Ms. Susannah First

I teach Life Skills, where we learn all the things you hope your kids "pick up" at school, but aren't necessarily covered in academic classes, including conflict resolution, calm-down strategies, and goal-setting. I also run several of the library classes and help out in classrooms. 

Often when people picture a school counselor, they imagine intervention-- helping when kids have problems. While I certainly do that and enjoy it, my favorite part of being a school counselor is the prevention work I get to do. When I teach students social-emotional, academic, and future-oriented skills, they don't need intervention as often because they already know how to handle many problems they encounter. I love seeing my students put the skills we've learned into practice! 

I am a Blessed Sacrament alum and it has been a joy to experience the care and community here again as an adult. I get to see my mom whenever I stop down in the office (yes, Mrs. First is my mom!) and I see my nephew in the halls all the time, so I feel pretty lucky! When I'm not at school, I'm usually on a pool deck coaching swim team or curled up on the couch reading a good book.