Thurgood Marshall Elementary School

TIPS FROM YOUR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST

    Bill Tyson, MA, CAS
 Certified School Psychologist

What is a School Psychologist?
School psychologists help children and youth succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. We have specialized training in both education and mental health and know how to identify and lower barriers to learning. These barriers can include developmental or learning disabilities, behavior difficulties, teaching styles, school or classroom climate, problems at home or with friends, substance or alcohol abuse, violence, and mental health problems such as anxiety or depression. Our goal is to collaborate with parents, school staff, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments so that all students can learn.
What types of things does a School Psychologist do?

School psychologists work with students individually and in groups, as well as address school- and district-wide issues such as bullying prevention and positive behavioral supports. We use many different approaches, but generally provide these core services:
Prevention

• Design programs for children at risk of failing at school.
• Develop programs to make schools safer and more effective learning environments.
• Provide crisis prevention and preparedness information and training.
• Collaborate with school staff and community agencies to provide services directed at improving mental and physical health.
• Develop partnerships with parents and teachers to promote healthy school environments.

 Consultation

• Collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators to find effective solutions to learning and behavior problems.
• Help others understand child development and mental health and how they affect learning and behavior.
• Strengthen working relationships between teachers, parents, and service providers in the community.

Evaluation

• Evaluate eligibility for special services.
• Assess academic skills and aptitude for learning.
• Determine social-emotional development and mental health status.
• Evaluate learning environments.

Intervention

• Work directly with children and their families to help resolve problems in adjustment and learning.
• Provide training in social skills and anger management.
• Help families and schools manage crises such as death, illness, or community trauma.

TIPS

Tip #1 - Home School Conferences
Tip #2 - Positive Behavior Support
Tip #3 - Bullying
Tip #4 - Resilience
Tip #5 - Social Skills