There is always time to celebrate another school psychologist!

The 2024 theme for National School Psychology Week is "Spark Discovery," which recognizes the work that school psychologists do to help their communities seek out new ideas, effect change, and expand horizons for children and youth. We asked one of our experts, Tanya Blackwell, how she engages and impacts her schools.

📕 "In order to support a child who must overcome obstacles and face challenges I need to gain a good understanding of the WHOLE-CHILD. Specifically it is important for me to understand all contributing factors impeding on child’s ability to access true abilities. Parent input/involvement is crucial in gaining this understanding. It is also very important for parents to ask questions and identify offered opportunities within the school to enhance their child’s learning."

📕 How important is a student`s mindset toward success? "Students need to feel success regardless of whether it is on grade level. As a school psychologist, I love finding student strengths (regardless of what level) and guiding others on how to build off of these strengths."

📕 What do people not realize about your role as a school psychologist? "That we do more than just testing. We are qualified to do many things which result in us wearing many hats and juggling many things throughout a day. Collaborating with others is essential in order to better understand our students as well as the environment they are receiving their education." ...

SALUTING OUR VETERANS
🇺🇸 Rossview Middle 🇺🇸

Rossview Middle School is a proud Purple Star School. The Tennessee Purple Star School Award highlights military-friendly schools committed to serving students and families connected to our nation’s military. With educators who are military veterans providing their unique perspective and insight, our Hawks continue to offer a military-friendly campus.

Dawn Bagby, Army National Guard, 8 years, 6th grade Math
Mark Krussow, US Army, 23 years, 7th grade Social Studies
Laura Lipinski, U.S. Navy, 11 years, PASS teacher

This November, we will celebrate our military-veteran CMCSS employees. Nearly 30% of our students are military-connected, and many of our employees are military families or veterans who understand the unique situations our students experience. Thank you for your service! ...

As we close out National School Psychology Week, join us in saying thank you to our dedicated team of school psychologists!

Their perspective, experience, and expertise help support students, families, and educators. Sometimes, the role of a school psychologist is confusing. Erika Christianson works with students at Montgomery Central Elementary and Middle Schools. She explained that, ultimately, she advocates for students` needs.

"My role in supporting a child along their journey is to be their advocate. Helping students overcome challenges within the classroom and social settings to become productive members of society is my goal when I work with students. My advice to parents/guardians and students is to reach out to the school and request support; there are so many supports available to students and their families within the school setting but school staff are not always aware of struggles faced at home. We are here to help navigate through the obstacles."

She also shared that encouragement and effort play a critical role in student success. "I encourage students by reminding them that they can do hard things as long as they try/put forth the effort. Mistakes are proof that an attempt is being made, and we do not learn if we do not make any mistakes."

❤ ...

National School Psychology Week - November 11 - 15

This year`s theme, "Spark Discovery," recognizes the work that school psychologists do to help their communities seek out new ideas, effect change, and expand horizons for children and youth. We asked one of our experts, Miranda Morris, how how she engages and impacts her schools.

📕 How can we encourage students who may be struggling to master a new skill or accept a setback?

"It’s important to remind children that success is different for everyone and that everyone learns at a different pace," shared Morris. "Creating a reachable goal for a child so they can experience success can be very helpful. Reminding children of their many other strengths is also a way to build confidence – if they struggle with reading but have a passion for drawing or athletics, utilize those areas to build them up and remind them of how great they are!"

📕 What do people not realize about your role as a school psychologist?
"Many people view school psychologist as solely the “testers” for special education. However, we are trained on not only assessments and evaluations but also individual and group counseling, system-wide data analysis, behavior analysis and intervention, resilience and risk factors, consultation and collaboration, academic/learning interventions, crisis preparedness and response, and professional ethics and school law."

Thank you to this passionate team for always putting our students first! ...

SALUTING OUR VETERANS
🇺🇸 Norman Smith Elementary School 🇺🇸

The Norman Smith Bears love seeing their military veteran faculty and staff lead their peers and the school community as they all serve students.

Sarah Blomberg - U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard- 4 years
Rachel Wainwright - U.S Army - 4 years
Chris Bailey - U.S. Army - 20 years
David Arnold - U.S Army - 8 years
Sean McGee - U.S. Army - 7 years
Will Hicks - U.S. Army- 4 years

This November, we will celebrate our military-veteran CMCSS employees. Nearly 30% of our students are military-connected, and many of our employees are military families or veterans who understand the unique situations our students experience. Thank you for your service!

📷: Norman Smith Elementary School ...

SALUTING OUR VETERANS
🇺🇸 Minglewood Elementary School 🇺🇸

Join us in celebrating our veteran Mighty Oaks - the Minglewood faculty and staff are proud to recognize the following:

Vanessa Jackson, US Army, 13 years
Alexandera-Reese R. Winn, US Army 9 years
Danny Praschak, US Army, 3 years
CW3 Randolph Puskas, US Army, 20 years (not pictured)

This November, we will celebrate our military-veteran CMCSS employees. Nearly 30% of our students are military-connected, and many of our employees are military families or veterans who understand the unique situations our students experience. Thank you for your service!

📷: Minglewood Elementary School ...

We continue celebrating our school psychologists during National School Psychology Week (Nov 11-16)!

The work of our school psychologists covers a wide array of needs to ultimately support our students.

Megan Mozingo-Becker shared her expert insight into supporting our students in the classroom, throughout the school day, and at home. She shared that "a skilled school psychologist has an immense capacity for setting the tone for faculty and students, particularly in reference to supports provided in response to intervention (RTI) supports and specialized instruction." Our school psychologists help strengthen the bridge between school and home, supporting teachers and parents.

📕 Throughout the academic journey, students must overcome obstacles and face challenges. What advice would you give parents whose child is facing an academic challenge?

"During these difficult conversations, I always remind parents about the resiliency of children and the importance of maintaining high expectations. Limiting expectations has a number of negative impacts on human behavior, and I truly believe that all children will rise to the limits we, as stakeholders, set for them. Believe the sky is the limit, and your child will follow your example."

📕 Facing setbacks or lacking confidence in their abilities can limit a child’s progress. How do you encourage students who may be struggling to master a new skill or accept a setback?

"I believe in the impact of positivity. If stakeholders remain positive, the natural reward of positive attention greatly assists children on their path towards meeting goals. Additionally, I believe in empowering children by explicitly teaching them strategies to track and achieve short and long-term goals."

Thank you for building solid relationships daily! ...

Today is International World Kindness Day! Since 1998, countries around the world have celebrated the daily practice of kind behaviors. Let us make kindness the norm this year.

Throughout the year, in our schools and communications, we will focus on the theme of Kindness. It’s simple. Many challenges can be solved or reduced when children and adults demonstrate compassion, understanding, and grace. Let us all set our focus there for students and each other.

In November, we focus on the act of giving. When we give a kind word, a helping hand, or a supportive shoulder to lean on, we show others that they matter.

#worldkindnessday #kindness ...

Alternate Pathways to Teaching

If you are interested in becoming an educator but do not hold a teaching certification, CMCSS can help. Turn your passion into purpose by obtaining a job-embedded license. Anyone with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is eligible to apply for a job embedded license.

NEXT SESSION INFO:
Thursday, November 14
4:00 p.m.
Central Services Gracey (621 Gracey Ave)

Learn more here - https://www.cmcss.net/blog/2024/10/18/cmcss-offers-monthly-info-sessions-for-potential-educators ...

We are celebrating National School Psychology Week by saying THANK YOU to our dedicated team of school psychologists. The work of our school psychologists covers a wide array of needs to ultimately support our students` academic journies.

Kerri Burchwell, Lead School Psychologist, shares her expert insight into how her team play a key role in our school communities.

📕 What is your role in supporting a child along their academic journey, and what methods or advice would you give parents whose child is facing an academic challenge?

"As a school psychologist, I assist in monitoring student universal screening data with teachers and help determine who may need academic intervention," said Burchwell. "School psychologists meet with intervention teams to review student progress in intervention to see who is meeting goals and who may need additional supports. Parents should always reach out the teacher to voice their concerns and see what resources are available to assist with academic success."

📕 What do people not realize about your role as a school psychologist?

"Most people do not realize I do not have a “couch” in my office. Our role is to analyze data and review observations from multiple sources to help determine what supports may be needed by a student for academic success."

Thank you for supporting our students and district! ...