After serving the needs of the children of Fairfield Elementary school for 23 years, their staff psychologist is finally packing it up and moving on to the next adventure life brings her.
Born and raised in Queens, but currently residing in Huntington, Cheryl Ann Sanatore said she has always had an inquisitive mind, being a big fan of mystery novels and the like.
“I always enjoyed figuring things out. It was just a natural progression,” she said. “Plus, originally I was going to become a pediatric doctor, but my math skills kind of messed me up when I went into graduate school pre-med program. But I realized going into it that it wasn’t really for me.”
It was only when she took a psychology elective in graduate school did Sanatore discover her interest in the field, eventually earning her masters degree in Experimental Psychology and Research Design. However, she didn’t actively pursue a career in the field until after she had married and her two children had grown to sch
ool age.
“I spoke with my sister, who suggested I go back to school and find a job that would allow me to be home with my kids during the summer, and that I’d be working while they’re in school,” she said. “So, I took a two-year program at Queens College, which was rough…60 credits within four semesters, which included full-time internships. In fact, the year after I graduated they turned it into a three-year program to make it more manageable.”
Sanatore earned a second masters degree, this one in school psychology. From there, she came to the Massapequa School District where she worked part-time for a year administering assessment tests and evaluations at Berner Middle School. She soon found out that the psychologist at Fairfield Elementary was moving to another state, opening up a potential full-time position on a tenure track that she was more than interested in.
“I got the job, but the previous psychologist was moving with her husband to Pittsburgh, and she had the right of return until the following year…so I spent a great deal of my first year on pins and needles,” she said. “However, she eventually sent in her resignation early and said that she definitely wasn’t returning, so I was in the clear. It was wonderful.”
After taking over the position, Sanatore settled into her duties, which she said mostly revolved around testing incoming students to assess their class placement, attending meetings, offering consultation to teachers and parents on various issues concerning the children under their care, and—most importantly—counseling kids in need, both in groups and one-on-one. If that sounds like a busy workload, Sanatore noted that’s because it is indeed just that.
“It’s a very, very interesting job…you never know what’s going to happen when you come in each morning,” she said. “I have a plan and a schedule that I attempt to follow each day, but some days there’s so much going on that all that goes out the window. It’s certainly a busy job, and sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. But it’s important work, so I always do my best.”
As she prepares to shuffle on to the next phase of her life, Sanatore took a long, hard look at her career up to this point; and while she said that some of it was indeed very hard work, it was the chance to make a difference in the lives of countless young boys and girls that really rendered it as an unforgettable period in her life that she will indeed miss greatly.
“The part of the job that I loved the most was working with and helping the children, and it’s something I wish I could have done more. But overall, my time at Fairfield Elementary was very special and I’ll miss it,” she said. “As for my future, I love traveling, and that’s something I intend to do a lot more of now with my sister. I also love reading and gardening, and I’m planning on spending a lot of time with my family, especially my new grandson. My life is just getting started and I can’t wait.”
