Keri Anacker

제목: School Psychologist
채용 사이트: ʻAiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex Area
히도에서의 세월: 6 years
해당 직책에서 근무한 기간: 6 years 

Q: 본인의 커리어 경로에 대해 간략하게 설명해 주세요.
A: I attended The College of New Jersey, double majoring in Early Childhood Education and Psychology where I earned my bachelor’s degree. I continued on to attend Kean University for graduate school, where I earned my master’s degree in educational psychology and then a professional diploma in school psychology. I was hired by Central District on O‘ahu in 2018 and have been here ever since!

Q: How did you get into this field?
A: During my student teaching experience at TCNJ, I found myself drawn to the students that were struggling and I got to go to the “behind the scenes” meetings for those students with my host teacher. At those meetings, I met the school psychologist who asked great questions, shared awesome data, and presented interesting reports. I was inspired to go to grad school and start the path of school psychology.

질문: 주요 업무는 무엇인가요?
A: School psychologists are trained to provide direct support and interventions to students, consult with teachers, families, and other school-employed mental health professionals to improve support strategies, offer evidence-based interventions, work with administrators to improve school-wide practices and policies, and collaborate with community providers to coordinate needed services. Sometimes, we are also referred to as “gatekeepers of special education,” and in our state, much of my role here involves assessing students for special education eligibility and programming. I love calling myself a “brain detective!” I also have been starting to deliver professional development sessions to share my knowledge and my passion for helping students thrive.

Q: 이 직업에서 가장 좋아하는 부분은 무엇인가요?
A: I love bringing answers, relief and support to families and teachers who have concerns about struggling learners. Seeing progress and getting students what they need is so rewarding. 

Q: 현직에서 가장 어려운 점은 무엇인가요?
A: The shortage of school psychologists in our state and nation. I am one of only three full-time school psychologists for the ʻAiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex Area.

Q: 이 직책을 고려하는 사람들에게 어떤 조언을 해주고 싶으신가요?
A: Have confidence in your expertise and know that you CAN make a difference. Always remember to put the students first.

질문: 여러분의 역할은 학생들의 성공을 어떻게 지원하나요?
A: School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students’ abilities to learn and teachers’ abilities to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning and behavior to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally and emotionally. School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators and other professionals to create safe, healthy and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections among home, school and the community. I like saying that school psychologists are the educators who know the most about psychology, and the psychologists who know the most about education. It is the perfect blend of knowledge that helps me support the whole child – academically, mentally, emotionally, behaviorally, etc.

Keri Anacker was named the 2024-25 School Psychologist of the Year by the Hawai‘i Association of School Psychologists.