Gerard named state's top school psychologist

PALMER -- The job of school psychologists in Mat-Su is different than in larger cities like Anchorage, says this year's Alaska School Psychologist of the Year. Here, they function more as consultants working as a team with students, teachers, administration and parents.

"For me to come into a school, or anyone, you need to have people that will work with you … I could come up with some fancy program and great ideas, but if there were no people to listen and follow through, it wouldn't happen," said Joe Gerard, who was recently bestowed the honor by the Alaska School Psychologists Association.

In larger communities, he said, the job of a school psychologist is often limited to doing only assessments, but his job entails much more.

Gerard is a Palmer resident who works primarily with elementary students at Swanson, Glacier View, Butte and Sutton schools. A 23-year Palmer resident, he and his wife Barbara own Profiles in Excellence Daycare and Preschool. They are both involved in education in other ways as well. He is currently the president of the state association of school psychologists, and she is the principal of Academy Charter School in Palmer. Together they have three children, 19, 16 and 11 years of age.

Gerard is one of 12 school psychologists in the Mat-Su school district. Each are assigned to either individual schools or a group of schools depending on need, such as the number of students and special education programs at the schools, he said. But school psychologists are more visible than ever before, he said. They don't just work with special education students. They work with general curriculum students as well.

Gerard said his current role has virtually been formed during his 23 years with the district. He began with the district almost since it started having school psychologists in the school.

"We've really been able to shape our roles," he said.

Gerard said his job consists of a variety of tasks, including assessment for special needs, intervention team meetings with parents and what he calls "behavioral support plans." A behavioral support plan, he said, involves setting up a reinforcement plan involving families and schools for children with behavior problems. He often deals with issues such as divorce and separations, anger management and social skills. Mental health, he said, and social issues are components that are combined in his line of work. Many of the programs school psychologists are involved with are a result of changing times, he said.

"I think mental health is a lot bigger issue in the schools now than in the past," Gerard said. "The school system is just a reflection of society and it seems like there are more issues in society now than there was 20 years ago -- there are more things for young children to deal with."

One classroom program Gerard is involved in is called "Project Achieve." In this program they teach children listening skills, how to ignore distractions, how to listen the "right way," and how to join in groups, for instance. School psychologists on the high school level facilitate the SOS program, a suicide prevention program, he said, which is just one of many programs they provide. Crisis response teams -- intervention programs, usually on the secondary school level -- are another. These teams are enlisted if it is believed a child might harm themselves or others to make certain he or she gets help needed immediately.

Once a month, Gerard also does prescreening for preschoolers through Childfind, a program that helps identify possible educational or physical needs that might need to be addressed. The free screening is for children from newborn to five years old.

Mat-Su's dozen school psychologists meet monthly to talk about how they are doing, what is happening in their schools and to use each other as a sounding board, he said. They also work closely with local mental health providers.

As a recipient of Alaska's School Psychologist of the Year award, Gerard is automatically a delegate for national recognition. He said a colleague in Anchorage nominated him -- he knows most of the school psychologists in the state by name, he said -- but the honor is not one he earned on his own.

"The award is not a reflection on my ability but on everyone," Gerard said. He also credits student support services director Mike Melear with shaping the role of school psychologists in Mat-Su.

And often, he said, he learns valuable lessons from his students.

"At times, you see children with real severe, not just educational but physical needs, and you look at a child like who can come to school happy with a very positive outlook on life -- it's very sobering for people, the kind of impact someone like that can have on life."