Superintendent Update
October 2026
A Hanover Street School parent sent us this shoutout for Shannon Bender:
"I wanted to send a special thank you to Ms. Bender. My daughter had a rough start to her morning one day due to increased anxiety, and I ultimately had to drive her to school instead of having her take the bus as usual. When we arrived at school, the separation anxiety was still very present. Ms. Bender was so kind to come over, introduce herself, and help my daughter put down her backpack and play on the playground. It may not have seemed like much at the time, but it was exactly what she needed, and it made a difficult morning a little easier for both of us. I am incredibly grateful for teachers like Ms. Bender who take the time to show such kindness, patience, and compassion."
We are a few weeks into the school year and routines are settling into place. For some students and families, that also means new pressures start to surface — friendship challenges, school avoidance, or just the pace of everyday life feeling harder to manage.
When those signs start to show up, it can be helpful to get support early, rather than waiting until things feel more difficult. Cartwheel, our virtual mental health partner at LMS and LHS, is here for exactly these moments. Support includes:
- Individual teletherapy for students — appointments with a licensed therapist, typically within days
- Parent and caregiver guidance for navigating challenges at home
- Family therapy for transitions, stress, or ongoing concerns
- Psychiatric support, when appropriate
- Care Programs for specific challenges like school avoidance, screens and social media, and intense emotions and behavior
Appointments are virtual, scheduling is flexible, and care is available in multiple languages. Students with Medicaid receive care at no cost, and most private insurance plans are accepted.
If you'd like to learn more, this interest form takes just a few minutes — someone from Cartwheel will follow up from there.
