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New Watson counselor lends students her ear
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor.Among the decorations in Penny Callahan’s Watson guidance office is a display of emotions that the kids can use for reference to explain how they’re feeling. If she had an emotion listed over her head, she said it would be “Happy.”
By SARAH FOOR
Penny Callahan doesn’t teach. She isn’t a librarian and she isn’t a coach.
Her role at Watson Elementary might be one of the most overlooked. If she’s having a good day, all she’s doing is listening. And that’s fine with her.
“These first few months are all about forging new relationships and making sure they trust me. I want to hear about their bad days and their good days. Whether they did good on a test or even if they got a new turtle.”
Callahan, a Southington native and YSU graduate, hopes for a rich future with Austintown.
“I became a counselor to make a difference and form meaningful relationships with these kids. Austintown isn’t just a school of excellence, it’s a family. And I’m really glad to be part of the family.
“I love the kids at Watson,” Callhan said with a smile. “I’m new, so I didn’t expect the kids to know my name, so I told the teachers to teach the kids ‘I love you’ in sign language. That’s how they call me if they need me,” said Callahan.
“The kids here make me feel like a rock star in the halls, saying ‘Miss Penny, Miss Penny’ and shaking their hands with the ‘I love you’ sign.”