Gwinnett Daily Post

The Georgia Association of School Psychologists applauded the work of Gwinnett County Public Schools psychologists for their service to Gwinnett children, presenting the Psychological Services Department with the "Innovative Practice Award."

The organization recognized GCPS with the award, taking note of the school system's National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) approval for on-site professional learning units, which provides school psychologists with further learning and training to serve Gwinnett children.

"The field of special education continues to change as a result of new medical and educational research," said Susan White, executive director of special education and psychological services. "It's imperative that our psychologists stay abreast of current treatments, diagnoses, assessment tools and innovative instructional and behavioral strategies that will ultimately help our teachers and students."

As part of the professional learning program, local and national speakers provide training and information to GCPS psychologists on a monthly basis. This training provides the professionals with the most recent research and tools for making accurate diagnostic decisions and appropriate intervention recommendations and for helping assess treatment integrity of the interventions. In addition, the training can be applied toward maintaining national certification as a school psychologist.

Gwinnett is the only school district in the nation to develop this professional learning program and obtain NASP approval. Fifty-five GCPS psychologists serve Gwinnett children, each working with two schools within a cluster.

Heather Darenberg writes about education. Good News From Schools appears in the Sunday edition of the Gwinnett Daily Post. For more good news, visit www.gwinnettdailypost.com.