Student Support Services
Hi! We're the Griswold Middle School Support Services Team. Our Support Services Team is here to help students thrive. We create a safe space for students to explore school, friendships, and their feelings. Our mission is to support students in becoming confident, self-aware individuals. We work with families and teachers to ensure every student feels valued and ready for success!
Meet the GMS Counseling Support Team
School Psychologist
John Howe
JHowe@griswoldpublicschools.org
Greetings. Let me briefly introduce myself to you. My name is John Howe and I am a long-time school psychologist at Griswold Middle School. As a dedicated member of our skilled Student Support Team at GMS, I am occupationally passionate about helping grades five through eight students navigate their way through their challenging middle school years. I believe in building positive relationships, earing trust, and making our support services a valuable resource for our students, families, and school staff.
My primary point of focus is to assist students with issues related to the stages of growth in the areas of academic, personal, emotional and social development. This includes but is not limited to assisting students with issues of divorce, grief, study skills, friendship/social skills, emotional regulation and anger management.
I look forward to working with you and your child to ensure that their years at Griswold Middle School are ones that each of you can look back on fondly.
School Psychologist
Rebecca Brigner
RBrigner@griswoldpublicschools.org
Hi! My name is Rebecca Brigner and I am a nationally-certified school psychologist. After graduating from Worcester State University with an Educational Specialist degree, I started my career at GMS in 2018.
Some of my responsibilities at GMS include completing psychoeducational assessments, counseling, Section 504 management, as well as consulting with parents and teachers. I enjoy working part of a team that is dedicated to achieve the same goal - supporting individual student needs!
Outside of school, I love to spend time with my family, catch up with friends, take day trips, and go shopping!
School Counselor
Karen Scholl
KScholl@griswoldpublicschools.org
Hi! My name is Karen Scholl and I am the GMS School Counselor. I started working for Griswold Public Schools as a high school counselor in 2006 before switching to my “home” the middle school in 2015.
As the school counselor, I help students with all aspects of development including, academic counseling, career guidance, and personal/social counseling. I assist students (and parents!) with transition into middle school and into high school as well as with families and community members to develop partnerships for student success. I look forward to working with students to help them reach their full academic potential and experience success. I am a middle schooler for life!
When I am not at work, you can find me traveling/exploring with my family, playing with my dog, or enjoying sports like boxing, soccer, and hockey!
Social and Emotional Learning Interventionist
Terry Cholewa
TCholewa@griswoldpublicschools.org
Welcome! My name is Terry Cholewa, and I am as excited to serve as the GMS Social and Emotional Learning Interventionist today as I was when I started in 2021.
Before stepping into my new role, I had the privilege of getting to know the inner workings of GMS as an administrative assistant. This exposure allowed me to experience firsthand the dedication within our school community. The connections made during that time helped me transition to the Support Staff team.
Prior to coming over to GMS, I had the pleasure of serving as the Transition and Career Center Coordinator at Griswold High School. It was there that my love of supporting the whole student took root. Now, having the opportunity to work with middle school students is an absolute joy. Whether we are talking about communication skills, conflict resolution skills or academic goals, their enthusiasm, curiosity, and unique perspectives inspire me every day.
When I’m not at GMS, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing with my dogs, and volunteering in our community.
Learn more:
- Community Help
- Emotional Well-being
- Middle School Success
- Social Emotional Learning
- Elementary to Middle School
- Middle School to High School
- High School Options
Contact the GMS Support Staff Team
At Griswold Middle School, we're committed to supporting our students in every way we can. If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to reach out to our Support Services team.
Phone: 860-376-7630