Susan Gattman has taken the reins as director of the Treutlen House.

Gattman is replacing Andrea Liverman, who has taken a different position with Morningstar, the organization that runs the Treutlen House, to be closer to home.

“My main reason was my son, wanting to be closer,” Liverman said.

Gattman has worked with Morningstar since 1999 as a parent trainer and counselor.

“I’ve worked with a lot of the children here in that capacity,” she said. “I was Andrea’s assistant for a few months, so when they offered me this position I took it.”

Gattman has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and minored in mental health. She started working at Morningstar soon after she got out of college. She said she chose her field to help children, “wanting to make children’s lives better, and trying to help keep families together.”

Gattman said she wants to continue the good work that has been done at Treutlen House. Treutlen House has 12 children there now, putting it at full capacity, according to Gattman.

She said she wants to help improve the children’s lives who come to Treutlen House.

Liverman said she has been going over protocol with Gattman.

“I think her experience as a parent educator will be useful with the house parents,” Liverman said. “She taught parenting classes for almost eight years.”

Liverman said Gattman already knew the majority of what she needed from her years working with Morningstar and the children at Treutlen House.

She also is a familiar face for the boys at Treutlen House after she filled in as a house parent for six weeks earlier this year.

Liverman said the community has helped prepare the boys for school with donations of school supplies and clothes.