National School Psychology week is from November 11-15 and is dedicated to school psychologists all over the country to honor the important role they play in schools and communities. NSPW is also an annual week to recognize school psychologists’ work to help children thrive in and out of school. Every year NSPW has a different theme to honor all the work school psychologists do. This year’s theme, “Spark Discovery,” recognizes the work that school psychologists do to help their school communities seek out new ideas, effect change, and expand horizons.
Jamesville-Dewitt High School school psychologist Elaine Howe decided to become a school psychologist because she found the psychology classes she took in college interesting and she also thought the school calendar offered a flexible schedule. As a school psychologist “My day is always different,” said Howe. Howe does individual counseling, coping for social skills, testing learning disabilities, and attends meetings to write reports on how J-DHS can improve special education at the high school. Howe’s favorite part of being a school psychologist is seeing all the students she’s helped walk across the stage and cheering people up whenever they’re having a bad day.
While Howe has helped other people with psychology, psychology has helped her in her own personal life. Throughout her 25 years of being a school psychologist, psychology has taught her how to stay grounded in life and incorporate coping skills she teaches students in her own life. Some of her coping skills are walking through nature and hiking. “Going outdoors has helped me in a variety of ways throughout my life especially whenever I’m stressed,” said Howe.
J-DHS school counselor Serena Wadsworth decided to become a school counselor because she wanted to help kids who don’t have a lot of support at home. As a school counselor, Wadsworth’s job is to plan appointments, communicate with students’ parents and teachers, and respond to emails from people in and out of the school. “I want students to know they have me as a trusted adult and to see me as someone who can help them navigate them through life. I want teenagers to see me as a google button,” said Wadsworth.
Wadsworth has seen that over the past few years mental health struggles for teenagers have increased significantly. Because of this, Wadsworth’s favorite part of her job is knowing that students trust her with sharing information about their mental health. As a school counselor Wadsworth has found that connecting and helping others through difficult parts of their lives can be a learning and growing experience for herself.
