In recognition of National School Psychology Week, November 11-15, we acknowledge the important work school psychologists do in fostering student success. Katie Hart, a school psychologist at Anthony Wayne High School (AWHS), shares insights from her seven years of experience in the district, offering a glimpse into this important role.
The Path to Becoming a School Psychologist
School psychologists are highly trained professionals with expertise in both psychology and education. Hart attended Bowling Green State University where she completed her undergraduate degree, Master’s degree, and Education Specialist degree, a requirement for school psychologists. The three-year graduate program includes coursework in child development, school organization, and special education policies, as well as a full-time internship in a school setting during the third year.
Reflecting on what drew her to the field, Hart explains that she initially pursued psychology with the goal of becoming a clinical psychologist. However, she found a different path through school psychology, discovering that helping children succeed doesn’t always require traditional therapy.
"There’s more than one way to help a child," she said. "For me, it’s about identifying the extra support they need to make school a place they want to be."
What Does a School Psychologist Do?
At the core of a school psychologist’s role is psychoeducational assessment, a process used to determine if a student qualifies for special education services. Often, a student is referred to a school psychologist by the education team or parent when they are concerned that a student is struggling to grasp school concepts.
The student will meet with the school psychologist and is led through a series of tests to determine how he/she learns best and to help identify learning difficulties such as ADHD, dyslexia, a developmental disability or other social-emotional, behavioral or psychological concerns.
"The formalized assessments help us see what the student needs,” Katie said. “Our first goal is to find interventions that can support students without the need for more intensive special education services if possible.”
In addition to assessments, school psychologists also consult with teachers, administrators, and the school social worker, helping to identify strategies that promote the student’s success within the classroom.
The School Psychologist as a Liaison
One of the most important roles a school psychologist plays is that of a connecting point between students, parents, teachers and administrators. When teachers express concerns about a student’s progress or when a child isn’t responding to interventions, Hart meets with parents to explore the next steps.
“If we’ve tried a lot of things and they aren’t working, we may need formalized assessments to see if we’re missing something,” she explained. “I think my strength is in the interpersonal part of it. I try hard to make sure the reports use terms parents can understand and reassure them that their child will get the support that they need at school."
Elementary school psychologists are most often the first to identify a learning difficulty or disability in a student and work closely with parents as they learn about the world of special education and how they can best support and advocate for their child.
Those who work in the older grades are typically checking in with students and completing the re-assessment that is required every three years by the state. Hart completes around 60 re-evaluations per year at AWHS, and in some cases, students graduate out of special education altogether.
“These are great opportunities to evaluate what growth we are seeing and can discuss whether or not the student still needs an IEP,” Katie explained. “By the time they get to high school, we can see students start to make great progress and transition out of special education services, which is really rewarding.”
She takes pride in helping students transition out of special education when appropriate, celebrating their growth and readiness for independence.
"There’s sometimes fear from parents about when it comes to transitioning out of special education,” she said. “They remember when their child was struggling and they don’t want to see them go through that again. I try to reassure them their child has it figured out and can self-advocate - that they are ready.”
The Rewards of Working with Students
Katie said that seeing a student make progress, close the gaps in their learning and start to use strategies they have learned to be independently successful is what everyone involved with their education wants.
"Many students and parents don’t realize how many people are rooting for them,” she reflects. “We’re like an invisible team, always pulling for them."
She finds it gratifying when students are able to advance past needing an IEP and demonstrate readiness to take on whatever lies ahead of them.
“Seeing students who have had to work harder than everyone else graduate—that’s the best part,” she said.
Looking Ahead
The educational landscape continues to evolve, particularly as schools respond to the continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As schools work to overcome gaps in learning and rising mental health challenges, school psychologists are key members of the team when it comes to building partnerships with families, teachers and administrators, to ensure that students receive the support they need to learn.
Hart’s advice for aspiring school psychologists is simple, “If you want to make a real difference in a child’s life, this is the way to do it. School is where they spend most of their time, and you can help make it a better experience for them.”
We appreciate the contributions our school psychologists make to help students overcome obstacles to be empowered to be future ready. Thank you to:
Katie Hart, School Psychologist at AWHS & Penta Career Center
Jessica Keeler, School Psychologist at Anthony Wayne Junior High and Waterville Primary
Cari Langenderger, School Psychologist at Fallen Timbers Middle School & Whitehouse Primary
Christina Riddell, School Psychologist, Preschool & Monclova Primary School