Chicago School Psychologist Always Puts Students First
School psychologists are imperative to the well-being of students, their role is mufti-faceted and much-needed in a school system. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics job outlook projects employment of psychologists to grow 12 percent from 2012 to 2022, this rate is about average for all occupations. Job opportunities should be best for those who have a doctoral degree in an applied specialty and those with a specialist or doctoral degree in school psychology. LynnKurokawa earned a B.A. in psychology fromNotheastern Illinois University. She then attended National Louis for graduate school where she earned a masters in education and a specialist degree in school psychology. Last yearKurokawa earned a type 75 leadership degree from Concordia University. She intends on pursuing a doctorate in school psychology in the next few years.
Kurokawa is new to the field of eduction, prior to working in education she worked in accounting and the service industry. Kurokawa began working in Elgin School District U-46 in 2011 as a school psychologist. Prior to working in District U-46 she worked as a psychologist intern in Elmhurst, District 205 for a year, and as a practicum student in the Chicago Public School for two years.
Kurokawa shares her thoughts and experiences as a school psychologist in Elgin School District U-46.
What is the scope and responsibilities of your current role?
"My role as a school psychologist is broad and ever-changing, which is why I truly love this field. My first responsibility is to evaluate students for special education services. I am also a consultant to teachers, parents, and students in regards to data analysis, special education, Response to intervention, student behavior, and student academic success. I spend a lot of my time researching interventions for students, training teachers in data collection, and observing students within their classrooms. I also counsel students, create behavior plans, and work with response to intervention teams to determine appropriate interventions for struggling students."
What is your favorite part of your daily duties?
"Collaborating with staff and working with students. I really enjoy finding strategies and solutions teachers can use to help students succeed in school."
Do you feel your education prepared you for your current role?
"Yes, I do believe that my education provided me with strong theoretical and practical models that I am able to pull from on a daily basis as a school psychologist. The program at National Louis equipped me with the tools necessary to help implement a tiered system of support within the buildings in which I provide services. Our training in consultation has proven extremely valuable to me in my role, as consulting and
collaborating contribute to a large part of my daily duties."
Do you have any advice for people who desire to pursue a similar career?
"Always remember that the student comes first in your work; when they succeed you succeed. I would also advise them to keep a flexible mindset, working in education requires flexibility and the willingness to make necessary changes to benefit the students in our charge."
Michelle Guilbeau is a writer, reviewer, teacher and business owner living in Chicago, Illinois. She also has experience in school administration, literacy coaching and is proud founder of CraftKitsForKids.com and MichelleGuilbeau.com Michelle enjoys sharing her knowledge of Chicago, food, travel, education and parenting issues with her readers. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
