The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) has designated November 3–7, 2025 as National School Psychology Week (NSPW), with the theme “Finding Your Path.” NSPW is an annual opportunity to recognize school psychologists’ work helping children and youth thrive. School psychologists partner with students, families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community. They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior to help children and adolescents succeed socially, behaviorally, emotionally, and academically.
This year’s theme, “Finding Your Path,” recognizes the ways that school psychologists take an active role in helping everyone in their communities determine paths to learning, growth, and overall well-being that meet their individual needs. Through their specialized training in consultation, collaboration, and evidence-based practices, school psychologists help empower others to set their destination and find a route that works best for them, all while sharing tools to help them thrive along the way.
Here in the DeKalb School District, we share the goal of helping our students grow in school, at home, and in life. This includes recognizing individual growth, bridging differences, celebrating diversity, building positive relationships, providing opportunities to gain new knowledge and skills, and encouraging our students to take on challenges and persevere when things get difficult. Working together, we can help our students as they grow as individuals and contribute to a positive school community.
The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) is a professional association representing more than 25,000 school psychologists, graduate students, and related professionals throughout the United States and an additional 25 countries worldwide. As the world's largest organization of school psychologists, NASP works to advance effective practices to improve students' learning, behavior, and mental health. Their vision is that all children and youth thrive in school, at home, and throughout life.
Littlejohn Elementary School
(815) 754-2258
Cortland Elementary School
(815) 754-1076
Mitchell Elementary School
(815) 754-2146
Malta Elementary School
Early Learning Development Center
(815) 754-1336
Jefferson Elementary School
Brooks Elementary School
(815) 754-9936
DeKalb High School
(815) 754-2986
Clinton Rosette Middle School
Huntley Middle School
Founders Elementary School
(815) 754-3800
Lincoln Elementary School
Tyler Elementary School
School psychologists are mental health specialists with knowledge of child development, the psychology of learning, behavior management and intervention, monitoring progress of students, and program evaluation.
School psychologists apply this knowledge using a problem-solving approach to help bring about positive changes in learning environment, attitude, and motivation. Services offered by the school psychologist may be provided directly to the student or indirectly by working with teachers, parents, and other care givers; however, all services provided by the school psychologist are intended to enhance the academic and social emotional success of students.
School psychologists promote the application of research-based psychological principles and practices that support the mental health and learning potential of all students in general education as well as special education programs.
School psychologists are intensely trained in both psychology and education and are required to complete a minimum of 60 graduate semester credit hours in a specialist-level degree program in school psychology, with a year-long, or 1,200-hour, supervised internship. The overall program includes graduate training and studies in mental health and educational interventions, child development, learning, behavior, motivation, curriculum and instruction, assessment, consultation, collaboration, school law, and systems. Many programs also offer a doctorate in school psychology, which generally requires 5 to 7 years of graduate work, including a 1,500-hour internship and completion of a dissertation. School psychologists must be certified and/or licensed by the state in which they work. They also may be nationally certified by the National School Psychology Certification Board (NSPCB). The National Association of School Psychologists sets ethical and training standards for practice and service delivery.