The Wiscard of Oz: Adventures in School Psychology

Breanna and Nygeleke examine the role that school practitioners can play as they learn to better support and understand multilingual learners. The team is joined by Dr. Rachel Fidler, Professor at SUNY Oswego. The team explores culturally and linguistically sustaining practices that best support students and learners alike while recognizing the importance of acknowledging students' and families' micro and macro systems that also shape their educational experiences. They address common misconceptions and misrepresentations, barriers to equitable support, and practical implementation strategies that challenge deficit-based perspectives. We close out and discuss the importance of recognizing language as a strength and using a systems-based approach to support equitable outcomes for all learners. 

Elyssa Lewis, Sally Sanders, and Annie Moore join the podcast crew to share and reflect on their experiences studying abroad in Switzerland and London as emerging school psychologists. The conversation leads to a discussion of the important implications of studying abroad and the perspectives that come with it. Being grad students with varied opportunities, like studying abroad, provides us with the necessary tools to work with students and individuals to provide a more tailored and culturally sustaining service.

A calm convo between Bre and Nygeleke where they reflect on school psychology and their journey into internship. As inspiration, they reflect and review content produced by social media icon Tiffany Lee as she paves her own journey and picture for what it means to be a school psychologist while inspiring others along the way.

Videos and content that we reviewed include: Attending a book launch, trekking to DC, and meeting Kelsie and Byron | school psych vlog; Deficit thinking is hurting students (12:43-36:03); We must have urgency Interview with a school psychologist w/ Dr. Byron McClure; YouthRex- Hacking deficit thinking: A youth teach- in with Dr. Byron McClure & Dr. Kelsie Reed.

The Podcast Crew sits down with Dr. Stacy Williams, a Licensed and Certified School Psychologist and Associate Professor, to explore the world of consultation and related services. While school psychologists are often recognized for their unique testing expertise, consultation is one of the profession's most impactful roles. In this episode, Dr. Williams shares what effective consultation looks like and how it can strengthen collaboration in and out of the school, support better outcomes for students and teachers, and empower all related parties. Join us as we uncover consultation as a cornerstone of school psychology practice and explore how it can create meaningful, systemic-level change.  

The CRISP Fellows talk with Tasi Levao about their individual experiences working within a Mental Health Service Focused Grant (MHSP). One from Florida, and two from New York State, Bre, Nygeleke, and Tasi compare and contrast how the grant is implemented across different contexts. They explore what it looks like to be a school psychologist within the framework of the grant, how fellows are building resources and increasing support in the field, and the ways their work is impacting students, families, and communities. The conversation also highlights social justice efforts, culturally responsive practices, and the real-world outcomes the fellows are seeing across their cohorts.

Bre and Nygeleke are joined by Dr. Rebecca Branstetter for an engaging conversation on how to better support school psychologists in their work. Together, they explore practical strategies for becoming more effective and efficient in the field, while also diving into the evolving role of AI in school psychology and what it means for the future of the profession.

Nygeleke Jones, Breanna Clarke, and Matthew Quattropani sit down to discuss the importance of self-care in grad school, what it means to them personally, and how they practice it every day, including strategies to make self-care sustainable. As they embark on their journeys through their second year of the school psychology program, they share unique perspectives, lessons learned, and encouragement for others on the same path.

Breanna Clarke and Nygeleke Jones discuss SUNY Oswego’s Certificate of Advanced Studies program, sharing the highs, the challenges, and hopes for how the program can continue to grow. They are joined by special guests Matthew Quattropani, Joe Wood, KT Hancock, and Dr. Jodi Mullen. The group has a conversation about play therapy, hip hop therapy, and other culturally responsive modalities that could be used to support students with various challenges in the school setting, and more importantly, the various courses that SUNY Oswego students can take to satisfy their Certificate of Advanced Studies requirements.

In this episode, Sophia and Marcus talk to Dr. Laura Spenceley about the various educational and career options open to school psychologists as well as opportunities for leadership and advocacy. They learn about Dr. Spenceley’s career path, the different forms of advocacy, and the persistence required to create change in school systems and in graduate programs. Stay tuned to hear Sophia and Marcus discuss the considerations that go into choosing assessments for special education evaluations. 

Nygeleke Jones, Breanna Clarke, and Sam Hatem share their perspective and experiences from their first year as school psychology graduate students at SUNY Oswego. As they enter their second year, they break down common shared experiences, independent struggles, and triumphs throughout their year. They share thoughts on how the program and the field as a whole can continue to grow, highlighting how we can work together to support the field, the students we serve, and new practitioners.