Aloha Notes: My career as a School Psychologist in Hawaii

Getting hired in Hawaii. Finding the "Job Opportunities" section on the Hawaii State DOE website can be confusing. Here is one way to see if Hawaii is hiring any school psychologists. I'd also recommend that you set up a google alert so that you will get notified when a new position is listed. The hiring process takes forrrr-evvvvv-errrr....so apply early. Just do it. Get your name on "the list"--even if you aren't officially done. :) 1) http://doe.k12.hi.us/personnel/index.htm Go to the above website. 2) If you are looking for a school psychologist position, click on the Classified/Support Services. 3) Then Select View Employment Opportunities 4) In the search field add; "psychologist" Hopefully you'll see a number of positions available. Currently, there are masters level school psychologist positions available for the Big Island and Molokai. Check it out! Good Luck.

An  Initial Line of Inquiry (ILI)  is used to collect information for a  Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)   I've had many parents request an online or electronic version of the questionnaire that I send home for a behavior assessment. Here you go ! Every behavior has a purpose or function for it, usually to either get something or avoid something.  Examples: You begin to talk on the phone and your child starts calling you over and over.  The function of this behavior would be to get your attention.  Or a student repeatedly disrupts the class when the teacher asks them to take out their math books.  He is then reprimanded and sent out of the room.  The function of this behavior could be to avoid the classwork. So, a functional behavior assessment or FBA is a series of structured questions designed to discover the reasons behind certain target behaviors (usually undesirable ones) and develop a behavior pl...

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2013!  I dont know about you, but Im ready to start a new year! This past year came with many lessons--some good, some difficult.  This year taught me about the unspoken politics and gossip that can tear through campuses. I connected with many amazing families and gained a new understanding of their triumphs and trials I was quickly reminded what i say doesnt always matter....even if I consult on a case, leave detailed notes on what is or is not appropriate to request for testing, and even emphasize best practices through training. Unless I'm at the meeting--it's not up to me. I've learned to let go of the things that aren't done by the book (or are legally defensible) when they are ultimately not my responsibility. On a personal note, I was able to FINALLY understand and acknowledge that when I'm upset in a meeting (related or unrelated to what's actually being discussed)...it's obvious. What universe have I been living in before...

“No Questions or Comments please.” Ever walk out of an Eligibility meeting and get a sense that it was rushed?  That maybe the academic, cognitive, speech, occupational, and/or behavioral evaluations that were reviewed were skipped over so much that when the question was finally asked, " Any questions ,"  no one really knew what to ask? Are you taking your time to explain and implications of the standard scores & percentiles in the  evaluation report? How do you know? Admin : Hi. Thank you for coming this morning. Today is the Eligibility meeting. I have  an agenda. If you have comments, please talk to me afterwards. We have to stick with the agenda so we can let the teachers go back to their classrooms.  Parents : uh. sure.  Admin : ok. everyone, please introduce yourselves...Now, you've already had the procedural safeguards, right? I think our SSC gave it to you at the SST? or did she send it home with the PWN? Anyhow, if you have...

Parent Support - Classes Last chance this school year to attend these award-winning and nationally recognized parent classes. What parent couldn't use more tools in their toolkit? Parents who have attended the Parent Project classes have told us: "Whether you're having any challenges with your child or not, every parent should get this information! We loved the updates on issues facing our children today and what to do about it." "We learned great 'tweaks' to our interactions with our teen that smoothed out our home climate. Fewer arguments and rolled eyes at our house!" "It provided concrete help when our child began to get more argumentative and we began this downward spiral of confrontation. Things are much more peaceful at home now." The Parent Project® First Class: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Niu Valley Middle School Library Are you a frustrated parent trying to get your child 10 years to 18 years of ag...

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Aloha! As many of you know, HASP board members have been busy finding ways to promote School Psychologists throughout the state. Part of that battle is bringing awareness to the community and key members in Hawaii government. This article, found on the Civil Beat website, is a great outline of the Hawaii State Government structure. Enjoy! <3 Kels Hawaii State Government Hawaii’s governing structure has evolved from disconnected tribes to a monarchy to a republic to a U.S. territory to a state. During World War II, it was also under martial law. That evolution can be traced through a series of governing documents and key events. Constitutions The first version of Hawaii’s constitution was enacted by Kamehameha III for the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1840. It organized the government and its functions as a constitutional monarchy with a ruling king and democratic principles such as a bicameral legislature with a House of Nobles and a House of Representatives. Twelve years later, prompted b...