School Psychologist  

Over the past 16 years, I have served as School Psychologist for the Grosse Ile Township Schools. My prior work experiences have included the provision of School Psychological Services to the Detroit Public Schools and Romulus School District. As a Behavioral Specialist, I served as the Director of the Crisis Intervention Center at Beacon Day Treatment Center, a program designed to help Emotionally Impaired children. I earned a Graduate with High Distinction diploma from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and received a Bachelor's degree in 1984. I completed my graduate education at Wayne State University and earned a Master's in the area of School Psychology. I am currently certified as a School Psychologist in the State of Michigan and a Trauma and Loss School Specialist by the Institute of Trauma and Loss in Children. I am also a practicing member of the Downriver Association of School Psychologists, as well as the Michigan Association of School Psychologists.

My primary role as School Psychologist involves the testing and placement of children suspected of a handicapping condition under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The 13 areas of impairment that are subsumed under this Special Education law include:

• Cognitive Impairment
• Emotional Impairment
• Hearing Impairment
• Visual Impairment
• Physical Impairment
• Other Health Impairment
• Speech and Language Impairment
• Early Childhood Developmental Delay
• Specific Learning Disability
• Severe Multiple Impairment
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Deaf-Blindness

While many of the children who qualify for Special Education Services are able to receive services within their neighborhood school, I am responsible for the low incidence cases that might require specialized support in many of the programs available to our district throughout Wayne County.

Most of my impetus for serving the children of Grosse Ile has been directed toward prevention through informal consultation, guidance, monitoring and follow up. Of the 425 children I worked with the past year, the majority involved general education students who just needed some redirection toward the pathway of school success. Parents, teachers and students are encouraged to contact me anytime for a wide variety of issues that may be impeding the learning process. I have set up the Psycho-Educational Research Center (The "PERC"), a convenient self-help library with books, tapes and pamphlets to check out. I am also available as a coordinator of services outside of the school in order to assist with reliable professionals who specialize in counseling, psychiatric treatment or clinical testing. Through our Child Study Team at each building level, we are able to develop a team approach toward optimizing a student's readiness for learning. Many of the strategies recommended by the Child Study Team include Response to Intervention techniques toward remediation. This may include an eclectic mix of supportive measures geared toward the student's individualized needs including curricular modifications, environmental accommodations, behavior plans and informal testing. I have also developed a Fall Follow Up List for students who might need some additional monitoring of their progress the following year.

As the coordinator of the Grosse Ile Township School's Crisis Team, I have been working toward keeping our students safe through trauma support, grief counseling and debriefing. Our Crisis Team has been involved at every building level this year and we will soon be updating our manual to ensure that our policy and procedures are in place to respond to any emergency within our community.

Through the years, I have been involved with the Emergency Response Crisis Management Team, Struggling Students Task Force, Mental Health Committee and the Gifted and Talented program in our district. Our district is also well-known for developing the first Inclusive Education Guidelines to help smooth the transition for students entering back into their neighborhood school. Currently, I am in a mentoring position for our School Social Worker and am available to High School students who are interested in shadowing my position.

Each year, I take part in the Healthy Downriver Family Expo and I encourage all parents to consider attending this fun event that is full of exhibits, resources and entertainment. You may find out more about my "Learning Jamboree," visit www.hdfexpo.com or contact Lisa Horvath at The Guidance Center, 734-785-7705, ext. 7112. You might also catch me practicing for the event with our Kindergarten or 1st graders at Parke Lane School.