PWCS school psychologists play a vital role in fostering a positive climate and supportive culture across schools, providing invaluable assistance to students, families, and staff.
There are 62 school psychologists and four school psychology interns working diligently across PWCS, each contributing their expertise to meet the needs of their respective schools.
Martin Onley, a school psychologist at Hampton Middle School, emphasizes the adaptability and versatility that define the profession. He shared, “A school psychologist can basically fit into a role based on the school’s needs, thus creating a positive school climate by providing the necessary support.”
The role of a school psychologist is truly multifaceted. They work closely with students, families, teachers, and administrators, addressing learning or developmental barriers that emerge during a student’s academic journey. Beyond individual support, school psychologists also collaborate with school teams to implement schoolwide practices that promote and maintain a positive climate.
“School psychologists can bring a sense of an ‘outside’ or fresh look at situations, students, and challenges,” said Jennifer Parker, a school psychologist serving Neabsco and Pattie Elementary Schools. “For me, at my schools, my administrators and teachers love feedback because it may not have been something they thought of or realized.”
When asked to share the most rewarding aspect of his job, Onley cited the importance of building trust with students. “I think what I genuinely love about the work the most is being able to find a student or students who don’t really have safe people in their lives and then becoming that safe person for them and seeing the development that can occur from having a source of some stability,” he explained.
Parker echoed this sentiment, adding that making an impact on students and their families is incredibly meaningful to her. “When students draw me pictures or are yelling my name in the hallway (to say hello), that just warms my heart to know that I made an impact on them like they did for me. I would have to say I also love working with parents to help them understand their child’s needs in a coherent way. As a parent myself, when the ‘what’ and ‘why’ is answered, that makes me feel not only more knowledgeable but more confident to help my child with whatever needs they have. That is my goal for other parents,” Parker said.
For those entering the profession or in training to be a school psychologist, both Onley and Parker shared words of encouragement. They emphasize building relationships within the school community and trusting in your preparedness.
“Remember that being there for even just one kid at a time, one hour at a time, is already a huge service to the kid you’re working with and is already enough,” Onley advised. “Never judge yourself based on what other people are doing, and simply focus on what you can do to better the lives of the students at your schools one day at a time.”