Student Support Services
Welcome to Student Support Services. The student support staff assists students, families, teachers, and administrators with a wide range of programs and services. Our staff is committed to the development of the full potential of each child. Every school is staffed with a counselor, a school psychologist, and a full-time nurse. Supervisors of attendance serve as resources to each building. The Student Support Team meets weekly in each school and addresses individual student and school-wide issues. The pupil personnel staff may be reached directly by calling your local school.
Attendance
Supervisors of Attendance are certified professionals who are responsible for enforcing the Massachusetts General Laws pertaining to school attendance and residency issues. They provide outreach to students and families where school attendance is a problem. Supervisors of attendance are members of the Student Support Team and monthly “Family Assistance Conferences” offer a wide array of services to families. Court involvement is a last resort for dealing with serious attendance issues. Click here to view/print a copy of a parent's guide to school attendance
Guidance Services
Guidance Counselors are professionally trained to assist all students in academic, personal, behavioral, and social-emotional areas. Counselors in each school work with students individually, in small groups, and in the classroom. Observation and teacher/ parent consultations allow counselors to understand the whole child and to plan positive interventions and referrals when necessary. Counselors emphasize preventive and developmental approaches to provide students with the life skills needed to deal with life’s pressures.
Elementary Counselors
Elementary counselors serve as the chairperson of the school’s special education program. Parents may contact the counselor for more information. Conflict resolution and personal safety skills lessons (“Kids and Company”) are presented to students each year.
Middle School Counselors
Middle School Counselors support students in their transition to the middle school setting. Counselors also assist eighth grade students and their parents with high school program planning. Student mediation is offered, study skills, and many topical groups are offered.
High School Counselors
High School Counselors provide academic and personal counseling to students individually and in small groups. Counselors also help students to evaluate their abilities and interests in order to develop realistic academic and career goals. High school counselors advise on college or technical school majors, admission requirements, exams, and financial aid.
Homeless Support Educational Services for Homeless Families
Click here to view/print a flyer describing services for homeless families.
Educational Services for Homeless Families are coordinated by a certified educator and provide outreach, referral, tutoring, transportation, and educational opportunities. The coordinator collaborates with the Student Support Team in each school to identify families in need and every effort is made to offer appropriate services.
Safe and Drug Free Schools
Click here for information about this program.
Internet Safety
The Internet is a wonderful tool for learning. Information on any topic imaginable, great books, cutting-edge research and more can be brought directly to the desktop of any student. But along with the information, there can be danger. QPS has an extensive Internet Safety policy, including guides to keep students safe. Click here to read more and view the policy.
School Psychologists
School Psychologists are equipped to deal with a wide range of issues which children and young people may face. They are expert in evaluation and assessment and provide individual and group counseling as well as social skills training. Psychologists are also trained in crisis intervention and referral.
Quincy Teen Mothers
Quincy Teen Mother’s Program provides a high school education, family life classes, and parenting support to pregnant and parenting teens. This program, which is a model throughout the state, is in its twenty-fifth year of operation and is certified by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Read more about the program.
Contact Us
Janet S. Powell Director of Student Support Services 617-984-8891, 617-984-8898
Staff Directory
| School | Contact | Title | Phone Number |
| Amelio Della Chiesa Early Childhood Center | Heather Crofts | Counselor | 617-984-8777 |
| Donna Cunningham | Psychologist | 617-984-8777 | |
| Andrea Rooney | Nurse | 617-984-8769 | |
| Atherton Hough | Jane Cotter | Counselor | 617-984-8797 |
| Philip Bastable | Psychologist | 617-984-8797 | |
| Christine Flynn | Nurse | 617-984-8901 | |
| Beechwood Knoll | Kim Riley | Counselor | 617-984-8781 |
| Donna Cunningham | Psychologist | 617-984-8781 | |
| Karen Sheehan | Nurse | 617-984-8632 | |
| Charles Bernazzani School | Maura Shaughnessy | Counselor | 617-984-8713 |
| Margot Schmid | Psychologist | 617-984-8713 | |
| Emily O'Connell | Nurse | 617-984-8919 | |
| Lincoln Hancock School | Jill Kyranis | Counselor | 617-984-8715 |
| Liz Hartigan | Counselor | 617-984-8718 | |
| Philip Bastable | Psychologist | 617-984-8718 | |
| Nancy Tierney | Nurse | 617-984-8720 | |
| Clifford Marshall School | Colleen Jackson | Counselor | 617-984-8722 |
| Nicole Demong | Counselor | 617-984-8722 | |
| Meghan Cuff | Psychologist | 617-984-8721 | |
| Doreen Schonbach | Nurse | 617-984-8939 | |
| Merrymount School | Kerri Bertrand | Counselor | 617-984-8962 |
| Jessica Sikora | Psychologist | 617-984-8762 | |
| Martha Slocum | Nurse | 617-984-8925 | |
| Montclair School | Bic Lam | Counselor | 617-984-8708 |
| Lisa Chan | Psychologist | 617-984-8708 | |
| Margaret Joyce | Nurse | 617-984-8928 | |
| Francis W. Parker School | Joanna Goodwin | Counselor | 617-984-8710 |
| Donna Cunningham | Psychologist | 617-984-8710 | |
| Ann Phelan | Nurse | 617-984-8622 | |
| Snug Harbor School | Christine Karaska | Counselor | 617-984-8763 |
| Nancy Salerno | Casa Start Counselor | 617-984-8763 | |
| Deborah Parrish | Casa Start Counselor | 617-984-8763 | |
| Amy Carey-Shinney | Counselor | 617-984-8763 | |
| Kathy Bakis | (Preschool) Counselor | 617-984-8951 | |
| Jessica Sikora | Psychologist | 617-984-8763 | |
| Inge Damm-Luhr | (Preschool) Psychologist | 617-984-8951 | |
| Donna Deane | Nurse | 617-984-8955 | |
| Rita Bailey | Preschool Nurse | 617-984-8955 | |
| Squantum School | Denise Martin | Counselor | 617-984-8706 |
| Linda Bresnahan | Psychologist | 617-984-8706 | |
| Maureen Spillane | Nurse | 617-984-8958 | |
| Wollaston School | Kate Sawkiewicz | Counselor | 617-984-8968 |
| Philip Bastable | Psychologist | 617-984-8791 | |
| Joan Yankun | Nurse | 617-984-8695 | |
| Atlantic Middle School | Debbie Cheung | Counselor | 617-984-8691 |
| Rose Bowman | Counselor | 617-984-8739 | |
| Lauren Riggs | Counselor | 617-984-8739 | |
| Taryn Nadeau | Psychologist | 617-984-8739 | |
| Katherine MacRitchie | Nurse | 617-984-8738 | |
| Broad Meadows Middle School | Christy Cronin | Counselor | 617-984-8724 |
| Jackie Smith | Counselor | 617-984-8724 | |
| Linda Bresnahan | Psychologist | 617-984-8724 | |
| Kathleen Sorensen | Nurse | 617-984-8907 | |
| Central Middle School | Maura Tenaglia | Counselor | 617-984-8726 |
| Stephen Sylvia | Counselor | 617-984-8726 | |
| Colleen Connerty | Counselor | 617-984-8726 | |
| Lisa Chan | Psychologist | 617-984-8726 | |
| Noreen O'Connell | Nurse | 617-984-8914 | |
| Point Webster Middle School | Dave Bogan | Counselor | 617-984-6603 |
| Leah Markarian | Counselor | 617-984-6604 | |
| Margot Schmid | Psychologist | 617-984-6600 | |
| Barbara Campbell | Nurse | 617-984-6605 | |
| Sterling Middle School | Philip Diana | Counselor | 617-984-8959 |
| Courtney Mitchell | Counselor | 617-984-8960 | |
| Trayn Nadeau | Psychologist | 617-984-8729 | |
| Diane Colleti | Nurse | 617-984-8648 | |
| Quincy High School | Deborah DeCristofaro | Department Head | 617-984-8757 |
| Alicia Bertrand | Counselor | 617-984-8818 | |
| Sheri Eldridge | Counselor | 617-984-8819 | |
| Chik Ching Law | Counselor | 617-984-8792 | |
| Paula McGeady | Counselor | 617-984-8757 | |
| Dzung Nguyen | Counselor | 617-984-3394 | |
| William Reardon | Counselor | 617-984-8815 | |
| Meaghan Lewis | Counselor | 617-984-8793 | |
| Paulette D'Oyley | Counselor | 617-984-8793 | |
| Debra Becky | Psychologist | 617-984-8816 | |
| Debra Hill | Nurse | 617-984-8840 | |
| Sheila McGrath | Nurse | 617-984-8840 | |
| North Quincy High School | Helena Skinner | Department Head | 617-984-8981 |
| Susan DeCoste | Counselor | 617-984-8988 | |
| Virginia Cushman | Counselor | 617-984-8983 | |
| Shaue-Fung Peng | Counselor | 617-984-8984 | |
| John Perkins | Counselor | 617-984-8986 | |
| Lauren Gallo | Counselor | 617-984-8985 | |
| Becky Nutley | Counselor | 617-984-8985 | |
| Richard DeCristofaro Jr. | Counselor | 617-984-8981 | |
| Peggy Farren | Psychologist | 617-984-8982 | |
| Mary Jane Callahan | Nurse | 617-984-8972 | |
| Kristin Houlihan | Nurse | 617-984-8972 | |
| Attendance | Wayne Mirick | Supervisor of Attendance | 617-984-8746 |
| Jennifer Dondero | Supervisor of Attendance | 617-984-8881 | |
| Educational Services for the Homeless | Isabel Ventre | Coordinator | 617-984-8815 |
| Quincy Teen Mothers | Janice Walsh | Coordinator | 617-984-8704 |
| Marjorie Engel | Counselor | 617-984-8704 | |
| GOALS | Al Moscaritolo | Counselor | 617-984-8703 |