SHS Counseling Department


Our Mission: 

To assist all students in their pursuit of academic success, social-emotional wellness, and achievement of career and life goals. 

Counseling Secretary

Krista Brown

(603) 332-0757 Ext. *2118

Fax: (603) 335-7377

brown.k@sau54.org


Karen McDermott 

Grades 9-12

Last names: A - CLA

Mrs. McDermott is a seasoned school counselor with 31 years under her belt. With her years of experience and expertise she is an intregal part of this department. As Team Leader, Mrs. McDermott provides valuable insight and knowlege to the Spaulding community.  Aside from her years at Spaulding she has previously worked at Keene High School and Concord High School. She received her B.A. in Sociology and M. Ed. in Counseling from the University of New Hampshire. Mrs. McDermott considers it a privilege to have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of students every day. 

Karen McDermott, ext. *2119

Cheryl Stifter

Grades 9-12

Last names: CLE - GA

Cheryl Stifter joined the Spaulding High school team in 2021.  She received her undergraduate B.A. in Psychology at Keene State College and her M.Ed. at Rivier University.  Prior to school counseling, Mrs. Stifter owned Headway Coaching, a business that helped students struggling in school because of ADHD and lagging executive functioning abilities. Her main goal was to help not only the students but their families understand how the brain functions differently with ADHD.   She decided she would better serve her students if she could reach more than a few at a time and decided to go back to school to become a school counselor.  Her biggest goal as a counselor is to help her students grow as individuals and teach them they all have worth and a place in this world.  She enjoys any type of craft and working with her hands 


Cheryl Stifter ext. *2124


Erin Reinhard

Grades 9-12

Last names: GE - K

Ms. Reinhard is now in her 9th year at Spaulding High School and her 17th year as a school counselor. She received both her B.S. in Social Work and M.Ed. in School Counseling at Plymouth State University and is an alumna of Concord High School here in the Granite State.  She loves finding bargains at yard sales, enjoys concerts (she's a Swiftie!), acting in community plays, and playing with her puppies Stella, Harvey and Fritzie, her kitties Lola and Kevin, and her chickens


Erin Reinhard, ext. *2122



Ariana Ragonese

Grades 9-12

Last names: L - NA


*Please note, Ms. Ragonese will be on leave for the fall of 2024.*

See below for sub assignments:

LA - LEV: Karen McDermott

LEW - MAK: Cheryl Stifter

MAL-MCG: Erin Reinhard

MCH-MON: Katie Newbegin

MOO-NA: Leah Anderson

Mrs. Ragonese joined the Spaulding High School Counseling department in the summer of 2018. Prior to joining the team, she spent 9 years living and working in New York City. She received her M.S.Ed in Counseling from Fordham University and worked at LaGuardia Arts High School and the Clinton School for Writers and Artists. She is a proud UNH alum, where she earned her B.A. in musical theater. When not encouraging students to make good choices, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing with her dog, Romeo, crocheting, tie-dyeing, and watching the Patriots and the New England Revolution. 

 Ariana Ragonese, ext. *2123

Katie Newbegin

Grades 9-12

Last names: NE - SHE

Mrs. Newbegin joined the Spaulding counseling team in February 2019. Prior to counseling, she worked in domestic violence advocacy and child protection for 7 years. Through this work, she realized that she enjoyed nothing more than meeting with adolescents and discussing hopes, dreams, and goals. She earned her M.Ed. from Plymouth State University and also holds an M.S. in Criminal Justice from UMass Lowell. Mrs. Newbegin is proud to have been born and raised in Rochester, a community that she admires and loves dearly, and a 2002 Spaulding graduate.  She strongly believes that students deserve respect, honesty, empathy, and, of course, a little humor to help them find success. When she isn’t working, Mrs. Newbegin enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids gardening, painting, cooking, and playing volleyball. 


Katherine Newbegin, ext. *2121

Leah Anderson

Grades 9-12

Last names: SHI - Z

Mrs. Anderson joined the counseling department in the summer of 2018. She previously worked in Lawrence, MA as an English teacher before receiving her school counseling degree from UMASS Boston. Prior to earning her M.Ed. she graduated with an MAT from Clark University, where she also spent her undergratuate years. In her spare time Mrs. Anderson enjoys spending quality time with her children and husband. 

Leah Anderson, ext. *2125