Promoting School Psychology

OSPA
104 Mill Street Suite F
Gahanna OH 43230
Tel: 614.414.5980
Fax: 614.414.5982
Email: mail@OSPAonline.org

Promoting School Psychology, Professional Effectiveness, and Role Expansion

By: Alex Thomas

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Greetings:

Everyday is a good day to promote school psychology and our overall professional effectiveness and opportunities for role expansion is often dependent on our constituent outreach.

Below are some notions that can assist us in getting on our public's radar screen. People simply don't know what a school psychologist does or who they are and we have to de-stealth ourselves. Many of the letters, handouts, presentations, and articles referred to in the list below are readily available in easily copied form. You do not have to create anything new. It will be provided to you. All you have to do is disseminate it at the local level.

Good luck, have a great end of year, and happy de-stealthing.

Parents:

Make yourself visible. Circulate at school functions (open houses, special events)
Distribute handouts on common areas of interest such as stress, household chores, or television. NASP Handouts can be useful
Project a professional image: use appointment cards, hang diplomas and awards, dress in professional manner
Make phone calls to parents of children on caseload or parents of those you have recently seen. Commend them for accomplishments
Know background of parents, particularly non-native parents. Speak slowly and learn about cultural norms of diverse community groups
Write a regular school or district newsletter column
Maintain schedule for meeting with parents who cannot come during school hours
Make home visits homes where parents cannot or will not come to school. Include fathers and step-parents in visits and conferences
Return phone calls promptly, even if only to schedule a better time to talk.
Establish liaison with parent-teacher organization, offering to speak or assist in other ways (bring books to their attention, serve punch at a meeting)
Offer a parenting class
Offer to work in music concession stand or other school booster group activity
Communicate in simple language avoiding jargon and language that creates distance

Teachers:

Greet teachers and other staff members by name
Eat lunch in the staff lounge and vary your lunch time
Introduce yourself at the beginning of year faculty meetings and to all new people at the building
Involve teachers in plans relating to your services with students
Give presentations to faculty on topics of interest to them (teacher stress, self-esteem, parent conferencing)
Bring refreshments to lounge on special occasions (John Dewey's birthday or "School Psychology Day")
Plan regular office hours where teachers know you will be available
Volunteer to serve on building committees
Be a part of the school community by attending faculty meetings, Christmas parties, participating in the school "flower" fund or baseball pool, and by participating in other social events

Students:

Maintain quality services and realize that community opinion largely is affected by student comments about school
Make presentations about services to students
Sponsor a student group such as student council, school newspaper, running club, or be a coach
Help in student recognition programs and award ceremonies
Send "Happy grams" or other congratulatory notes
Say positive things about students to principals and teachers when students have been successful
Maintain continuing professional development in areas related to service delivery
Greet students by name, wander through cafeteria, be seen during class breaks
Attend special events such as plays, field trips, assemblies, award presentations
Consider alternative settings in order to be with students such as taking a walk, shooting baskets, sitting on swings
Take students out to lunch when they have an accomplishment

Community:

Patronize local business, especially those who are strong school supporters or those run by students' parents
Know the facts about the community; board members, demographics, drop-out rates, test scores, district strengths and weaknesses
Know all agency personnel from juvenile court, children's' services, and mental health center
Offer to write letters of support for community agencies who are seeking funding for programs that benefit children
Nominate a community leader involved with schools for NASP Certificate of Appreciation
Write 'Thank You' notes to community groups or agencies who have done something notable that impacts on the lives of children
Write for the community newspaper (letter to the editor, regular column, guest editorial)
Be involved in community activities such as church groups, sports programs, service groups
Speak at service group meeting (Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions) or for other community groups (CCL, American Legion, Mother of Twins, Junior Women)
Integrate school psychology into ongoing recognition for American Education Week or other public relations effort
Arrange media coverage of special projects or events. Know who's who with local media
Work with other service providers to sponsor special workshop or Saturday family day with speakers on various topics of interest to community

Administrators:

Establish positive working relationship with your schools' leaders. Know their interests, strengths, and leadership styles
Volunteer to help provide supervision at football, basketball, track meets, etc.
Keep administrators informed of your activities and plans
Let your administrator know that you are available to assist in areas of concern such as at-risk students, curriculum changes, school climate, parent relations, staff morale, drop-outs, etc.
Do not set yourself up for failure, being sure to always underpromise and overdeliver
Present at an administrators' meeting on a topic that would be important to them (dealing with at-risk students, problems of special education, what goes on in assessment)
Meet all deadlines early and anticipate questions

Support Staff:

Greet support staff by name. The best known people in a school are often the non-teaching staff (secretaries, aides, bus drivers, custodians, and cafeteria workers). They are most likely to live in the immediate neighborhood and be opinion shapers
Secretaries are vital links to success as they talk to more people in a month that most people do in a year. A good relationship with the school secretary is essential
Offer a presentation to a secretary group, custodian group, or bus drivers on a topic of interest to them (stress, maintaining discipline)
Offer a behavioral management inservice for teacher aides
Participate in appreciation days and other events for support staff
Recognize any special efforts through a note, flowers, or verbal congratulations