November 9-13 is National School Psychology week!
This year’s theme for National School Psychology Week is “The Power of Possibility,” representing hope, growth, resilience and renewal. The theme is a reminder that even something as small as a seed can grow into something magnificent. When we focus on what is possible, we have hope that students will grow, thrive and bloom!
Battle Ground Public Schools employs 18 full-time school psychologists, plus an intern. School psychologists are considered the “case manager” at their buildings, serving both general and special education students. The services they provide include counseling, group work, and guiding the multidisciplinary special education team processes.
“Our school psychologists are essential to providing successful social-emotional learning programs in all of our schools,” said Ellen Wiessner, the district’s Executive Director of Special Services. “I’m continually impressed by the phenomenal job they’re doing through engaging with students, and they bring an impressively versatile skill set to Battle Ground Schools.”
In addition to student outreach efforts, school psychologists also engage directly with individual students who are struggling to meet behavior expectations.
Thank you to all of our dedicated, caring, and talented school psychologists! You truly make a difference, and you are appreciated!
We asked our school psychologists to share their thoughts on two questions:
- If there was one thing that you would like the world to know about school psychology, what would it be? and
- What about school psychology makes you get up and do it again every day?
You can read their answers by clicking the + symbol next to their names below!
Q: If there was one thing that you would like the world to know about school psychology, what would it be?
A: That we have a wide variety of knowledge and skills that we can use to help support students behaviorally and academically.
Q: What about school psychology makes you get up and do it again every day?
A: We are able to work as a team to develop the appropriate supports students need to access their education.
Q: If there was one thing that you would like the world to know about school psychology, what would it be?
A: School Psychologists can do so much more than just special education evaluations! We just spend most of our time doing that because that part of our job is legally mandated and there aren’t enough of us in a given district. Each school psychologists’ training is a bit different, but often includes coursework in consultation, individual and group counseling, and academic and behavioral intervention.
Q: What about school psychology makes you get up and do it again every day?
A: I love supporting and problem-solving with a team and helping to build systems at my school! My job is never boring – each day brings something new to investigate and figure out, so for someone like me, who has always loved learning, it’s pretty perfect.
Q: If there was one thing that you would like the world to know about school psychology, what would it be?
A: We exist and we are a great resource for problem solving!
Q: What about school psychology makes you get up and do it again every day?
A: The variety. I have no idea when I get up in the morning what unexpected turns my day may take.
Q: If there was one thing that you would like the world to know about school psychology, what would it be?
A: School Psychologists are essential workers.
Q: What about school psychology makes you get up and do it again every day?
A: Knowing that I can use my skills to meet the needs of students, families and staff, and make this world a better place!
Q: If there was one thing that you would like the world to know about school psychology, what would it be?
A: How diverse our training and backgrounds are. School Psychologists are trained in more than just special education and I do not think most school districts realize that we are so versatile and “useful” in so many different areas. We just get “stuck” in doing evaluations and working in SPED when we could be useful in program development and systems implementation, interventions, consultation, data tracking, family resource and outreach, and more.
Q: What about school psychology makes you get up and do it again every day?
A: I do this every day because I am a student advocate. I think there is so much negativity and stigmas around students with externalizing and “extreme” behaviors in schools. I do this everyday to try to educate teachers and school staff about the WHY the behavior is occurring in hopes to shift the culture, judgment, and provide appropriate language and tools to help with providing these students the things they need. I also work to allow students who struggle academically to get an opportunity to be successful prior to being evaluated and then labeled with a disability. Not every student who struggles needs to be evaluated for services.
Q: If there was one thing that you would like the world to know about school psychology, what would it be?
A: School psychology is a way of connecting teams and professionals to support kids within a world where they have a disadvantage.
Q: What about school psychology makes you get up and do it again every day?
A: I enjoy this work because I get to help children with disabilities find their strengths and feel success.
Q: If there was one thing that you would like the world to know about school psychology, what would it be?
A: We help both special education AND general education students with a variety of different social/emotional and behavioral needs.
Q: What about school psychology makes you get up and do it again every day?
A: The fact that helping a student helps a family, which in turn helps a community. I can have a big impact on the whole population around my school.
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Mailing Address: P.O. Box 200 
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