like my mother. I am cured and have done as much as I can to support others now battling this insidious disease. I am passionate about community volunteerism, fundraising for the cure, and have great compassion for those who are fighting mental illness or physical illness or addictions and for the loved ones supporting them. I pride myself on being a great collaborator, team member, communicator, advocate, and well-trained listener. Your students will come to know I am playful, loyal, compassionate for the underdog, tirelessly love investing in our youth, that I love to prepare healthy foods, and spoil my loved ones with attention and unconditional love and care I am always a student at heart, and I invest much of my time enjoying people of all ages and diverse backgrounds, and I feel blessed to do what I do. It took me many years to invest in my own personal growth so that I could do what I love and love what I do and inspire others on how to achieve what is possible for them.
My husband's family were parishioners here too. My aunt -in- law is a Sister of St. Joseph and my father -in- law and his siblings attended McQuaid Jesuit. My father was an Usher here and served with the Knight's of Columbus. I come from a strong respect and tradition of valuing education and deepening one's faith and serving our community. My father was a Rochester City School District Central Office administrator and a Veteran of the Korean War. My husband is an usher here now, our two young sons are achieving their sacraments here, and our sons were altar server on Sunday mornings. We enjoyed sharing them with our congregation on Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday and Christmas Eve several years in a row as they served at the Altar with Father English, Father Travato and Father Morgan. My husband and I both serve our congregation as Faith Formation volunteers. I have recently served with the Children's Liturgy and Religious Education programs and have served on the Parish Council. It is an amazing privilege for both of us to serve as counselors with the Pre-Cana team.
I spent the bulk of my career as a residential school social worker since 1996 in Sonoma, California at Hanna Boys Center that was run by the Catholic Diocese, the Executive Director was a priest. I attended the State University of New York at Buffalo for my undergraduate degree in psychology and 2 years later moved to California with my husband and attended Sonoma State University for my master's degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling in 1996. We lived there for 9 and a half years. I worked at Hanna Boys Center from 1997-2004. We relocated back to Rochester after the birth of our first son. I became employed as a Social Worker at St. Joseph's Villa (now the Villa of Hope) on Dewey Ave and enjoyed working there with at risk youth and as a psycho-education social worker empowering families, including their sons and daughters, as they were impacted by Eating Disorders. It was very rewarding work. Upon our relocation to New York, and after accomplishing over 3000 practicum hours in counseling experience I became licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist for the state of New York in 2006.
My husband and I decided that it would be a gift to leave my practice at St. Joseph's Villa and work at home as a stay at home mom for our young sons and sharing my other talents as a volunteer and parent liason in our community of schools. A gift all four of us cherished and benefited from during those years. In what seems like just a blink of the eye, they are now junior high-school and high school ages. I have achieved a long term goal since they have individuated so well, as I am greatly enjoying being the owner of a private practice in marriage, couples, individual, child, and family counseling here in the Irondequoit Community. I work part-time in that role.
I am so happy to be a part of the Saint Kateri School and Parish family. It feels so natural to be here and I look forward to contributing to your child(ren)'s emotional growth and academic success.
I can be reached via email at [email protected]. Please feel welcome to reach out to me and I will gladly make time to talk with or meet you in person.
Thank you for taking the time to get to know me and please make the time to come visit me in my office. I have a new location!! Inquire at the front desk. Some of you might understand if I said, I'm in the former office of our Faith Formation staff, in the offices of room number 159. You will find me on site Monday through Thursday, from 7:45 am to 3:15 pm. Can you tell I really want you to find me?
I wish you and your children a wonderfully successful school year, jam-packed with learning fun, filled with memorable adventures in reading and activities, and a rewarding school experience with exciting connections and warm friendships!