Psychologist's Post
Information and Links From Your School Psychologist
Hi! I'd like to introduce myself, I am Debra Wotherspoon, Goshen’s School Psychologist. I have been with Montgomery County Public School since 2004 and have worked as a school psychologist for twenty years.
On this page, I would like to provide you with quick access to information related to parenting, learning, mental health and school psychology.
School psychologists help children succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. They collaborate with educators, parents, and other professionals to create a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment for all students.
I typically participate on school teams to assist students having academic or social/emotional difficulties. I also help to identify children that have educational disabilities and assist in developing an individualized educational program based on their specific needs.
As a Montgomery County School Psychologist, I also serve another elementary and a middle school. I am usually in your school one or two days a week. Please let me know if there are questions I can answer for you or if I can help your child be more successful in school!
The best way for you to reach me is by e-mail: debra_c_wotherspoon@mcpsmd.org
General Information
Special Needs Information
Other Resources
What is special education?
Special education is governed by federal law under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) Public Law [108-446]. It is defined as "specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability." Special education provides additional services, supports andprograms, for students with special needs. Sometimes these are provided in specialized placements or environments; depending on the needs of the child. The vast majority of students in Special Education receive services in their home school and with nondisabled peers. The range of special education support will vary based on need.
There are many guidelines governing Special Education and the MCPS website is a good resource for parents.
What is a disability?
The term a “child with a disability” means a child identified with one of the state/federal recognized disabilities who needs special education services. In general, this means that as a result of the disability, the child is having a great deal of difficulty in the regular education program and even with interventions and supports requires something more specific for that child to learn.
The disability categories are:
Intellectual Disability
Hearing Impairments (including deafness)
Speech and/or Language Impairments
Visual Impairments (including blindness),
Emotional Disability
Orthopedic Impairments
Autism
Deaf/blindness
Traumatic Brain Injury
Other Health Impairments
Specific Learning Disabilities
Developmental Delay
- Multiple Disabilities
What do I do if I suspect my child has a disability?
You should contact your child’s teacher or a school administrator. There are a number of school-based programs designed to assist children that are struggling in school. Educators are trained to work with children with a wide range of learning needs. There are also school-based teams of professionals that meet to help design, implement and monitor specific interventions to assist struggling students. Most children respond well to these general education interventions. Parents are important members of our teams and we want you to be a part of your child’s learning and progress.
If your child is still not making good progress, the team may decide to seek evaluations to help determine the presence of a disability. These evaluations can only be conducted with the informed consent of the parents and are provided at no cost to the family.
There are many guidelines governing Special Education and the MCPS website is a good resource for parents. Your school team, including the school psychologist, is there to help explain the process and ensure that your child can learn and succeed!