Special Education

Psychological Services

School psychologists are qualified to provide a broad range of skills to address student needs and to improve school support systems.

Our school psychologists' skills enable them to offer comprehensive psychological evaluations, as well as consult with school personnel in relation to students' learning, behavior, and environments. They provide individual, group, and organizational interventions, including counseling. School psychologists work with children individually and in groups. Additionally, they provide trainings to teachers regarding various learning and mental health topics. Their training allows them to look at the efficacy and effectiveness of academic programs, classroom agendas, and treatment interventions, and their expertise in research and planning provides a strong base in the development of interventions.

Administration

Trisha Mills, Referrals and Compliance Supervisor
(757) 283-7850 x.10528

Erika Boerger Daniel, Psychological Services and SEL Supervisor
(757) 283-7850 x.10414

School Psychologist Directory

Preschool/PEEP

Denbigh Early Childhood	Katie Dolak, (757) 591-4963 x.30592
Gatewood PEEP	Katie Dolak and Amanda Gallimore and Kimberly Gray
Marshall Early Childhood	Danielle Wilson, (757) 928-6838 x.42590
Watkins Early Childhood	Amanda Gallimore, (757) 591-4963 x.30590

All PEEP school psychologists are based out of Gatewood PEEP Center.

Elementary Schools

Achievable Dream Academy	Tyra Woods
Carver	Tyra Woods
Charles	Rebecca Kohaut,(757) 886-7783 x.46590
Deer Park	Lauren Fredrickson, (757) 504-2408
Discovery Stem Academy	Danielle Wilson, (757) 928-6838 x.42590
Dutrow	Kimberly Gray, (202) 578-2278
General Stanford	Jessica Deamer
Greenwood	Erika Daniel, (757) 283-7850 x.10414
Hidenwood	Hunter McEnroe, (757) 591- 4766 x.34590
Hilton	Rebecca Kohaut,(757) 886-7783 x.46590
Jenkins	Hunter McEnroe, (757) 591- 4766 x.34590
Katherine Johnson	Erika Daniel, (757) 283-7850 x.10414
Kiln Creek	Brigid Tartar and Atiyah Arthur, (757) 886-7961 x.40590
Knollwood Meadows	Rebecca Kohaut,(757) 886-7783 x.46590
McIntosh	Brigid Tartar and Atiyah Arthur,, (757) 886-7961 x.40590
Newsome Park	Danielle Wilson, (757) 928-6838 x.42590
Palmer	Laurenlee Stinebaugh
Richneck	Brigid Tartar and Atiyah Arthur, (757) 886-7961 x.40590
Riverside	Lauren Fredrickson, (757) 504-2408
Sanford	Laurenlee Stinebaugh
Saunders	Rhonda Ravenell
Sedgefield	Tyra Woods
Stoney Run	Laurenlee Stinebaugh
Yates	Rhonda Ravenell

Middle Schools

Achievable Dream Middle & High	James Thomas, (913) 725-0830
Crittenden	Jessica Deamer
Ella Fitzgerald	Hunter McEnroe, (757) 591- 4766 x.34590
Gildersleeve	Soyini Richards, (202) 717-0410
Hines	Soyini Richards, (202) 717-0410
Huntington	James Thomas, (913) 725-0830
Passage	Rhonda Ravenell
Washington	Lauren Fredrickson, (757) 504-2408

High Schools

Achievable Dream Middle & High	James Thomas, (913) 725-0830
Denbigh	Soyini Richards, (202) 717-0410
Heritage	James Thomas, (913) 725-0830
Menchville	Jessica Deamer
Warwick	Soyini Richards, (202) 717-0410
Woodside	Lauren Fredrickson, (757) 504-2408

What is a School Psychologist?

School psychologists provide a variety of services that promote student success and improve school support systems, including:

Consultation and Collaboration

Give healthy and effective alternatives to teachers, parents, and administrators to address difficulties in learning and/or behavior
Help others understand child development and how it affects learning and behavior
Strengthen working relationships between educators, parents, and community services
Work with teachers to support effective, individualized instruction
Participate in assessment and eligibility teams to determine a student's most appropriate educational placement

Assessments

Conduct psychological evaluations to assess abilities, learning strengths and weaknesses, and emotional/social functioning
Design and implement curriculum based assessments
Conduct functional behavioral assessments (FBAs) to drive the design of Behavior Intervention plans (BIP)

Interventions

Utilize a problem-solving framework to identify and address learning and behavior problems that interfere with school success
Provide counseling, social skills training and mentoring for students struggling with social, emotional and behavioral problems.
Help families and schools deal with crises such as death, illness, or community trauma
Assist with development and implementation of individualized academic and behavioral interventions (i.e. through the Child Study process)
Monitor and collect data to determine intervention effectiveness

Prevention

Design programs for children at risk of academic failure
Provide parents and teachers with the skills to cope with disruptive behavior
Implement school-wide prevention programs that help maintain positive school climates

Adapted from NASP article "What is a School Psychologist?"
http://www.nasponline.org/about_sp/whatis.aspx

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of training do School Psychologists receive?

School psychologists are highly trained in both clinical psychology and educational psychology. They must be certified and/or licensed by the state in which they work, following completion of a master's degree, post-master's training, and site-based internship. They also may be nationally certified by the National School Psychology Certification Board (NSPCB) or the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). The majority of school psychologists work in public schools, however, other settings of practice include private school systems, clinics and hospitals, private practice, and universities. School psychologists are trained to serve all age groups from infancy through college, although they primarily serve school-aged children.

How do I know if my child's school has a school psychologist?

A school psychologist is assigned to every school in Newport News, though most psychologists have 2-3 schools. To locate your child's school psychologist, please call their school or refer to our staff directory.

What does a psychoeducational evaluation for my child look like?

School psychologists assess students suspected of having a disability as part of the process in determining eligibility for special education services. A school psychologist administers a cognitive battery to obtain a level of intellectual functioning and academic potential. This battery also provides a better understanding of the student's processing strengths and weaknesses. Social-emotional assessments are used to obtain data about a student's emotional and behavioral functioning. A strong aspect of assessment is the collaborative process in which the school psychologist obtains the teachers' and parents' perspectives. This allows the school psychologist to develop a comprehensive picture of the student, his or her functioning, and how interventions can be developed. Through this process, a multidisciplinary team is developed to determine if a disability is interfering with a student's ability to learn.

Do school psychologists only work within special education?

No. School psychologists in Newport News serve students in general and special education through working with teachers and staff on creating positive behavioral models, offering professional development to parents and teachers, and providing counseling and crisis intervention. Interventions may be developed for students in the general or special education population who may be experiencing challenges in academic, behavioral, and/or social-emotional functioning.

I believe my preschool-age child is having difficulties. Is a school psychologist available to address their needs?

In Newport News, several school psychologists serve at the Program for Educating Exceptional Preschoolers (PEEP) sites. These psychologists are highly trained in child development and can conduct early intervention evaluations and provide consultation to parents. If you have concerns about your preschool child's development, social interaction, emotional adjustment, and/or behavior, please refer to our Staff Directory to contact a PEEP psychologist. If you have any further questions, you can also refer to the NNPS Child Find policy.