School Psychologists

School Psychologist Contact Information:

Betsy Grigor
West Perry Administrative Office
2606 Shermans Valley Road
Elliottsburg, PA 17024

Phone: 717-582-4256, Ext. 4201
Fax: 717-582-3547
Email: [email protected]
LuAnn G. Visser
West Perry Administrative Office
2606 Shermans Valley Road
Elliottsburg, PA 17024

Phone: 717-789-3931, Ext. 5011
Fax: 717-789-2110
Email: [email protected]



Secretary Contact Information:

Alicia Howell
West Perry Administrative Office
2606 Shermans Valley Road
Elliottsburg, PA 17024

Phone: 717-789-3934, Ext. 5522
Fax: 717-789-4997
Email: [email protected] 



Who Are School Psychologists?

School psychologists help children and youth succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. They work with educators, parents, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments for all students that strengthen connections between home and school.

School psychologists are highly trained in both psychology and education. Specifically their training emphasizes preparation in mental health, child development, school organization, learning, behavior, motivation, and effective teaching. Mrs. Visser is certified in Pennsylvania and is nationally certified by the National School Psychology Certification Board (NSPCB).

What School Psychologists Do

School psychologists work to find the best solution for each student and situation and use different strategies to address student needs and to improve school and district-wide support systems.

School psychologists work with students individually and in groups. They also work with teachers and parents regarding effective teaching and learning strategies, effective techniques to manage behavior and emotions at home and in the classroom, how to help students with disabilities or with special talents, and preventing and managing crises.

In addition, most school psychologists provide the following services.

Consultation

  • Collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators to find effective solutions to learning and behavior problems.
  • Help others understand how children develop and how those changes affect learning and behavior.
  • Strengthen working relationships between teachers, parents, and service providers in the community.

Evaluation

  • Evaluate eligibility for special services.
  • Assess academic skills and aptitude for learning.
  • Determine social-emotional development and mental health status.
  • Evaluate learning environments.

Intervention

  • Provide psychological counseling to help resolve interpersonal or family problems that interfere with school performance.
  • Work directly with children and their families to help resolve problems in adjustment and learning.
  • Provide training in social skills and anger management.
  • Help families and schools manage crises, such as death, illness, or community trauma.

Prevention

  • Design programs for children at risk of failing at school academically, socially, emotionally, or behaviorally.
  • Promote tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of individual differences within the school community.
  • Develop programs to make schools safer and more effective learning environments.
  • Collaborate with school staff and community agencies to provide services directed at improving psychological and physical health.
  • Develop partnerships with parents and teachers to promote healthy school environments.

Research and Planning

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of academic and behavior management programs.
  • Identify and implement programs and strategies to improve schools.
  • Use evidence-based research to develop and/or recommend effective interventions for academic, behavioral, emotional, and social issues and needs.

Growing Up Is Not Easy

All children and adolescents face problems from time to time. They may:

  • Feel afraid to go to school
  • Have difficulty organizing their time efficiently
  • Lack effective study skills
  • Fall behind in their school work
  • Lack self-discipline
  • Worry about family matters such as divorce and death
  • Feel depressed or anxious
  • Experiment with drugs and alcohol
  • Think about suicide
  • Face difficult situations, such as applying to college, getting a job, or quitting school
  • Question their aptitudes and abilities

School psychologists help children, parents, teachers, and members of the community understand and resolve these types of concerns.

Contacting West Perry's School Psychologists

Both Mrs. Grigor and Mrs. Visser can be contacted at the telephone numbers and email addresses listed above. In addition, Mrs. Grigor is available at Carroll Elementary and West Perry Middle School to meet with parents, staff, and students. Mrs. Visser is available at Blain Elementary, New Bloomfield Elementary, and West Perry High School to meet with parents, staff, and students. Mrs. Grigor and Mrs. Visser look forward to working with families and school staff to help West Perry's students learn and succeed.

Resource

The National Association of School Psychologists:
Suite 402, 4340 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 657-0270
www.nasponline.org

NASP represents and supports school psychology through leadership to enhance the mental health and educational competence of all children.

This webpage was developed from information by Arlene Silva, University of Maryland school psychology graduate student intern at the NASP office (summer 2003), with contributions from NASP staff and leadership.