Meet The Counseling Staff | Westford Public Schools

2023-2024 Westford Academy Counseling Staff

L to R: Back Row: Tracy McLaughlin, Susan Lynch, Samantha DeMagistris, Brian Doherty, Karen Halloran

Front Row: Patti Lonergan, Leah Birnkrant, Lauren Clark, Micaela McQuaide, ,Heidi Hider

Director

Lauren Clark (she/her/hers)

Mrs. Lauren Clark joined the Westford Academy Counseling Department in 2021. Lauren Clark has worked at Wachusett Regional High School in Holden, MA as the Department Head of School Counseling and the Director of School Counseling. Prior to working at Wachusett, Lauren was a school counselor at Tahanto Regional High School in Boylston, MA and at Mount Anthony in Bennington, VT. Lauren is originally from New York and started her career in College Admissions. When she isn’t working, she loves coffee, chocolate, exercising and spending time with her husband, daughter and son! Lauren is incredibly excited to become part of the Westford school community!

Leah Birnkrant (she/her/hers)

Leah Birnkrant joined the WA Counseling department in 2015. Originally from New York (Go Yankees!), Leah earned a B.S. in mathematics and secondary education from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. After teaching math for two years in Tennessee, Leah earned her M.Ed and C.A.S from Harvard Graduate School of Education in Counseling. Leah serves as AP Coordinator, as well as co-coordinator of the Career Exploration Breakfast for sophomores and juniors. She loves summers in Newport, RI, Disney movies, anything pumpkin, trying new recipes, country music, and spending time with her husband and two young children.

Samantha DeMagistris (she/her/hers)

Samantha DeMagistris joined the WA School Counseling department in 2021, and also serves as the public relations chair for the counseling department, as well as the Junior Job Shadow Coordinator. She studied sociology at Saint Anselm College, and earned her M.Ed in school counseling from Salem State University. She loves country music and anything sweet, and in her free time enjoys running, traveling, and spending time with her husband and three kids Amelia, Nicholas, and Luca.

Brian Doherty (he/his/his)

Brian Doherty is entering his 8th year at WA. Prior to Westford, Mr. Doherty worked for the Berlin-Boylston, Acton-Boxboro and Dover-Sherborn school systems, in addition, as a college advisor for Campus Bound in Lexington, MA for 6 years . Mr. Doherty received a B.S. from Southern Connecticut and a M.A. from Bowling Green in Ohio. Mr. Doherty enjoys golf, running, music and spending time with his two teenage daughters in Kennebunk, Maine and his wife Erin.

Karen Halloran (she/her/hers)

Karen Halloran joined the WA Counseling department in August 2012. Originally from Syracuse, NY; Karen also lived in San Antonio, TX and Chicago, IL before moving to New England. Karen earned a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Resort Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Masters of Education in School Counseling from Rivier College. She enjoys working closely with her students, coordinating the WA Senior Scholarships and Awards and co-coordinating the Career Exploration Breakfast. Karen enjoys cooking, boating, golfing, traveling, playing mahjong and cards, and spending time with her husband, son, and daughter.

Heidi Hider (she/her/hers)

Mrs. Heidi Hider studied English and education at Nazareth College of Rochester, NY and earned her Master's Degree in School Counseling from Boston College in 2001. She worked at Billerica Memorial High School for five years before joining Westford Academy's Counseling Department in 2006, where she co-coordinates the Senior Capstone and Peer Counseling Programs. She loves coffee and cats, and in her free time enjoys exercising, reading, baking and spending time with her husband and daughters Ruby and Eve.

Patti Lonergan (she/her/hers)

Patti Lonergan loves working with teenagers because of their growing sense of autonomy, sense-of-humor and their often independent initiation of wanting to help themselves. Through a series of twists and turns, Patti found herself a perfect match as a high school social worker. Patti's undergraduate degree is in Theater Arts and she continues to be actively involved in community theater. After spending a couple years as a teacher aide, she decided to pursue a graduate degree in Counseling Psychology. Patti is a firm believer that "if kids could, they would." Her role at Westford Academy is to help students live a well-balanced life and educate the Westford Academy community (students, families and faculty) about mental health (understanding, treatment and resources). In addition to theater, Patti enjoys trivia nights, traveling and laughing with her family and friends.

Susan Lynch (she/her/hers)

Mrs. Susan Lynch joined the WA Counseling Department in 2005. Prior to that, she worked in an early intervention program in Brockton. Mrs. Lynch is a graduate of Bates College where she was captain of the swim team, and earned a Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University in 2005. At WA, Mrs. Lynch is one of the Advisors to the Peer Counseling program as well as the co-coordinator of the Senior Capstone. Outside of school, Mrs. Lynch loves reading, hiking, traveling and hanging with her husband and two children, Colin and Sadie. She also enjoys a good gluten-free dessert and walking with her crazy black lab, Ellie.

Tracy McLaughlin (she/her/hers)

Tracy McLaughlin joined the WA Counseling Department in 2002. Tracy grew up in Western Massachusetts and earned a Bachelor and Master's Degree in Social Work from Boston University. Tracy's previous work experience includes positions as Assistant Director of Boston University's Health Care Management MBA Program and as an adolescent therapist in several settings. Tracy is actively involved in developmental guidance curriculum planning, and advisory planning. She is also the exchange student liaison, advisor for the Anti Defamation League's A World of Difference Program and a member of the district wide Diversity and Inclusion Team. The best part of Tracy's job involves working face to face with students. In her spare time Tracy enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Micaela McQuaide (she/her/hers)

Micaela McQuaide joined the WA Counseling department in 2016, as a school adjustment counselor, after working for 6 years on an adolescent psychiatric unit at McLean Hospital. Originally from New Hampshire, Micaela earned a B.A. in psychology from Quinnipiac University before going on to Boston College to get a masters in social work. Micaela enjoys exercising, cooking new recipes, reading, and spending time with her family.