Professional BackgroundMy professional background spans North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and California. I worked in State College, PA with Easter Seals and in Head Start preschools. In Charlotte, NC, I provided early intervention services with a (birth to three-year old) multi-disciplinary early intervention team. Afterwards, I moved to California where I worked for Harbor Regional Center in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County providing services to older adults with developmental disabilities. Upon returning to NC (my home state), I began working in Wake County schools (WCPSS) as a School Psychologist. I served as a board member of the NC School Psychologists Association (NCSPA) as the Legislative and Public Policy committee chair. In Feb. 2019 I was awarded the 2019 NASP National School Psychologist of The Year in Atlanta. Prior to this (May 2016) I was awarded the 2015-2016 WCPSS School Psychologist Of The Year by WCPSS School Psychology Dept. and in October 2017 I was awarded the NC School Psychology Association Practitioner of the Year award. I am an appointed commissioner for the NC Governor's Commission on Access to Sound Basic Education, and a past nominee for the CSULB Distinguished Alumni award. I am a passionate advocate for public education, for children, and for access to behavioral health supports in school. I love my profession and support access to education and behavioral health services for all children. Be Brave For Children.
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Who Am I? |
School Psychologists provide instructional consultations, support school improvement, support students with disabilities, provide social emotional learning (SEL) interventions, and provide behavioral health/mental health supports in schools. We are in leadership positions across our school districts and at the state level. We serve as consultants to teachers/staff, support assessment teams, and serve on district leadership teams and specialty committees. Some of my roles have included serving on the School Psychology assessment teams and other committees, past chair of the Promoting School Psychology committee, and serving as a board member of the NC School Psychology Association (NCSPA) since 2011. I am a member of the National Association of School Psychology (NASP) and served as the NASP GPR (Government Professional Relations) state liaison for NC. Advocating for public education and for behavioral health/mental health supports, supporting comprehensive school psychological practices, building leadership skills in students, and working towards equitable access in schools for children/families are some of what drives me in my profession. My children, husband, and family keep me strong, positive, and loved on a daily basis.
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BackGround & Interests |
My educational background includes a Bachelor's of Science in Middle School Language Arts & Social Studies Education (NCSU), a Master's of Education in Special Education with Advanced Study in Early Intervention (The Pennsylvania State University), and a Specialist Credential in School Psychology (California State University, Long Beach). I participated in the Public Policy Institute training with NASP at George Washington University in July 2011.
My professional interests include: advocacy, multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), evidence-based instruction, social-emotional learning (SEL), equitable practices in schools, and student/parent/teacher collaboration. Access for ALL is the goal. My personal interests include: learning from and with my daughter and son, traveling, gardening, cooking, learning, and spending time with family and friends talking and laughing. |