In this episode, I sit down with ShaVanety Jones, an early career school psychologist, executive functioning coach, and founder of Academic Fusion LLC. With a unique background in psychology and theater, ShaVanety shares how she helps students—especially gifted learners—build confidence, develop essential life skills, and stay engaged through creative tools like improv and social-emotional storytelling. We unpack the multifaceted role of a school psychologist, why third and fourth grade are pivotal years for student development, and how simple acts like writing thank-you notes can teach powerful life lessons.

Key takeaways:

• School psychologists are trained across 10 domains, serving as both evaluators and advocates for students' academic and mental health needs.
• ShaVanety's work focuses on executive functioning, social-emotional growth, and early intervention—especially for gifted students who may struggle with organization and behavior.
• Academic Fusion, her after-school program, blends theater and skill-building to make learning about time management, communication, and peer interaction fun.
• Simple strategies like preference assessments and handwritten thank-you notes can make a big difference in student engagement and confidence.
• Third and fourth grade are often inflection points when students begin to disengage from school—early support and skill-building can help prevent long-term academic and behavioral challenges.
• The job of a school psychologist extends far beyond counseling—it involves legal timelines, coordination, testing, and deep family communication.

Academic Fusion LLC currently operates as a B2B (Business to Business), so she is hired by school districts and organizations. However, keep an eye on things because her goal is to work as a B2C (Business to Customers, ie. parents).

Connect with ShaVanety Jones:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shavanety-j-233a35128/
• ShaVanety's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AcademicFusionLLC?utm_source=linktree_admin_share
• Complete her Gifted Student Programming Survey: https://forms.gle/FBcC4JGkuGGFjFkv7
• UCLA PEERS: https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/peers/adolescents-certified-usa/washington-pierce-county

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