The Prepared School Psych

In this episode of Prepared School Psych podcast, host Jenny Ponzuirc delves into the various roles within an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting based on her extensive experience of over 25 years in school psychology. Jenny explains the evolution of the roles, highlighting responsibilities such as facilitator, note taker, and timekeeper. She also offers practical tips on helping collea...

In part three of a six-part series on the IEP process, Jenny Ponzuric discusses the importance of accurately presenting current levels of functioning in an IEP document. Drawing from her 25 years of experience in special education, she highlights the shift from summarizing assessment results with jargon and test scores to providing detailed, understandable descriptions of a student's abilities...

Maximizing Efficiency in School Psych Evaluations with Dr. Dan Miller In this episode of the Prepared School Psych podcast, Dr. Dan Miller discusses his new venture, Psych Writer Pro, a virtual report writing assistant aimed at streamlining school neuropsychology evaluations. With a vast background in school neuropsychology, including leadership roles at the Woodcock Institute for Neurocognitive R...

🎙️ In this quick episode, we continue our six-part series dedicated to unraveling the complexities of the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process. This time, we're focusing on the essential task of explaining evaluation results to parents and educators during IEP meetings. It’s a crucial step that often sets the tone for the entire discussion. Ever wondered how to effectively communicat...

Welcome to another episode of the Prepared School Psych podcast! In today’s episode, Jenny Ponzuric delves into the ins and outs of the pre-referral process in schools. Whether your process is running smoothly or in need of an overhaul, Jenny’s insights and tips will guide you through making meaningful improvements. Key Topics Covered: Defining the Pre-Referral Process : Jenny explains the various...

🎙️ In this episode, we kick off a six-part series dedicated to exploring the intricacies of the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process. Today’s focus is on a common scenario at IEP meetings: the verbal presentation of evaluation results. Ever been in a meeting where someone reads the report word for word? I share my experiences and offer practical tips for handling this situation effective...

Episode 39: Seeing Beyond the Surface: The Importance of Nonverbal Assessment In this episode, we delve into the world of nonverbal assessment with Dr. Milton Dehn and Carl Romstad. Traditional fluid reasoning tests have limitations, and our guests introduce a groundbreaking new tool that can unlock the full potential of students, especially those from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Dehn and Carl Romsta...

Episode 38 - Inspiring Success: Giving Yourself and Others an A with Jenny Ponzuric In this episode Podcast Host Jenny Ponzuric discusses the concept of giving yourself and others an A, inspired by the book 'The Art of Possibility' by Benjamin and Rosamund Stone Zanders. She explains a unique assignment where students write letters envisioning their future successes, focusing on personal g...

In this episode of the Prepared School Psych podcast, Jenny Ponzuric highlights the importance of reflection for school psychologists. She shares her experiences from the 2023-2024 school year, including delivering 70 training sessions and spending 50 hours in office hours via Zoom. Jenny discusses her methods for evaluating past performance and planning for the future, focusing on improving conte...

Balancing Priorities in School Psychology: Utilizing Humor and Self-Care with Matthew Moix In this episode of the Prepared School Psych podcast, I welcome Matthew Moix, an experienced school psychologist and education leader. With over two decades in the field, Matthew discusses his early involvement in the Arizona Association of School Psychologists and his journey to becoming its president. He h...

The Role of Advocacy in Special Education: A Talk with April Rehrig In this episode of the Prepared School Psych Podcast, host Jenny chats with April Rehrig, founder of Rise Educational Advocacy and Consulting. April shares her journey from being an elementary school teacher and school psychologist to starting her own advocacy practice. They discuss the importance of parent advocacy, the impact of...

From Psychologist to Leader: Dr. Matthew DuBois on Making an Impact In this episode, Dr. Matthew DuBois, president of the Massachusetts School Psychology Association and senior director of clinical services and SEL program for the Brookline public schools, shares his wealth of experience and insights. Dr. DuBois discusses his career journey, the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL), and h...

Dr. LD on the Frontlines: AI, Ethics, and School Leadership. In this episode of the Prepared School Psych Podcast, host Jenny welcomes Brittany Lewno-Dumdie, a dedicated school psychologist and the 2023-24 president of the Montana Association of School Psychologists (MASP). Brittany shares the journey behind her nickname 'Dr. LD,' her professional background in school psychology, and her w...

In this episode, Dr. Ashley Doss, the Critical Response and Wellness Coordinator for the Anchorage School District in Alaska, shares her extensive experience in crisis response, threat assessments, and leadership in education. She discusses her journey in the field, her role as the president of the Alaska School Psychologists Association, and strategies for managing responsibilities, setting bound...

Leadership and Advocacy in School Psychology with Lina Kitson In this episode, the host interviews Lina Kitson, a practicing school psychologist in Kansas and a leader in various school psychology organizations. Lina discusses her extensive involvement in the Kansas Association of School Psychologists (CASP), her advocacy work, and her role in the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP...

In this engaging episode, host Jenny welcomes Noelle Van-Vlierbergen, a former corporate coach for Apple and Sony and now an author, empowerment coach, and founder of 'Day by Day.' Noelle shares her journey of helping individuals, especially teens, manage change, anxiety, depression, and addiction through specialized journals and wellness planners. They discuss the history and development...

In this episode, Gagan Shergill, a travel school psychologist with SPG Therapy and Education, discusses his journey and passion for integrating technology and AI into school psychology. He serves as the chair of the AI Ethics Ad Hoc Committee of the California Association of School Psychologists. Gagan talks about the benefits and limitations of using AI in practices such as report writing and stu...

School Psychologists and Burnout School psychologists face a high risk of burnout due to workload, lack of control, and value mismatches with their work environment. In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Corcoran advocates for a preventative approach to address burnout by equipping new school psychologists with self-care strategies and knowledge about creating a good fit environment. Self-Care for School...

School psychologists are the ultimate behind-the-scenes heroes, but even superheroes can feel like frauds sometimes. This episode tackles that nagging voice of imposter syndrome that whispers you don't belong. We'll explore: Understanding Imposter Syndrome: Why that feeling of inadequacy persists despite your accomplishments. Taming the Inner Critic: Strategies to acknowledge and quiet sel...

Welcome, everyone! We're thrilled to have Dr. Katie Raher, founder and CEO of Constant Love and Learning , with us today. An award-winning teacher turned school psychologist, Dr. Raher helps educators and change-makers foster well-being and social-emotional learning (SEL). After a health crisis in 2016, she discovered the critical importance of well-being practices for educators and founded Co...

The information and advice provided are for guidance purposes only, and all participants are required to follow federal and state law and their school district guidelines and policies. Welcome, everyone, to this episode of our podcast. Today, we're honored to introduce Jessica Shearin, a nationally certified school psychologist currently serving in the Clark County School District. With a dive...

The information and advice provided are for guidance purposes only, and all participants are required to follow federal and state law and their school district guidelines and policies. Welcome, everyone! Today is an exciting day as we dive into a conversation with Michele Custer is a Licensed Educational Psychologist in Northern CA. She is the current CASP Legislative Chair and is the NECASP Presi...

The information and advice provided are for guidance purposes only, and all participants are required to follow federal and state law and their school district guidelines and policies. In the ever-evolving landscape of education and mental health, the role of school psychologists stands as a crucial pillar of support for students and educators alike. Dr. Lisa Peterson, an esteemed figure in the fi...

The information and advice provided are for guidance purposes only, and all participants are required to follow federal and state law and their school district guidelines and policies. Welcome to The Prepared School Psych, where we delve into the world of school psychology and education, exploring the insights and experiences of esteemed professionals like Eric Elias. In today's episode, we ha...

Hey there, it's Jenny Ponzuric back with another insightful episode and a listener's query that hits close to home for many of us. Today, let's tackle the perplexing issue of declining cognitive scores during student reevaluations. As educators, we're keen on comparisons, especially when scoring evaluations. We anticipate seeing progress, but what happens when the scores seem to re...