1. School Psychological Services Alexandria City Public Schools Office of Psychological Services John Baker, Ph.D. – Lead Psychologist Virginia Larsen, M.Ed.,CAGS, Psychologist, Samuel Tucker Larisha Bailey, M.Ed., Psychologist, William Ramsay Megan Vaganek,MA., CAGS, Psychologist, Cora Kelly/TCW

2. Who are we?

3. Psychologist Assignments/Demographics Full-time Full-time Samuel Tucker Samuel Tucker Patrick Henry Patrick Henry John Adams John Adams William Ramsay William Ramsay Douglas McArthur Douglas McArthur Mount Vernon Community School Mount Vernon Community School FC Hammond 1-3 FC Hammond 1-3 Minnie Howard Minnie Howard TC Williams TC Williams Part-time Part-time Matthew Maury Matthew Maury James K. Polk James K. Polk Lyles Crouch Traditional Academy Lyles Crouch Traditional Academy George Washington 1 & 2 George Washington 1 & 2 Cora Kelly Cora Kelly Charles Barrett Charles Barrett George Mason George Mason Jefferson Houston Jefferson Houston Child Find/Preschool Child Find/Preschool TC Satellite TC Satellite Chance for Change Chance for Change 18 Psychologists 18 Psychologists Bilingual Psychologists Doctoral Level Psychologists Nationally Certified School Psychologists Licensed Clinical Psychologist 3 School Psychology Interns 3 School Psychology Interns George Mason University James Madison University William & Mary University

4. What do we do? School psychologists help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. School psychologists help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. We link mental health to learning and behavior to promote: We link mental health to learning and behavior to promote: High academic achievement High academic achievement Positive social skills and behavior Positive social skills and behavior Healthy relationships and connectedness Healthy relationships and connectedness Tolerance and respect for others Tolerance and respect for others Competence, self-esteem, and resiliency Competence, self-esteem, and resiliency

5. School Psychologists Work With Students to: Provide counseling, instruction, and mentoring for those struggling with social, emotional, and behavioral problems Provide counseling, instruction, and mentoring for those struggling with social, emotional, and behavioral problems Increase achievement by assessing barriers to learning and determining the best instructional strategies to improve learning Increase achievement by assessing barriers to learning and determining the best instructional strategies to improve learning Promote wellness and resilience by reinforcing communication and social skills, problem solving, anger management, self-regulation, self-determination, and optimism Promote wellness and resilience by reinforcing communication and social skills, problem solving, anger management, self-regulation, self-determination, and optimism Enhance understanding and acceptance of diverse cultures and backgrounds Enhance understanding and acceptance of diverse cultures and backgrounds

6. School Psychologists Work With Students and Their Families to: Identify and address learning and behavior problems that interfere with school success Identify and address learning and behavior problems that interfere with school success Evaluate eligibility for special education services (within a multidisciplinary team) Evaluate eligibility for special education services (within a multidisciplinary team) Support students’ social, emotional, and behavioral health Support students’ social, emotional, and behavioral health Enhance home-school collaboration Enhance home-school collaboration Make referrals and help coordinate community support services Make referrals and help coordinate community support services

7. School Psychologists Work with Teachers to: Identify and resolve barriers to student learning Identify and resolve barriers to student learning Design and implement student progress monitoring systems Design and implement student progress monitoring systems Design and implement academic and behavioral interventions Design and implement academic and behavioral interventions Support effective individualized instruction Support effective individualized instruction Create positive classroom environments Create positive classroom environments Motivate all students to engage in learning Motivate all students to engage in learning

8. School Psychologists Work with Administrators to: Collect and analyze data related to school improvement, student outcomes, and accountability requirements Collect and analyze data related to school improvement, student outcomes, and accountability requirements Implement school-wide prevention programs that help maintain positive school climates conducive to learning Implement school-wide prevention programs that help maintain positive school climates conducive to learning Promote school policies and practices that ensure the safety of all students by reducing school violence, bullying, and harassment Promote school policies and practices that ensure the safety of all students by reducing school violence, bullying, and harassment Respond to crises by providing leadership, direct services, and coordination with needed community services Respond to crises by providing leadership, direct services, and coordination with needed community services Design, implement, and garner support for comprehensive school mental health programming Design, implement, and garner support for comprehensive school mental health programming

9. School Psychologists Work with Community Providers to: Coordinate the delivery of services to students and their families in and outside of school Coordinate the delivery of services to students and their families in and outside of school Help students transition to and from school and community learning environments, such as resident treatment, or juvenile justice programs Help students transition to and from school and community learning environments, such as resident treatment, or juvenile justice programs

10. The U.S. Surgeon General estimates that one in five children and adolescents will experience a significant mental health problem during their school years. Some problems are more serious than others, but all children face challenges that can affect their learning and behavior. These can include: Stress and anxiety Stress and anxiety Worries about being bullied Worries about being bullied Problems with family or friends Problems with family or friends Loneliness or rejection Loneliness or rejection Disabilities Disabilities Depression Depression Thoughts of suicide or hurting others Thoughts of suicide or hurting others Concerns about sexuality Concerns about sexuality Academic difficulties Academic difficulties Dropping out Dropping out Alcohol and substance abuse Alcohol and substance abuse Fear of violence, terrorism and war Fear of violence, terrorism and war Mental Health Matters!

11. School Psychology Awareness Week, November 11-15, 2013 The theme, “We’re all in! Teams work.” is directed to students, but also carries an important message to all adults. This week, ACPS Psychologists will recognize the individual achievement of a student(s) with the “ Student POWER Award” and/or acknowledge the contributions of a school staff member with the “Possibilities in Action Partner Award”.

12. Congratulations!!! The Virginia Academy of School Psychologists (VASP) selects ACPS School Psychologist, Virginia Larsen, as 2013 School Psychologist of the Year!