Boston School Psychs Podcast

This week on the Boston School Psychs Podcast, we are joined by María del Carmen Needham, bilingual school psychologist and passionate advocate for emerging bilingual students, for an insightful conversation about culturally responsive school psychology and supporting multilingual learners. Together with Dr. Andria Amador, Senior Director of Behavioral Health Services for Boston Public Schools, the discussion explores how relationships, advocacy, and thoughtful practices can help schools better serve students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

Carmen shares how her lived experience shapes her work with emerging bilingual students and families, and offers practical guidance for school psychologists who want to improve their practice with multilingual learners. The conversation highlights the importance of slowing down, asking meaningful questions, and avoiding assumptions when concerns arise. Listeners will gain a clearer understanding of second language acquisition, the role of family voice, and how to distinguish between language differences and potential learning or developmental needs.

Dr. Amador discusses how Boston Public Schools is working to diversify the school psychology workforce, build strong professional community, and provide ongoing training to support culturally responsive services. The episode also explores how school psychologists can grow their impact through advocacy at the school, district, state, and national levels, and why representation and visibility matter in the profession.

Together, they highlight how culturally responsive practices begin with strong relationships and a commitment to continuous learning. This conversation is a reminder that when school psychologists lead with curiosity, humility, and advocacy, they help create schools where every student and family feels seen, valued, and supported.

This week on the Boston School Psychs Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Byron McClure, nationally certified school psychologist, founder of School Psych AI, and co author of Hacking Deficit Thinking, for an inspiring and practical conversation about the future of school psychology. Together with Dr. Andria Amador, Senior Director of Behavioral Health Services for Boston Public Schools, the discussion explores how innovation and strengths based practices can expand the impact of school psychologists in meaningful ways.

Dr. McClure shares the story behind School Psych AI and offers practical guidance for how school psychologists can begin using AI tools ethically and effectively in their daily work. The conversation focuses on building AI literacy, starting small with everyday tasks, and using technology as a thought partner rather than a replacement for professional judgment. Listeners will hear how Boston Public Schools is taking a thoughtful, system wide approach to training school psychologists and integrating AI into practice.

The episode also dives into strengths-based practices and the importance of shifting from deficit thinking to a more balanced, holistic view of students. Dr. McClure and Dr. Amador discuss how school psychologists can acknowledge real challenges while still centering student strengths, especially in psychological reports, team meetings, and everyday interactions. They share concrete examples of how language, mindset, and intentional action can change how students and families experience school psychology services.

Together, they highlight how school psychologists can take action within their own sphere of influence, whether through small daily practices or larger systems level change. This conversation is a powerful reminder that when school psychologists combine innovative tools with strengths based thinking, they are better equipped to do work that truly matters for students, families, and school communities.

This week on the Boston School Psychs Podcast, we’re joined by Alex Freeman, CBHM/MTSS Coach for the Behavioral Health Services team in Boston Public Schools, for an in-depth conversation about leadership, coaching, and the evolving role of school psychologists within a large urban district.

Alex shares how he decided to become a school psychologist and reflects on his professional journey from school-based practice to a district-level coaching role. He discusses how his work has expanded beyond traditional responsibilities to include coaching school teams, supporting tiered systems of support, and helping schools bring the Comprehensive Behavioral Health Model to life.

The conversation highlights how leadership develops within school communities and the impact that coaching and systems-level support can have on students, families, and school staff. Alex shares examples of how expanded roles and data-based decision-making contribute to safer, more supportive learning environments across Boston Public Schools.

Looking ahead, Alex discusses the opportunities and challenges of coaching within a large district and reflects on what sustains and motivates him in school mental health work during times of high need. He also shares his vision for how school psychologists can continue to lead in school climate, equity, and student wellbeing.

Together, they explore how school psychologists can serve as leaders, collaborators, and change agents in building safe, supportive, and equitable schools.

This week on the Boston School Psychs Podcast, we’re joined by Hani Murad and Paola Enciso, school psychologists in Boston Public Schools and union representatives, for an in-depth conversation about union advocacy and its impact on educators and students across the district.

Hani and Paola share their professional backgrounds and reflect on what motivated them to step into union advocacy roles. They discuss how union representatives advocate for school psychologists and other educators in Boston, including efforts to improve working conditions, ensure appropriate protections, and secure the resources staff need to effectively support students.

The conversation highlights how union advocacy helps create meaningful change, with reflections on recent examples where advocacy efforts made a tangible difference for staff and students. Hani and Paola also explain how collaboration between staff, union leadership, and administration plays a key role in advancing shared goals within Boston Public Schools.

Looking ahead, they discuss current priorities for union advocacy in Boston schools and share ways school psychologists and school staff can get involved in advocacy efforts to support their colleagues and strengthen services for students.

Together, they explore how union advocacy supports the evolving role of school psychologists and helps sustain the systems needed to serve students, families, and school communities effectively.

This week on the Boston School Psychs Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Sheila Desai, Director of Equity and Inclusive Practices at the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), along with Dr. Andria Amador, Senior Director of Behavioral Health Services for Boston Public Schools, for an in-depth conversation about strengthening culturally responsive practices in school psychology.

Dr. Desai shares insights from her leadership at NASP, including recommendations and resources that support school psychologists in building equity-focused, culturally responsive systems. She discusses how culturally responsive practices extend beyond individual interactions and into broader school-wide approaches that promote belonging, inclusion, and more equitable outcomes for students.

Dr. Amador reflects on the ongoing work happening across Boston Public Schools to embed culturally responsive practices into daily school psychology work, from engaging families and communities to ensuring that behavioral health supports are accessible, relevant, and respectful of diverse cultures and experiences.

Dr. Desai also looks back on her years as a BPS school psychologist during the early stages of the Comprehensive Behavioral Health Model (CBHM), sharing what it was like to be part of the model’s launch when it existed in only ten pilot schools. She highlights how equity conversations shaped CBHM’s development and how the model has grown into a district-wide system in 2025.

Together, they explore how culturally responsive practices strengthen school communities, support student wellbeing, and help school psychologists serve as advocates for equity in both direct practice and systemic work.

This week on the Boston School Psychs Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Achilles Bardos and Dr. Carolyn Hall for an insightful discussion about universal behavioral health screening and its impact on student wellbeing.

Dr. Bardos, CEO and founding member of Edumetrisis, LLC, and co-developer of the Behavior Intervention Monitoring Assessment System (BIMAS-2), shares the story behind the tool’s development and how it has evolved over more than three decades to support prevention, progress monitoring, and data-driven decision-making. He explains how integrating technology into behavioral assessment has transformed how schools nationwide identify and support students’ social-emotional needs.

Dr. Hall, Program Director for Boston Public Schools’ Comprehensive Behavioral Health Model (CBHM), describes how BPS became one of the first large districts in the country to adopt universal behavioral health screening, at a time when only about five percent of schools were doing so. She highlights how the district piloted multiple screeners before selecting the BIMAS-2, and how school psychologists now help lead implementation, data analysis, and follow-up supports across schools.

Together, they discuss how the collaboration between Edumetrisis and BPS has strengthened prevention systems, enhanced equity in identifying student needs, and influenced national practice. They also reflect on the real-world impact of screening, from guiding multi-tiered supports to saving lives.

This week on the Boston School Psychs Podcast, we’re joined by Arabiye Artola Bonanno and Pravash Kumar, school psychology doctoral interns completing their internship year in Boston Public Schools (BPS). BPS is the only school district in Massachusetts to offer a doctoral-level training program within the district, and we are proud that the program was recently awarded APPIC status.

Together, they discuss how their internship has helped them bridge the gap between research and real-world practice, the rewarding experiences that have shaped their growth, and how collaboration with educators across settings strengthens student support. They also reflect on working within a highly diverse school district, gaining deeper insight into equity, cultural responsiveness, and resource allocation across schools. Lastly, they share how this internship experience is influencing their future roles as school psychologists and their goals for impact at both the school and system levels.

This week on the Boston School Psychs Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Amber Harris, NASP Treasurer and Assistant Professor at Louisiana State University Shreveport, along with Dr. Andria Amador, Senior Director of Behavioral Health Services in Boston Public Schools.Together, they explore the power of connection in school psychology such as how fostering relationships, advocacy, and community can strengthen and sustain the profession. Reflecting on her 15 years of experience as a school psychologist and her leadership at both the state and national levels, Dr. Harris shares meaningful insights on supporting one another in the field. The conversation also touches on the popular Facebook forum she moderates, Said No School Psychologist Ever, and how it provides a unique space for connection and professional growth.

This week on the Boston School Psychs Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Ivonne Borrero, Psy.D., Assistant Director of Behavioral Health Services for Boston Public Schools.With over three decades of experience, Dr. Borrero shares practical tips for supporting multilingual learners, drawing from her work as an assistant director, bilingual school psychologist, adjunct professor, and clinical psychologist. She discusses how school psychologists can foster inclusive practices, strengthen family collaboration, and promote equitable support for multilingual learners.

This week on the Boston School Psychs Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Eric Rossen, Executive Director of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), along with Dr. Andria Amador, Senior Director of Behavioral Health Services in Boston Public Schools.

Together, we explore how NASP is advocating for school psychologists, helping build community, promoting meaningful discussions, and addressing challenges such as workforce shortages in school psychology. Dr. Rossen and Dr. Amador also share how the NASP Practice Model can serve as an advocacy tool to support an expanded, more comprehensive role for school psychologists, one that goes beyond assessment to utilize the full range of skills we are trained in.