Tomorrow's School Psych

In this episode, I’m talking about one of those questions school psychologists hear all the time, are you going to test my child for dyslexia? I walk through three practical tips to help you feel more prepared for that conversation, from understanding how dyslexia is defined today to knowing how to talk about it clearly in your report and at the eligibility meeting. I also get into what areas real...

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Karen Silberman to talk about the VMAT, the Visual Motor Abilities Test, and why this new digital assessment tool could make life a whole lot easier for school psychologists. We get into what makes it different, how the automatic scoring works, and why moving away from rulers, protractors, and hand scoring could be such a big shift for the field. We also talk abou...

In this episode, I’m talking about efficiency, but not in the usual way. Instead of throwing random productivity tips at an already overloaded schedule, I’m walking through a more useful approach, figuring out what the actual problem is first. Because sometimes you do need a better system, and sometimes the job is simply asking too much of you. I also share the four questions I use to spot where i...

In this episode, I’m joined by Tim to talk about report writing, efficiency, and why so many school psychologists need a better system. We get into the real frustrations behind writing thorough reports, the decision fatigue that builds up fast, and what inspired Tim to create a tool that feels more intuitive, supportive, and actually usable. We also talk about AI, workflow, mental health, and why...

In this episode, I’m breaking down one of the most useful lenses we can bring to student evaluation, executive functioning. I talk through when I start looking more closely at these skills, especially when the data is not lining up and a student’s classroom performance tells a very different story from their test results. I also walk through how I assess executive functioning, both with formal too...

Have you ever wondered what it would look like to use your school psych skills outside of a traditional K 12 role? In this episode, I’m continuing our conversation about alternative career paths and focusing on private practice, what it actually looks like and what it doesn’t. I share my journey of becoming a Licensed Educational Psychologist, keeping that license in my back pocket, and eventually...

In this episode, I sit down with Elizabeth Hamblet, a nationally recognized expert on the transition to college for students with disabilities. With more than two decades of experience working in college disability services offices, Elizabeth shares what really changes after high school and why so many students arrive on campus with expectations that simply don’t match reality. We talk about the b...

Have you ever quietly wondered, do I really want to be doing this exact version of the job for the next 20 years? In this episode, I’m kicking off a mini series exploring the different ways school psychologists can use their credentials beyond the traditional K–12 role, and I’m starting with what was possible inside my own district. I share how pursuing additional training in school neuropsycholog...

Interview season can feel intense, especially in school psychology where you’re often sitting in front of a full panel and being asked to explain complex, real world work on the spot. In this episode, I’m sharing three practical tips to help you feel clear, confident, and prepared whether you’re interviewing for internship, your first job, or a new district. We’ll talk about how to answer “tell us...

In this episode, I’m joined by Kelly Mobeck, also known as Coach Kelly, a certified performance and leadership coach with over two decades of experience supporting high achieving professionals. Together, we talk about overwhelm, that heavy, all consuming feeling so many of us carry, and why it’s not a sign that you’re failing or doing something wrong. Kelly shares practical, grounded strategies to...

This episode is a thoughtful, practical conversation for anyone working in schools who wants to support LGBTQ students without feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start. I’m joined by Katie Pettersen, a school psychologist with deep experience advocating for students, families, and staff in an increasingly complex educational landscape. We talk about what affirming support can actually look lik...

Today’s episode is part three of my series on knowing your tools and strengthening eligibility practices, and we’re focusing on low incidence disabilities. I’m walking through three practical tips to help you evaluate students with hearing impairments, visual impairments, or orthopaedic impairments in a way that’s accurate, equitable, and truly team-based. We talk intentional tool selection (with...

Today I’m talking autism evaluations, specifically how to do them thoughtfully, collaboratively, and in a way that actually reflects the whole student. This is part two of my eligibility series (part one was learning disabilities), and I’m sharing three practical tips you can put into play immediately. We’re getting into why your speech-language pathologist is not an “extra” on the team, how under...

Can we talk learning disabilities for a second? Because SLD evaluations live right at that messy intersection of data, instruction, and real human experience, and it’s one of my favorite areas to nerd out on. In this episode I’m sharing three quick tips that can make your evaluations clearer, more accurate, and way more connected to actual educational impact. We’ll hit the practical stuff, like re...

In this episode, I’m talking teacher consultation with Michelle Valdivieso, and she brings the kind of calm, seasoned clarity that makes you instantly rethink how you walk into a classroom. We get into what consultation is really for, how it’s changed with rising behavior needs, and why being “the testing person” is the fastest way to stay invisible. We also talk about the tricky stuff, like consu...

This episode is a reminder that present levels are not just for students. They matter for you too. Our work changes constantly, and so do we, which means taking a moment to assess where we are right now can bring clarity, calm and direction.  Today I walk you through a quick reflection you can use any time of year to check in on how you are doing and what might need adjusting. We look at your...

This episode is for anyone who ends the day wondering how they were busy for eight hours yet somehow still have a full to do list.  Our attention is constantly pulled in every direction, and sustaining focus has become one of the most valuable executive functioning skills we have. Today I break down what gets in the way of deep focus and how to make attention feel easier, not heavier. You wil...

This episode is packed with heart, honesty, and the real work happening behind the scenes to grow our field. I sat down with three incredible leaders who are reshaping how we recruit, support, and retain school psychologists, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.  Their energy is contagious, and their commitment to creating a more welcoming profession shines through in every sto...

This episode was such an energizing conversation, because it highlights something every school psychologist eventually faces, that moment when a policy shift threatens your work and you have to decide how to respond.  Kim and Mike walked me through a real situation in Indiana where their scope of practice was suddenly on the line, and how fast, coordinated action changed the outcome. It is a...

This episode is a short, powerful reminder of how easily projection shows up in our daily work.  When we are tired, stretched thin or overloaded with meetings and deadlines, it is so tempting to hand our stress to someone else without even realizing we are doing it.  I talk through the phrases we all catch ourselves using, the ones that push responsibility outward, and how a small shift...

I had such a great conversation in this episode, because it taps into a feeling so many of us know well. We entered school psychology excited to work directly with kids, then suddenly found ourselves buried in testing cycles and report writing.  Talking with Dr. Zack Maupin was a reminder that our skills stretch far beyond that loop, and that it is absolutely possible to make space for more m...

In this episode, I sit down with Leah Kuypers, the occupational therapist and creator of the Zones of Regulation, to talk about how this simple yet powerful framework has reshaped how educators understand and support emotional well-being in schools.  Leah shares the story behind the Zones, what inspired her to create it, and how it continues to evolve to meet the needs of neurodiverse learner...

If you’ve ever said, “I just need the right planner,” this episode is for you.  Time management isn’t always about color-coded calendars or fancy systems - sometimes it’s really about attention, impulsivity, or working memory.  I break down how executive functioning impacts your ability to manage time and why improving your focus or task initiation might be the real solution. I also shar...

Preschool evaluations are a whole different world, and in this episode, I chat with Erin MacIntyre about what makes assessing three and four-year-olds so unique.  We talk about how play-based assessments can reveal just as much as standardised tests, how to work effectively with families who are part of the process, and what makes a great multidisciplinary team tick.  Erin also shares th...

Data can tell a story, but only if we know how to read it.  In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Curt Merlau, Vice President of Resultant’s Education Practice, to talk about how schools can move from simply admiring data to actually acting on it.  Curt shares how his team uses technology and human-centered design to make data meaningful, improve mental-health supports, and give educators...