This episode is packed with heart, honesty, and the real work happening behind the scenes to grow our field. I sat down with three incredible leaders who are reshaping how we recruit, support, and retain school psychologists, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.

Their energy is contagious, and their commitment to creating a more welcoming profession shines through in every story they share.

Kristin (president), Anna (past president), and Marissa (president elect) make up the presidential trio of the Washington State Association of School Psychologists (WSASP). Together, they represent school psychologists across Washington through local, state, and federal advocacy, research, and guidance.

These three young leaders work full time in different districts while holding multiple leadership roles across organizations. They are a true dream team, excited about the future of school psychology.

WSASP’s core purpose is to empower school psychologists as school based mental health professionals and change agents who support students, school communities, and colleagues through collaboration and evidence based practices that lead to educational success.

We get into everything from barriers in graduate programs to the power of mentorship, community, and paid internships. You will hear practical ideas you can bring into your own school, along with a few hopeful reminders that change is already underway.

If you care about building a field where everyone feels they belong, this one matters.

Highlights:

(01:45) The internship barrier and the push for state funded stipends

(03:32) What is actually working in recruiting diverse candidates

(06:48) How the role of the school psychologist is expanding beyond testing

(08:55) Post covid mental health needs and new intervention opportunities

(12:40) Balancing evaluation demands with relationship centered practice

(17:45) Signs of hope for representation and accessible graduate pathways

Washington State Association of School Psychologists: https://www.wsasp.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wsasp

LinkedIn: Washington State Association of School Psychologists

Instagram for Major, facility dog: @majortherapylab

Dogs for Better Lives: https://dogsforbetterlives.org/

The information and advice provided are for guidance purposes only, and all listeners are required to follow federal and state law, as well as their school district guidelines and policies.

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This episode was such an energizing conversation, because it highlights something every school psychologist eventually faces, that moment when a policy shift threatens your work and you have to decide how to respond.

Kim and Mike walked me through a real situation in Indiana where their scope of practice was suddenly on the line, and how fast, coordinated action changed the outcome. It is a reminder that we are not powerless, even when legislation feels intimidating or unclear.

We also talk about the fears many psychs have around contacting legislators, and how personal stories carry more weight than perfectly crafted templates.

If you have ever wondered what advocacy looks like behind the scenes, or whether your voice actually matters, this one will give you a clearer picture and a bit more confidence in your own influence.

Highlights:

(01:45) What House Bill 1002 originally aimed to do

(04:12) The moment school psychs realized the amendment posed a real threat

(06:20) How NASP stepped in and amplified the response

(09:48) Common misconceptions legislators had about school psychology

(14:36) The turning point when the harmful language was removed

(16:55) Lessons for any psych preparing to advocate in their own state

Website: https://iaosp.wildapricot.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IASPonline

Instagram: @inschoolpsych

The information and advice provided are for guidance purposes only, and all listeners are required to follow federal and state law, as well as their school district guidelines and policies.

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This episode is a short, powerful reminder of how easily projection shows up in our daily work.

When we are tired, stretched thin or overloaded with meetings and deadlines, it is so tempting to hand our stress to someone else without even realizing we are doing it.

I talk through the phrases we all catch ourselves using, the ones that push responsibility outward, and how a small shift toward reflection can feel grounding instead of draining. This is especially helpful during those midyear months when our August goals feel miles away.

I also explore what projection and reflection sound like in real scenarios, from long IEP meetings to teacher frustration to the quiet envy that can surface when we compare ourselves to others. Reflection is not about taking all the blame. It is about reclaiming the part we can influence.

When we change the way we talk to ourselves, we change the way we lead, support and show up for our students and teams. These micro reflections really can turn into habits that help us finish the school year with more clarity, confidence and calm.

Highlights:

(01:34) The subtle ways projection shows up in our self talk

(03:10) Why accountability shifts outward when we feel overwhelmed

(04:52) Real examples of projection versus reflection at work

(05:57) How comparison fuels projection and drains confidence

(06:49) Why projection protects us, and why reflection grows us

(07:24) A future self exercise to build intentional habits

The information and advice provided are for guidance purposes only, and all listeners are required to follow federal and state law, as well as their school district guidelines and policies.

Connect with Jenny:

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I had such a great conversation in this episode, because it taps into a feeling so many of us know well. We entered school psychology excited to work directly with kids, then suddenly found ourselves buried in testing cycles and report writing.

Talking with Dr. Zack Maupin was a reminder that our skills stretch far beyond that loop, and that it is absolutely possible to make space for more meaningful, hands-on work.

Zack shares practical, realistic ways to shift your role without adding chaos to an already full plate. We talk interventions, behavior plans, counseling touch points, and how school systems can lean on us more effectively.

If you have ever wondered how to step out of the refer, test, place cycle, this one will feel like a breath of fresh air.

Highlights:

(02:08) Starting the conversation about broadening the school psych role

(03:15) Zack's path from clinical work to meaningful school based support

(04:30) When testing and reports stop leading to real interventions

(05:05) Finding fulfillment through consulting, behavior plans, and SEL

(05:39) Making role expansion realistic for busy psychs with big caseloads

(06:40) How system level changes can reduce unnecessary assessments

Zack mentioned our mini-courses inside the Prepared School Psych community. Join today at: https://jennyponzuric.com/prepared-school-psychologist/

The information and advice provided are for guidance purposes only, and all listeners are required to follow federal and state law, as well as their school district guidelines and policies.

Connect with Jenny:

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In this episode, I sit down with Leah Kuypers, the occupational therapist and creator of the Zones of Regulation, to talk about how this simple yet powerful framework has reshaped how educators understand and support emotional well-being in schools.

Leah shares the story behind the Zones, what inspired her to create it, and how it continues to evolve to meet the needs of neurodiverse learners today.

We also dive into the shift from behavior management to skill-building, why co-regulation is the unsung hero of classroom life, and what’s next for the Zones—including the new digital curriculum and resources for families.

Highlights:

(01:56) – The classroom experiences that sparked the Zones of Regulation

(06:05) – Turning a grad school capstone into a global curriculum

(10:11) – How schools have shifted from behavior management to emotional well-being

(13:23) – Why regulation is a developmental skill at every age

(16:36) – The teacher’s role as a co-regulator

(18:03) – The future of the Zones: digital tools, caregiver support, and new projects

Website: https://zonesofregulation.com/

Zones Visual Landing Page Link

Zones Brand Kit Folder Link

Ross Greene Reference: https://livesinthebalance.org/our-solution/

The information and advice provided are for guidance purposes only, and all listeners are required to follow federal and state law, as well as their school district guidelines and policies.

Connect with Jenny:

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If you’ve ever said, “I just need the right planner,” this episode is for you.

Time management isn’t always about color-coded calendars or fancy systems - sometimes it’s really about attention, impulsivity, or working memory.

I break down how executive functioning impacts your ability to manage time and why improving your focus or task initiation might be the real solution.

I also share practical strategies educators and school psychologists can use right away, from using the Pomodoro Technique to setting better boundaries and digital reminders that actually stick.

Let’s find the root of your “time management” struggle and build strategies that fit how your brain really works.

Highlights:

(02:10) – The truth about executive functioning and attention

(04:00) – Impulsivity: saying yes before thinking it through

(05:05) – Task initiation and how to beat procrastination

(06:00) – Working memory and the power of reminders

(07:00) – Matching the right strategy to the right problem

To access the 3 Tips for Time Management, click HERE: https://jennyponzuric.ac-page.com/3-tips-for-time-management

The information and advice provided are for guidance purposes only, and all listeners are required to follow federal and state law, as well as their school district guidelines and policies.

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Preschool evaluations are a whole different world, and in this episode, I chat with Erin MacIntyre about what makes assessing three and four-year-olds so unique.

We talk about how play-based assessments can reveal just as much as standardised tests, how to work effectively with families who are part of the process, and what makes a great multidisciplinary team tick.

Erin also shares the three key areas she focuses on when evaluating cognition in preschoolers, along with her top advice for new school psychs stepping into early childhood.

It’s full of practical insight, gentle reminders, and a real appreciation for the power of teamwork in early education.

Here are the highlights:

Why preschool assessments are never a one-person job (01:40)

The art of working with families during evaluations (04:20)

Play-based tools that tell you more than test scores (06:30)

How to assess cognition through play and observation (09:20)

The three cognitive areas every preschool psych should look for (14:00)

Why team communication makes or breaks your process (17:40)

Simple ways to strengthen your multidisciplinary team (21:00)

Resources every new preschool psych should know about (22:40)

Prepared School Psych community sign up: https://jennyponzuric.com/prepared-school-psychologist/

Ordinal Scales Training: https://www.dcs-cde.ca.gov/prf/signup.aspx

The information and advice provided are for guidance purposes only, and all listeners are required to follow federal and state law, as well as their school district guidelines and policies.

Connect with Jenny:

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Data can tell a story, but only if we know how to read it.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Curt Merlau, Vice President of Resultant’s Education Practice, to talk about how schools can move from simply admiring data to actually acting on it.

Curt shares how his team uses technology and human-centered design to make data meaningful, improve mental-health supports, and give educators the tools they need to make smarter, faster decisions.

We dig into AI, early intervention, and why no dashboard or algorithm can replace an educator’s intuition - or their heart.

Here are the highlights:

Making data accessible and useful for teachers (03:23)

Why dashboards alone don’t solve the problem (05:00)

Data that supports, not replaces, educators (08:17)

Early intervention and preparing students for success (10:00)

Connecting families to real-time childcare data (12:28)

Using tech to strengthen mental health supports (14:35)

AI’s role in efficiency, not replacement (17:19)

Why educators’ skills are more valuable than ever (19:37)

Connect with Curt:

Website: https://resultant.com/

Blog Posts: https://resultant.com/blog/

The information and advice provided are for guidance purposes only, and all listeners are required to follow federal and state law, as well as their school district guidelines and policies.

Connect with Jenny:

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INSTAGRAM

WEBSITE