OM’s New School Psychologist

Let’s give a tremendous welcome to OMHS’s brand new School Psychologist, Mrs. Knauss (pronounced “Now-se,” rhymes with Mouse).

Mrs. Knauss has always had an interest in Psychology. She went to graduate school at Towson, took classes in education, majored in Psychology, and minored in Education and Communication Disorders. She learned about the field of School Psychology and thought that it was the best combination of her interests in education and psychology. Fast forward to today, she has worked as a School Psychologist for 17 years. Mrs. Knauss has worked at many middle schools including Folly Quarter Middle School in Ellicott City and Mayfield Woods Middle School in Elkridge. This is her first time working at a high school, and it’s been an amazing experience for her so far. “It gives you a great sense of community. The staff has been really welcoming and nice, and the students have been great so far too,” she said. 

Mrs. Knauss uses her greatest strengths every day at work. While she works with both kids and adults, she works best with the former, specifically the high school age group. She’s also flexible and a good listener, which are both skills you need for her profession. Coffee and arriving early to get organized get her motivated to start the day. According to Mrs. Knauss, the best part of her day is meeting with students and the worst part of her day is going to meetings. “I meet with students throughout the day who are struggling with big emotions mostly, so listening can be a very powerful skill in that because sometimes students just need to get some things off their chest without judgment.” 

Of course, like all staff members, Mrs. Knauss has passions outside of work. She loves biking, listening to live music, and reading, although she doesn’t have much time for it. She also enjoys attending her children’s sporting events. At home, she has three daughters, a husband of 18 years, two pet dachshunds, and three pet guinea pigs. While she enjoys all kinds of music, her favorites include country, southern California reggae, and 90s rap music. 

“This is my first high school since I was an intern 18 years ago, so I’m excited to be in a school building every day… I’m usually split, and I’m excited to work with this population.” If you feel inclined to stop by and say hi, you can find Mrs. Knauss in her office located halfway between the gym and the Tardy Table!