Hello! My name is Katie Masse. I am the School Psychologist
here at Harwinton Consolidated School. I began working at this incredible
school in February 2015. I decided to become a School Psychologist because of
my passion for children, education, and the importance of mental healthcare. I
believe all children deserve the opportunity to grow and develop toward their
full potential and beyond. Some students may require different supports in
order to reach their full potential and I work to provide as many different
supports as possible. It is my belief that all children can succeed as long as
they have at least one caring adult in their life. It is my mission to be one
of those caring adults who will advocate for them and work as hard as possible
to provide them the opportunity to be successful academically, socially,
behaviorally, and emotionally.
Here is some background information on school psychology and
what it is I do for your children here at HCS. The following has been adapted
from The National Association of School Psychologists (nasponline.org).
Who are School
Psychologists?
School
psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support
students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach. They apply expertise
in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth succeed
academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. School psychologists
partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals
to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen
connections between home, school, and the community.
What do School
Psychologists do?
School psychologists provide direct support and interventions
to students; consult with teachers, families, and other school-employed mental
health professionals (i.e., school counselors, school social workers) to
improve support strategies; work with school administrators to improve
school-wide practices and policies; and collaborate with community providers to
coordinate needed services.
School Psychologists help schools successfully:
·
Improve Academic Achievement
o Promote student motivation and engagement
o Conduct psychological and academic assessments
o Individualize instruction and interventions
o Manage student and classroom behavior
o Monitor student progress
o Collect and interpret student and classroom data
o Reduce inappropriate referrals to special education
·
Promote Positive Behavior and
Mental Health
o Improve students communication and social skills
o Assess student emotional and behavioral needs
o Provide individual and group counseling
o Promote problem solving, anger management and conflict
resolution
o Reinforce positive coping skills and resilience
o Promote positive peer relationships and social problem
solving
o Make referrals to and help coordinate community services
provided in schools
·
Support Diverse Learners
o Assess diverse learning needs
o Provide culturally responsive services to students and
families from diverse backgrounds
o Plan appropriate Individualized Education Programs for
students with disabilities
o Modify and adapt curricula and instruction
o Adjust classroom facilities and routines to improve student
engagement and learning
o Monitor and effectively communicate with parents about
student progress
·
Create Safe, Positive School
Climates
o Prevent bullying and other forms of violence
o Support social-emotional learning
o Assess school climate and improve school connectedness
o Implement and promote positive discipline and restorative justice
o Implement school-wide positive behavioral supports
o Identify at risk students and school vulnerabilities
o Provide crisis prevention and intervention services
·
Strengthen Family-School
Partnerships
o Help families understand their child's learning and mental
health needs
o Assist in navigating special education processes
o Connect families with community service providers when
necessary
o Help to effectively engage families with teachers and other
school staff
o Enhance staff understanding and responsiveness to diverse
cultures and backgrounds
o Help students transition between school and community
learning environments, such as residential treatment or juvenile justice
programs
·
Improve School-Wide Assessment and
Accountability
o Monitor
individual student progress in academics and behavior
o Generate
and interpret useful student and school outcome data
o Collect
and analyze data on risk and protective factors related to student outcomes
o Plan
services at the district, building, classroom, and individual levels
Why Do Children Need
School Psychologists?
All children and youth can face problems from time to time
related to learning; social relationships; making difficult decisions; or
managing emotions such as feeling depressed, anxious, worried, or isolated.
School psychologists help students, families, educators, and members of the
community understand and resolve both long-term, chronic problems and
short-term issues that students may face. They are a highly skilled and ready
resource in the effort to ensure that all children and youth thrive in school,
at home, and in life.
Please contact me directly to discuss any questions or
concerns you may have.
Kathryn Masse
School
Psychologist
Harwinton
Consolidated School
115 Litchfield Road
Harwinton, CT 06791
Phone: 860-485-9029 ext. 12114
Fax: 860-485-9237
Email: [email protected]