Written by: Amber Fridley, Madison Knodel, and Jillene Susag - DPS School Psychologists
Do you know who Dickinson Public Schools School Psychologists are? Do you know what their role is in the school system? We are excited to share with you the work we love and get to do daily! As School Psychologists, we provide direct support and interventions to students. We also consult with teachers, families, and other school-employed mental health professionals to improve support strategies for maximizing student success.
School psychologists are trained in a variety of areas. We receive training in assessments, mental health interventions, academics and behavior, prevention services, special education services, special education law, data collection and analysis, program evaluation and crisis intervention, prevention, and support. Some of the areas we are trained in are not fully utilized, and depending on where you go in the state, the services a school psychologist provides may vary. Our days are usually never the same, which makes for an exciting career.
As school psychologists for DPS, most of our time is spent within the Tier 2 and Tier 3 supports for students but also provide Tier 1 support through teacher consultation and collaboration. We provide direct support to students through individual or group skills/counseling lessons based on their needs. School psychologists also assist teachers and staff with creating and implementing positive behavior support plans to improve behavior. Whether it be academic or behavioral, collecting and interpreting data is another vital role that drives decision-making for further interventions and services for students and staff.
Conducting psychoeducational and behavioral assessments plays a significant role in our positions at DPS. These assessments help with special education eligibility and provide information on individual students’ strengths and challenges. We are also a resource to special education staff in regards to special education law and criteria. We collaborate with school staff, outside agencies, and families to provide support and resources for students. Along with school social workers and school counselors, we are school-based mental health professionals and have had trauma-informed training. We have a solid understanding of how mental health issues and trauma impact student success in school, with friends, and at home. We use this knowledge to inform school staff of trauma-informed practices and instruction to use for those students. We understand how issues such as behavior, social relationships, decision making, and managing emotions affect learning, behavior, well-being, and student-engagement. We are valuable resources that help ensure all children thrive in school, at home, and in life. (Source National Association of School Psychologists; www.nasponline.org)
North Dakota and other states across the country are experiencing School Psychologist shortages. The recommended ratio for school psychologists to students is 1 to 500. In order to provide all of the services, support, and resources to students, parents, teachers, and schools that we are capable of, we need more school psychologists. It is also essential for us to educate others on our roles in the schools and the positive impacts we can make.
#NDSchoolPsych