Guidance counselor Katie Leabo is excited to get to know her new school. She joined Scituate High School this year as a freshman guidance counselor.
Leabo believes the key to getting to where you want to be is not to worry about the most minor things in your life. She commented, “Life goes on, and some of these things that feel so big right now won’t be so big later on.” This uplifting motto encourages her as she works to help create a safe space for students.
When she was younger, Leabo always loved her middle school counselor; in fact, she significantly impacted her youth and her decision to become a counselor: “I was always able to go into her office whenever I needed something. When I left eighth grade, I was like that’s great. That’s what I want to do.”
Leabo has two older brothers who have greatly influenced her life. Growing up, she always used to tag along. As she watched them get older, she would follow in their footsteps, leading her to describe herself as a “tomboy.”
Leabo had a diverse college experience. In 2010, right out of high school, she graduated and attended Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland. Soon after, she transferred to Suffolk University in Boston, MA. This decision was great for her: she could return close to her childhood home in Concord, MA.
In 2014, Leabo graduated from college and was ready to start her first big job at a technology company, which lasted about nine years. When she decided to become a guidance counselor, Leabo took online classes in grad school from the University of Denver. This decision started a new and exciting chapter for her.
Outside of school, Leabo has a dog named Loki, a four-year-old pitbull mix. Passionate about animals, Leabo once considered being a veterinarian. However, the medical and math aspects of the job didn’t appeal to her, and eventually, she knew working as a guidance counselor was the best fit.
Leabo enjoys spending quality time with her one-year-old daughter, Zoe. She explained that her daughter always comes first in her life. When asked about her biggest motivations in life, she commented, “My daughter because she is the one that I’m here supporting, and I think showing her that there are women in all different types of jobs out there is really important, and to show her that she can really do whatever she wants.” Leabo loves her family and wants to spend as much time with them as possible, so she is delighted to work so close to her home. Leabo can spend quality time with her family, especially Wylie, her husband. The couple’s decision to live in Scituate was very convenient, as there are many opportunities to build memories together.
During her time at Scituate High School, Leabo has been welcomed by a warm and friendly community, and she hopes to form strong connections with students and staff alike. According to Leabo, working with the other teachers has been easy—everyone is helpful and encouraging. She said one of the most challenging parts of her job has been trying to remember all of her students’ names, but she is working on it!