Meet Oyster Bay's New Counseling Services Supervisor: Ms. Meehan

​By Lena Gluck

     Ms. Meehan is the new Supervisor of Counseling Services at Oyster Bay High School. I had the opportunity to sit down with Ms. Meehan to discuss her past as a guidance counselor and her new role as supervisor here at Oyster Bay High School.
           

    Ms. Meehan studied psychology at Hofstra University, and she attended LIU Post for graduate school. She later continued her education by getting her master's in School Counseling. 
     Before coming to OBHS, Ms. Meehan had been a guidance counselor at Harbor Fields for ten years and then moved on to become the Director of Guidance for South Country Schools.
     Before becoming a supervisor, Ms. Meehan realized she wanted to be a guidance counselor because she loved working with young people and she enjoyed, “doing something with such meaning.” She had been a guidance counselor for ten years prior to becoming a supervisor. Ms. Meehan decided to become a supervisor because she had already worked as a school counselor for many years, and she loved impacting the lives of young people. She also revealed that she was ready to grow in her career.
      Ms. Meehan revealed that she took the role as supervisor this year because she was ready and able to take this leap in her career. “I am a committed person who is interested in growth, and it was a great time to make a change. I learned the necessary skills from my boss to fulfill my role here.” Ms. Meehan’s experience in building meaningful relationships to help fill the needs of schools and families is a great addition, and since we have a small school, we are so lucky to have many one-on-one experiences.
    When asked what her greatest strengths are, Ms. Meehan informed us that she is very caring and understanding, and she tries to see through the lens of each person. One of her greatest professional moments occurred during her first year as a school counselor, when her student recommended her for a prestigious award after working with the student for only a year. Among her proudest accomplishments is the relationships she still maintains with students and families, so many years later.
      Ms. Meehan decided to take a position in the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District because she knows how great our community is, and she is truly glad to be a part of it.
    Ms. Meehan plans to further help seniors with the task of applying to college. “Along with the fabulous counselors here, our goal is to work with each senior on post-high school planning.” She emphasized that the counseling team is committed to reaching out to families and helping them in the long, and sometimes arduous, process.
     As the new Supervisor for Counseling Services, Ms. Meehan hopes that the students will come to respect her and know that no matter how many years pass after graduation, she will always be here to help them.
     In addition to working at our school, Ms. Meehan enjoys traveling.  Even more, she loves spending time with her family. She has two kids, and her family loves going to the beach, paddle boarding, and reading.
    On a final note, Ms. Meehan shared, “I love working with the counseling staff, teachers, students and parents.” We are surely lucky to have her as our new addition to the counseling center. 
     Welcome to Oyster Bay, Ms. Meehan!
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