Aloha Notes: My career as a School Psychologist in Hawaii

The Department of Education in Hawaii is one of the biggest school systems in the nation. Seems like there are changes in my complex (Kaiser Complex) and in my district (Honolulu) all the time. Currently, Koko Head Elementary's future is at risk due to low enrollment numbers. When administrators and teachers have to worry if they will have jobs next year or where they will be working, what do you think happens to the quality of their work? Unfortunately, when districts are as big as Hawaii's, procedures and policies are run by machines and decisions are made based on numbers and profit. All we can do is stick together and work within the schools. There will always be challenges, especially in education, but it's important to keep the students best interest in mind. Dept. Of Education Redraws School Lines - Education News Story - KITV Honolulu HONOLULU -- The state Department of Education is redrawing the lines when it comes to school boundaries. But some famil...

I want to start a team for the 2011 Walk Now for Autism. Hopefully I can get a team together. If you'd like to get involve by walking or volunteering for the walk, please visit: www.walknowforautismspeaks.org Hawaii Walk Now for Autism Speaks Date: Saturday, June 11, 2011 Join Autism Speaks as we walk to change the future for all who struggle with autism! Walk Now for Autism Speaks is a fun-filled, family friendly event and is our single most powerful force to fund vital research that will lead us to the answers we need. Experience the power of thousands united by a single cause by joining Walk Now for Autism Speaks. Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disorder in the U.S. – we need more volunteers to join our fight. Whether this is your first walk or the 10th, take the first step and register today. You will not only raise funds, but you will become a part of a fun and supportive family-focused community. Every 15 minutes, another family ...

Aloha FRIDAY! Hope everyone is hanging in there. I know the end of the school year can be hectic to say the least. Right now, we have a lot of transition meetings (elementary to middle school, middle school to high school, high school to....the unknown) and I thought I'd share this amazing career development resource that is aimed to assist students with disabilities after high school. TRANSITIONING AFTER HIGH SCHOOL   It is almost May. Can you believe it? How did this school year fly by so quickly? Well, unless you've been under a rock,  you've probably already noticed the new section at Longs or Foodland dedicated primarily for "Class of 2011 " gifts. Transitioning any high school student to the adult world of community college, university, or committing to a career field can be scary (to say the least... ) But there is hope for professionals or parents who want a resource for students with disabilities. Check it out:  Charting the Course:  S...

School psychologist fired after falsifying student evaluations : "The Bartow County Board of Education on Wednesday voted unanimously to terminate one of six school system psychologists -- Melissa Rahbe -- who fraudulently completed about 118 psychoeducational ev..." Aloha , You know that taking short cuts is never a good idea but then why do some people still take them? It amazes me that an expert in this field would make up assessment results when they know the long term effects that these scores may have on their future education or special education placement. It's true. We all fall short of perfect sometimes...myself included. I know that when things get overwhelming for me, I tend to shut down and not perform as well as I can. How can we prevent this type of slacker habit? Well, I have to give myself the same advice I'd tell a student who was feeling overwhelmed: 1) Write down a manageable list of "to-dos" 2) Reward yourself with breaks after completi...

IEP meetings stressing you out? Try dancing... http://www.apa.org/monitor/2010/04/dance.aspx Trust me. It's research based. :) KT

Hi there!! So, February has been one interesting month so far. Between the food fight at Kaiser High School (which by the way, was reported on the local and national news! see below) and the helicopter landing at Koko Head , my complex has kept me on my toes.------------------------- Planned food fight sends spaghetti flying at Kaiser High - Hawaii News Now 2/8/11: At Kaiser, a planned food fight left the cafeteria a mess and administrators on a mission to find out who was behind the chaos. The high school students may not even realize or appreciate that they have one of the only air conditioned cafeterias in the state.  The 1,100 students had to eat lunch outside for the rest of the week. Principal John Sosa sent the following letter home to parents informing them of the incident and pledging to track down who was involved: February 8, 2011 Kaiser High School Students, Parents, Staff  ------------------------- This letter is to inform everyone that there was ...

Applying for a position in Hawaii: I had applied in November of 2008, waited patiently for confirmation of my online application, and after months of not hearing anything, I began to call human resources to see if they had received my application and when they would let me know if they would consider me for the position.  Interviewing  It was June, 2009 when I received an email stating that I would have an opportunity to interview with Honolulu School District . ((GASP))) I was finishing up a horrific year of interning, waiting on my PRAXIS results, wrapping up my Masters Thesis paper, applying for positions, and preparing myself for interviews. In the next two couple weeks I would receive more emails  other school districts within Hawaii Department of Education  for interviews.  California and Hawaii- Interviewing differences . California  Black suit, hair done, nervous smile, sat at the end of a long table with eight ver...