After working for 16 years in the Massapequa School District and 8 years in Massapequa High School, beloved school psychologist Dr Carol Levantrosser has decided to retire. She has worked as a school psychologist for over 30 years, and I was given the chance to interview Dr Levantrosser regarding her upcoming retirement.

Hannah: What would you consider your greatest accomplishment here at MHS?

Dr. Levantrosser: “My greatest accomplishment…I think the thing that I love the best about being a psychologist at the high school is being able to work with kids on a 1 to 1 basis and being able to provide support.  On a needed basis.  Just to be able to provide support for kids on any given school day.  So I guess to be able to provide that support for them and to be able to provide that support in a safe professional place.  It’s being able to provide kids with a safe place to land, if they have something that the want to discuss and are not sure who to talk to.”

H: Many students whose lives you have touched are sad to see you go.  Do you have anything you’d like to say to those students whom you have helped?

L: “Just to really hold onto your core beliefs about yourself; and to hold onto the values that you really think are important to you deep down inside.  And to not allow other people to persuade you in a  direction that you don’t really want to go.  I hope everyone when they leave MHS finds something that they’re passionate about.  And that they hold onto that passion.”

H: I’m sure you’ve been able to help so many kids find and pursue their passions, as you said.

L: “I hope so!  High school is a tough time and i think it’s pretty common for people to be overwhelmed. There’s this idea that high school is supposed to be the best years of your life, and I think adults don’t realise how complicated it is to be a highschool student.  I’m proud to be a part of PPS.  Im proud to work with the people I work with,  They help me do my job, really.  You want to make sure someone has somewhere to talk to and adult in a private confidential place.”

H: What will you miss the most about working at MHS?

L: “I’ll miss the energy of being around high school students and the energy of the building.”

H: This last one is a fun one- do you fun plans for retirement?

L: “I love to travel, so I definitely will be planning some European vacations.  I had a wacky idea to take a course on wine, and to learn about wines.  One of my goals is to learn to speak French french.  It’s a really beautiful language.”