Table Of Content“Kathleen Ness has written a must-read for anyone considering educa-
tion, school psychology, and social advocacy. From her upbringing in
rural America to her work in public schools, Kathleen’s experiences pro-
vide readers with an in-depth understanding of the current educational
system and calls to action for the future”.
—Dr. Natasha Olson, Nationally Certifed School Psychologist
“Never before have students and school personnel so deeply needed
skills to build their sense of belonging and safety at school. This book
gives practical guidance and strong helpful research for school psycholo-
gists and those who work alongside them to advocate at every level to
meet these needs”.
—Sally A. Baas, Ed.D., Professor Joshua Vossler Emeritas of Education at
Concordia University, St. Paul, Director of Southeast Asian Teacher Program,
and Faculty Senate Chair of Hmong Culture and Language Program
“Read this book. Kathleen Ness has eloquently laid out how important
and easy it is to advocate for the things we care about. Ms. Ness reminds
us that our voices matter. In her words and her actions, she inspires us all
to stand up and speak out for change”.
—Jos G. Linn, Manager of Grass Roots Impact, RESULTS
School Psychologists as
Advocates for Social Justice
School Psychologists as Advocates for Social Justice explores how school
psychologists promote and protect the educational rights of children,
using the author’s extensive experience as illustration.
The roles of school psychologists have expanded from strictly
assessment to advising school districts on how to improve school climate,
helping schools face tragedy, and counseling students dealing with
trauma. Combined with pertinent research, personal narratives describe
challenges the author faced while a teacher and later as a school
psychology practitioner and illustrate how necessary advocacy is in
addressing the academic, behavioral, and emotional needs of students.
Careful consideration is given to equity issues of disability, racism,
Islamophobia, and bilingualism in schools.
Combining informative personal experience with research,
emphasizing the importance of children’s rights within the school
community, and encouraging efective advocacy with legislative leaders,
this book is a necessity for both new and seasoned school psychologists.
Kathleen Ness, N.C.S.P., retired, also holds a Master of Arts in the
Teaching of English. She advocates for children, schools, and families
through NASP and with RESULTS.
School Psychologists as
Advocates for Social Justice
Kathleen Ness
Designed cover image: Getty Image
First published 2023
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa
business
© 2023 Kathleen Ness
The right of Kathleen Ness to be identified as author of this
work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78
of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted
or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be
trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for
identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ness, Kathleen, author.
Title: School psychologists as advocates for social justice / Kathleen
Ness.
Description: 1 Edition. | New York : Routledge, 2023. | Includes
bibliographical references and index. |
Identifiers: LCCN 2022034007 (print) | LCCN 2022034008
(ebook) | ISBN 9781032390871 (Hardback) | ISBN 9781032390864
(Paperback) | ISBN 9781003348344 (eBook)
Subjects: LCSH: School psychologists—United States. | School
psychology—United States—Case studies. | School
psychologists—Training of—United States.
Classification: LCC LB3013.6 .N37 2023 (print) | LCC
LB3013.6 (ebook) | DDC 371.7/13—dc23/eng/20220722
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022034007
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022034008
ISBN: 978-1-032-39087-1 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-39086-4 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-34834-4 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003348344
Typeset in New Baskerville
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
To Tim, for everything
Contents
About the Author xi
Acknowledgments xii
1 Introduction 1
2 Why It Took Me So Long to Become a School
Psychologist 4
3 Claiming Disability Rights 9
4 Hard Lessons: Teaching in the South 16
5 Segregation, Desegregation, Resegregation 38
6 Hard Lessons: Teaching in Pakistan 45
7 Beyond 9/11 62
8 They’re Just Talking Gibberish: English Language
Learners 68
9 Issues in Diversity: ‘There’s No Way He’d Tell a
White Woman That’ 81
10 Better Ally Than Savior 89
11 Rites of Passage: Becoming a School Psychologist 98
12 Health in School 112
