Student Profile: Tia Aunkst, East Carolina University
Tia Aunkst is a first-year student in the school psychology master’s program at East Carolina University. Tia grew up in a small town in Upstate New York called Waterloo. After she graduated from high school, Tia attended Rochester Institute of Technology, which is also located in New York. During her time at Rochester, she was involved in Psi Chi, psychology club, and she was an athlete on the varsity softball team. Tia enjoyed being involved in various research during her undergraduate years. Her research focused on substance use and concussions in student athletes, as well as binge drinking and executive functioning in college students.
Tia became interested in school psychology while she was volunteering at inner city schools in New York. This experience allowed her to work one-on-one with middle schoolers, who were struggling with their academics. Tia believes that having this opportunity to work so closely with children in need was the largest influence on her interest in school psychology.
As a future school psychologist, Tia wants to advocate for minorities in the schools, as well as help inner city schools gain more resources to benefit the students.
Rhonda Armistead Named NASP 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
The North Carolina School Psychology Association is proud to share that the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) has named Rhonda Armistead as the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. NASP established this award in 1999 to recognize those who have contributed to the profession in a significant and lasting manner. Ms. Armistead is the 20th recipient of this award.
Rhonda’s contributions to the profession of school psychology include significant roles in leadership, school-based services, professional development, and mentoring. She has been actively involved in the field since the 1980’s. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, in 1979. She went on to get her Master of Science degree in School and Counseling Psychology in 1981 from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas. She has worked as a psychological examiner, consultant, adjunct instructor and state consultant for the Arkansas Department of Education. Ms. Armistead worked as a school psychologist in Starkville, Mississippi, and then in Wilson, North Carolina.
Most recently, Rhonda served as a practitioner and lead school psychologist for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in Charlotte, NC (1996-2018). She was responsible for the provision of comprehensive school psychological services including prevention and intervention services to K-5 students. She provided academic and mental health consultation to parents, teachers, and students with a wide range of behavioral/social-emotional, and academic and cognitive difficulties. She also had the responsibilities of supervising and mentoring psychologists, departmental strategic planning, coordination of the CMS School Psychologists’ MTSS Steering Committee, and development of professional learning.
In 2012, Rhonda’s efforts were recognized through the North Carolina School Psychology Association (NCSPA) Practitioner of the Year Award both for her practice and her efforts to implement Parent Clinics in which school psychologists provided free consultation services to parents. In 2015, Rhonda received the NCSPA Innovative Practices Award and was recognized by the Mental Health Association of Central Carolinas for her mental health work.
Rhonda’s leadership with the National Association of School Psychologists began in 1987. She has been delegate, secretary, program manager for professional development, program manager for professional standards, and president. She also served for multiple years on the National School Psychology Certification Board and the NASP Program Approval Board. She has authored 18 NASP publications and has made over 70 presentations to local, state, and national audiences. She was a NASP graduate education program reviewer for 20 years and regularly reviewed NASP publications.
Perhaps Rhonda’s most significant contribution has been her longtime work on NASP’s professional standards. She has served on the committees and core writing teams for the last four revisions of NASP practice, credentialing, graduate preparation, and ethical standards. In 2006, she proposed developing the Model for Comprehensive and Integrated School Psychological Services and supported its development and adoption in the 2010 standards. Overall, her service was recognized with NASP Presidential Awards on seven occasions.
Rhonda’s impact on the field is evident and the effect she has made in her lifetime is clear in her accomplishments and comments from her colleagues. One of her colleagues said, “She is a role model and an inspiration for all who have the opportunity to know and work with her! The fact that she has been able to do so much in support of our profession while remaining a practitioner is remarkable, to say the least”.
Another colleague stated, “It is hard to summarize in a short amount of space the many contributions that Rhonda has made to the field of school psychology. It is especially impressive that this level of contribution was made while serving as a practitioner. She has truly given a lifetime of service and continues to step up when called on for additional service. Her work has had a positive impact on school psychologists across this country and will continue to do so for many years. I cannot imagine anyone more deserving of this award.”
Leigh Kokenes Named 2019 NASP School Psychologist of the Year
The North Carolina School Psychology Association (NCSPA) is proud to share that Mrs. Leigh Bass Kokenes is the 2019 National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) School Psychologist of the Year. Leigh Bass Kokenes, M. Ed., NCSP, is currently a school psychologist in the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) in North Carolina. Leigh completed the School Psychology Credential Program at California State University, Long Beach, in 2005. Leigh has a background in special education and early intervention with experience working in public schools, early intervention, and community mental health settings.
Leigh joined the WCPSS, where she provides comprehensive school psychological services for students in grades K-8 and provides outstanding leadership at the district and building level, in 2006. Leigh has a history of being involved in the WCPSS promoting school psychology and Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS) committees. At the building level, Leigh serves on multiple problem solving teams, including her schools’ intervention and instructional leadership teams in her elementary and middle school. Leigh also provides direct support to both students and families by working with small groups of students to build leadership skills and reduce in-school suspensions, and participating in “downtown parent conferences” for families with limited transportation and resources. She has provided consultation and professional learning to her schools to build understanding of MTSS and social-emotional learning.
At the state level, Leigh is active in the North Carolina School Psychology Association (NCSPA) and serves in leadership roles. She is the Co-Chair of the NCSPA Legislative & Public Policy committee, where she advocates for comprehensive services, increased access to mental health services, proportionate staffing, and efforts to support recruitment and retention of school psychologists. Her contributions have been instrumental in leading the networking and partnerships that resulted in the organization having several NC General Assembly bills drafted and supported during the last legislative session. Leigh also serves as the NASP School Psychology Action Network (SPAN) and Government and Professional Relations (GPR) contact for the state of North Carolina, working with the NCSPA board and lobbyist to follow bills of importance to the profession. Additionally, Leigh is a commissioner on North Carolina Governor Cooper’s Commission on Access to Sound Basic Education.
Leigh has received multiple awards and honors in recognition of her dedication, service, and advocacy on behalf of students, families, and the profession of school psychology. In 2016, she was awarded the Wake County Public School System School Psychologist of the Year award, and in 2017 was recognized as the NC Practitioner of the Year by NCSPA. Leigh was nominated for the California State University, Long Beach Distinguished Alumni award in 2018.
Leigh’s commitment to advocacy for the profession and success for all students is evident in her many accomplishments, as well as comments from her colleagues. One colleague notes, “Leigh keeps students’ needs at the forefront of all of her decisions, and is a strong advocate for them. She has helped to change the mindset of the staff, which has led to the students and families getting appropriate services.” Further, Leigh’s leadership and relationships at the state level have helped change the conversations around school safety, school climate, and mental health in North Carolina. Another colleague shared, “Leigh supports others in helping them realize their potential for advocacy by sharing her own personal, ‘You just have to do it once,’ mantra. This positivity and energetic drive has directly influenced numerous school psychologists to call or meet with their legislators and to join in advocating for school psychology.”
Leigh was selected as the NASP 2019 School Psychologist of the Year for her commitment to the profession, and for her continued leadership and advocacy for the comprehensive role of a school psychologist to help improve outcomes for children, families, and schools.
Contact NCSPA
Email: ncspamembers@gmail.com
Website: http://www.ncspaonline.com/
Location: PO Box 12661, Durham, NC 27709
Phone: 000
Facebook: facebook.com/NCSchoolPsychology/
Twitter: @NC_School_Psych
