This week we celebrate and recognize our school psychologists as it is School Psychology Awareness Week!
School psychologists work with individual students and groups of students to support academic intervention, change problem behaviors, address social emotional difficulties, support students with disabilities, and intervene in other situations that challenge students. They also work with teachers and parents to develop techniques for changing behavior in the classroom and at home. Other areas of focus for school psychologists include training students, parents, and teachers about how to manage crisis situations and substance abuse problems.
According to the National Association of School Psychology, there are 10 domains in which school psychologists provide services, including:
- Data-based decision making and accountability
- Consultation and collaboration
- Interventions and instructional support to develop academic skills
- Interventions and mental health services to develop social and life skills
- School-wide practices to promote learning
- Preventive and responsive services
- Family-school collaboration services
- Diversity in development and learning
- Research and program evaluation
- Legal, ethical, and professional practice
School psychologists recognize schools as a crucial context for development. They know effective instructional processes, understand classroom and school environments, understand the organization and operation of schools and agencies, apply principles of learning to the development of competence both within and outside school, consult with educators and other professionals regarding cognitive, affective, social and behavioral performance, assess developmental needs and develop educational environments that meet those diverse needs, coordinate educational, psychological and behavioral health services by working at the interface of these systems, and intervene to improve organizations and develop effective partnerships between parents and educators and other caretakers.
An essential role of the school psychologist is synthesizing information on developmental mechanisms and contexts, translating it for adults who are responsible for promoting the healthy growth and development of children and youth in a wide range of educational contexts.
Let’s celebrate our school psychologists this week!
Sarah Belleau
Integrated Services Director
Poudre School District
Integrated Services Poudre School District 