WEYBURN - The title appears more than modest. The sign on the office door would simply state, Student Services.
But knock on that door, enter, and you’ll get a good take on the deep dive, the digging and the pursuit of positive outcomes that exist in the working world of Cheryl Anderson, Pat Podjan and Jessica Deringer, as well as their compatriots. They work within that simply stated but rather complex environment of Student Services in the Â鶹ÊÓƵ East Cornerstone Public School Division.
As with all sectors and departments within this school division, it is data driven and Anderson, the co-ordinator of student services for SECPSD, began a presentation to the board of trustees on Jan. 15, with a solid outline of what goes into the data collection process and what the professionals can do with it on a group as well as individual basis.
Anderson was joined by Podjan, a registered psychologist who works within the Cornerstone system and Deringer, a psychometrist within the system, which she later told board members, required some explanation regarding her position in the process of becoming a psychologist.
Dare to utter the words that Cornerstone doesn’t really care what happens to their students, and you are almost certain to receive a fierce debate from these education professionals and their teammates.
Student services may be a vanilla-sounding department, but the plethora of professional services they offer allows SECPSD students to reach for and attain the stated vision statement the public school division holds up for scrutiny, “success for every student”.
During the school board’s afternoon open business session, Anderson pointed out through the visual and verbal presentation, the importance of data gathering to arrive at points where services can be provided to individual students requiring this assistance, as well as to small and large groups of young learners.
“I’ll focus on the data, these other two will go into their roles and how they got there,” Anderson explained.
The education plan calls for what is referred to as Star Screens for literacy and mathematics proficiency including the delivery of reading knowledge skills and assessments, comprehension strategies and numbers and operations when it comes to the math portions.
Interventions in the educational process are often needed, and response to intervention (RTI) practices are found within the Cornerstone system to support plans and to fill in learning gaps through trained coaches who may deliver to individuals or small groups or within class settings.
All processes are documented, Anderson noted. Besides practices such as one-minute reading fluency tests, and the rollout of intervention plans, the department also provides support for the 371 students who are being homeschooled within the division.
A section known as Review 360 records incident reports, universal behaviour screening for students in Grade 4-12, behaviour tracking plans and professional development modules.
Data is collected from counsellors in the system and violent threat risk assessments are also regularly evaluated to reduce violent incidents.
Anderson said 605 teachers in Cornerstone have been trained in violent threat risk assessment, with five staff members currently credited as Level 1 trainers.
Deringer was next on the presentation platform and she began by explaining just what a psychometrist is, since it is not a familiar word for the general public to absorb. Basically, she explained, using a series of pathway charts, it describes a person who is on the road to becoming a registered psychologist after having completed the formal training processes and undergoing supervision and experiences at a graduate level program in psychology.
The work is conducted under the direct oversight of a registered psychologist and that is where Podjan comes into the picture.
“Applicants who have not met the requirements for a full independent practice may be registered as provisional practice members subject to the approval of the registration committee,” Deringer pointed out to the board members.
To become a registered psychologist in Saskatchewan, she said, a candidate must have earned a masters or doctoral degree in psychology classes from a recognized educational institution, passed required examinations, have completed at least 1,500 hours of post-masters experience under supervision, and submitted a criminal record and vulnerable sector screening check when filing an application to become a psychologist.
The initial registration process requires 18 steps, Deringer pointed out, so the path to attain that title is not easy, but understandably involves several steps and check points. The final step is an oral review by three psychologists with special attention paid to performance, ethics and jurisprudence relevant to Saskatchewan psychologists, she explained.
Podjan noted she has been involved in various roles within the Cornerstone system. She shared the process involved in completing a student’s psycho-educational assessment including being a member of the collaborative team that involves student(s) parents and staff members to see what needs to be addressed within each referral. She explained it’s a detailed preparation for assessments before, during and after. It all helps to support students and diagnose any disorders.
There is “screening for emotional, behavioural and attention factors that may be impeding the learning process and affecting students’ availability to learn,” she said.
Interpreting test results, writing comprehensive reports and providing recommendations is all part of the “after” action plan, she explained. Forming a liaison with outside agencies to provide comprehensive services is also within the spectrum.
Providing supports for academics and mental health, such as anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts or actions are part of the key elements implemented by the simply stated, student services counsellors and their co-professionals.
A lively discussion as well as a few direct questions were lobbed at the presenters following the presentation, with thanks being offered by board chairwoman Audrey Trombley for their dedicated offering and additional commentary and explanation brought forward by director of education Keith Keating.
