My name is Kathleen M. McTernan; I go by Kathi. I am a New York State Certified School Psychologist with a Masters in Education with a concentration on School Psychology and a second Masters degree in Educational Leadership. I work as a School Psychologist for the Mahopac Central School District in Mahopac, New York.
I enjoy spending time with my siblings, their children and grandchildren, with whom I enjoy close relationships, as well as with my close circle of friends. I love being outdoors, either horseback riding, playing with her dogs and cat. When at home, I enjoy art and watching movies.
I am hoping to adopt one child, aged 0-8 years old, or a sibling group of two or three children, aged 0-11 years old, of either gender, with at least one aged 0-7 years old, of Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian, or multi-racial descent. I am willing to consider the placement of a child with a mild disability in any or all of the following realms: emotional, behavioral, developmental, and learning, or a treatable physical or medical condition.
I plan to share the child's adoption story with him or her from the beginning. I will talk about the birthparents as people with a unique place in my child's life. My child would grow up knowing he/she had been adopted. I would welcome the opportunity to provide reports and photographs of the child to the birthparents, or maintain other contact, according to the preference of all parties at the time of placement.
I plan to actively support my child's connection to his/her native culture and ethnicity. I would participate in activities that would support my child's cultural heritage, and provide books and other materials that would connect their family to the child's culture of origin.
Mohegan Lake is a quiet, residential, suburban community, approximately 50 miles north of New York City. The local district has excellent schools, and there is diversity in their community. I have access to a multitude of educational, cultural, recreational, medical, and therapeutic, resources in her town. There are also shops, parks, libraries, hospitals, fire and police departments in the city and surrounding area. There is a beach and playground which is open to residents of the town. The recreation area also hosts social events for the neighborhood. There are plenty of stores for shopping nearby within a few minutes drive. The larger area offers a lot of nature, hiking trails, and historic sites. I enjoy living in Mohegan Lake and considers it a great place to raise a family.
I have both personal and professional experience with children of all ages as a loving aunt, a school psychologist, and at different points as an administrator for secondary special education. My training affords me a strong understanding of child development and needs.
I grew up in a large family, I am one of seven children. I have always had and still have a very close relationship with my siblings, nieces and nephews. Family life was always important to me, and it still is. Due to all of my brothers marrying while I was still young, I have had relationships with my sisters-in-law for decades, and consider them true sisters. I am a loving aunt to my eight nephews, three nieces, grandniece, and grandnephews. My home is always open to them and to their parents. My siblings and other extended family members are also eager to welcome a new arrival to the extended family and are fully supportive of my adoption plans
In addition to my close relationships with family, I have a great circle of friends. I have shared my dream of adopting from foster care with my good friends and they have been so supportive.