Two school psychologists recognized by Washington State Association of School Psychologists as 2024 Best Practices Awards
Two school psychologists, Jo Sentell, a school psychologist at Evergreen Middle School and Kristen Iverson, a school psychologist at Timberline Middle School, were recognized by the Washington State Association of School Psychologists (WSASP) as 2024 recipients of the Best Practices Award for Education and Supervision and Best Practices Award for Consultation, respectively.
According to the WSASP website, individuals trained as School Psychologists and who are engaged in primarily in the practice of School Psychology in Washington State are eligible. The practice of School Psychology is considered to be the application of psychological knowledge to resolving school problems. School Psychologists who are primarily Involved in the training and supervision of School Psychologists are considered to be eligible for these awards.
A letter was sent congratulating each award winner that included a description of why they were nominated. In the letter, it was noted that Sentell’s colleagues described her as a strong advocate for students with immense experience and institutional knowledge. She is kind, thorough and responsive when speaking for the team of counselors. She can be counted upon to give great feedback or have ideas to help students. Jo goes above and beyond in her work with families, staff and fellow psychologists. She supports staff in navigating mental health crises amongst students, families with accessing local resources and new psychologists regarding their caseloads. Jo leads with empathy, curiosity and a desire to do what’s best.
In Iverson’s letter, her colleagues described Kristen as an excellent supervisor, leader and colleague who takes time to answer questions and consult in a fact-based and approachable manner. She is an excellent leader of psychologists and practicum and internship students. Kristen displays a wealth of knowledge and a friendly demeanor and is approachable and trustworthy. She utilizes knowledge of the law and practicality of school systems to educate and consult with colleagues, graduate students and other educators. Kristen promotes equity, inclusion, and diversity by adhering to best practices in referral and intervention requests, especially those under-represented in special education. She seeks out resources and intervention tools to support all students.
