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.

In this episode, Sophia and Marcus talk to Dr. John Garruto about the ethical considerations surrounding some of the most controversial topics in the field of school psychology. They learn about ethical problem-solving models, minimizing bias in evaluations, balancing FERPA and test security, the difference between imposter syndrome and a lack of competence, and more ethical issues. Stay tuned to hear Sophia and Marcus discuss the backstory and implications of the infamous Larry P. v. Riles case.

Abumrad, J., & Corredera, T. (Hosts). (2019). The miseducation of Larry P. Radiolab [Audio podcast]. WNYC Studios. https://radiolab.org/podcast/g-miseducation-larry-p/transcript

California Association of School Psychologists. (2023, October 10). Updated Larry P. guidance paper. https://casponline.org/pdfs/resource-papers/Updated%20Larry%20P.%20Guidance%20Paper%2010-10-23.pdf
Fleming, N. (2019). A landmark lawsuit aimed to fix special ed for California’s Black students. It didn’t. KQED. https://www.kqed.org/news/11781032/a-landmark-lawsuit-aimed-to-fix-special-ed-for-californias-black-students-it-didnt

Sullivan, A. L. (2010). Preventing disproportionality: A framework for culturally responsive assessment. Communiqué, 39 (3). Retrieved from: https://www.nasponline.org/publications/periodicals/communique/issues/volume-39-issue-3/preventing-disproportionality-a-framework-for-culturally-responsive-assessment

Are you gonna diagnose me? You're going to become a counselor? What job do you want to get? These are all real questions that many of us have heard when we tell people we are getting our master's degree in school psychology. Most of all, people are confused when we tell them about school psychology. To settle this matter once and for all, Sophia and Marcus invited several guests on the podcast to talk about what exactly school psychologists do every day. Enjoy the perspectives of Sam Hatem, Tori Perez, Mairead Mulvihill, Gabby Toombs, and Anna Demer in this enlightening episode.

In this episode, Sophia and Marcus talk to Dr. Michael Paff about how they can best utilize their roles in the schools to support students in the LGBTQ+ community. They learn about best practices for working with LGBTQ+ students, navigating politics in the schools, and how to advocate for these marginalized students. Stay tuned to hear Sophia, Marcus, and newcomer Bre summarize an important guidance document from the New York State Department of Education.

Extra Resources:

Gender Born, Gender Made: Raising Healthy Gender-Nonconforming Children by Diane Ehrensaft

The Transgender Child by Rachel Pepper and Stephanie Brill

The Transgender Teen by Stephanie Brill and Lisa Kenney

References

Planned Parenthood (n.d.). What’s intersex. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/gender-identity/sex-gender-identity/whats-intersex#:~:text=Intersex%20is%20a%20general%20term,male%E2%80%9D%20or%20%E2%80%9Cfemale%E2%80%9D.

The New York State Department of Education (2023, June). Creating a safe, supportive, and affirming school environment for transgender and gender expansive students: 2023 legal update and best practices. https://www.nysed.gov/sites/default/files/programs/student-support-services/creating-a-safe-supportive-and-affirming-school-environment-for-transgender-and-gender-expansive-students.pdf