What comes to mind when you hear the words “psychology” and “major”? Do careers like physical therapist or probation officer spark your interest? Have you ever had the chance to visit Lithuania, or has the thought of exploring it ever crossed your mind? Say hello to Mrs. Montgomery, a Guidance Counselor here at Doherty Memorial High School! If you’d like to learn more about her journey into the school counseling field, or if you’re curious about what she has to share with us today, follow along as she reflects on her 27+ years of teaching experience.

Mrs. Montgomery’s Upbringing…

Q: Tell me about your background.

“Born and raised in Worcester, attended Doherty Memorial High School and Assumption University. I moved to California and worked in Los Angeles for a few years as a school counselor. When I moved back I lived and worked in Boston for 4 years until I came back to Worcester. I am Irish and Lithuanian.” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: Do you own a pet? If so, what is their name and how has your pet impacted your life. Share a bit about them.

“No pets – I’m allergic to most animals.” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: Did you join any extracurriculars when you were younger? Any after school clubs, organizations, programs, or sports in the past? Are you currently a teacher in any? If so, explain.

“I played field hockey, basketball and softball for Doherty and I was in the yearbook club. When I lived in California I learned to surf. I coached Doherty field hockey and basketball when I first started teaching but once I had my own kids I was busy bringing them to their games.” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: What inspires you? Do you have any role models you look up to?

“I look up to my parents who still volunteer their time at food pantries cooking for people in need, and always looking out for others. I hope I can teach younger people sympathy and to try to give help to people that are less fortunate that need a hand during a difficult time.” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: Do you have any work, community work, or internship experiences you want to share with us?

“I was an intern in the county jail as a Psychology major I would meet with inmates and review their history and conduct suicide evaluations. I have interned as a Physical Therapist and a teacher in high school, and a probation officer in college. All these experiences helped me to decide what I wanted to do for a career.” – Mrs. Montgomery. 

Q: Do you have any values or morals you want to share?

“I grew up in a Catholic family going to church every week. I still practice Catholicism, and teach my family the same values.” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: Do you have any notable achievements or awards that you’ve received in the past?

“I ran the Boston Marathon twice which took a lot of training and dedication. I earned my Masters and CAGS Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Mrs. Montgomery’s Time Here at DMHS

Q: What are your thoughts on Doherty Memorial High School? Do you feel supported or heard? Are there any improvements needed? What are you looking forward to?

“I feel supported here and realize how lucky we are to have such a respectful and hard working principal.” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: What were some challenges you had to overcome during High School? Any advice to Highlander’s?

“Freshman year the city cut all JV [Junior Varsity] Sports. Athletics was a big part of my life and not having that outlet made things boring, and led to a lot of kids not having things to do after school. We rallied together and went to the city meetings to advocate and the following year they were able to bring back the JV sports. I would say even if life doesn’t work out the way you had hoped, don’t give up and stay active in other ways. Get involved, cheer for your teammates instead of trying to beat them, work together as a team and support and encourage one another to be the best you can.” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: Do you have any favorite subjects, teachers, star Highlanders or other staff members here at DMHS? If so, tell me a bit about them!

“My favorite teacher at Doherty was Mr. Khoury; he was my Psychology teacher who was really strict and at first mean but then I realized he was just pushing us to learn more. I ended up studying Psychology and learned a lot from him. My favorite co-worker has been Christine Whalen who was so generous and giving of her time to students and families in need. She really cares for the people in our community and would go the extra step to help anyone she could.” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: Do you have any goals for the future? Do you have something in mind to do other than teaching at the moment? Where do you see yourself in your teaching career in the next 5-10 years?

“Possibly to get my real estate license. I’d also like to improve my golf handicap! I’d like to be able to volunteer more.” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: How do you motivate students who may be disengaged or uninterested in your subject? What strategies or tips are you willing to share? What makes an excellent educator? Are there any examples of how you handled a challenging situation in your classroom?

“Don’t look at the ‘Big’ picture – it can sometimes get overwhelming. Just take one day at a time. Things will always work out; make good choices and work hard. Respect yourself to want more in life and treat others with the same respect and kindness.” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: Do you believe you can reach success despite bad grades? How would you define a ‘star’ student in your classroom? Do you think it’ll be a more difficult experience than others with a good education? What role does having an education play on an individual’s future?

“Anything is ‘fixable’- you may take a different path to get there but just keep moving forward. You can’t change what happened in the past – but you can make good choices one day at a time.” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: What’s something you feel nostalgic about? Is there anything you feel very grateful towards?

“The first time in the new Doherty building was amazing; it made us all feel so proud of our workplace and happy to be a part of such an accomplishment.” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: What are some of the most memorable school moments or events that have still stuck with you?

“I remember standing in the gym at the ‘Old Doherty‘ feeling sad that the building with so many memories for all the students that graduated from Doherty was being knocked down.” – Mrs. Montgomery. 

Fun Facts!

Q: What do you like to do in your free time? Do you have any hobbies, passions, video games, or special interests? If so, what are they?

“I like to golf, go to the gym, and I spend a lot of time on the athletic fields watching my three kids play sports. I enjoy reading and like to learn about real estate.” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: What’s a fun or unique fact about you? Any zodiac signs, favorite colors or animals?

I’m a Taurus. – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: Do you have any secret or unknown talents? If so, please elaborate.

“I can ride a unicycle :)” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: What is your most favorite place you’ve ever been to? Have you traveled out of the country? What’s your favorite restaurant or hang out location?

“I love travelling; my favorite experience ever was the Blue Grotto in Capri Italy. It was a really cool cave that was in the water; the lighting made the water glow bright blue.” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: Do you have any tips on self care? What’s your daily routine like?

‘Try to stay active – Newton’s Law – a body in motion stays in motion! You feel better when you are active and have more energy.” – Mrs. Montgomery.

Q: What’s a quote you would like to share?

“Kindness is the ability and desire to have [a positive] impact on others.”- RAKtivist.

Her Impact at DMHS:

Now that you’ve become familiar with Mrs. Montgomery’s story, how has her journey into the school counseling field changed the way you think about the role counselors play in helping students succeed? Just like Mrs. Montgomery, will you start advocating for what matters to you? Are you considering participating in the Boston Marathon next year? The entirety of this spotlight interview not only illustrated her experience as a Guidance Counselor, but it also encouraged you, as the reader, to try new things that can benefit your life in the long run! Thank you for following along, and do not forget to click the comment button on the right-hand side to share your opinions and critiques on this matter! To read more articles, scroll down and click the tags in red! Tune in for more.

Contact Mrs. Montgomery!

• • Email: [email protected]
  • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-montgomery-155b28173