November 11-15 is 2019 School Psychology Awareness Week and to celebrate Shelby County Schools is highlighting some of our hardworking school psychologists in the 901 who exemplify heart, determination, innovation, soul, and pride.
SCS school psychologists work in every school in the District serving children with special needs beginning as early as age three.
Their mission is to collaborate with our schools to help students achieve and experience success in and out of the classroom. Because some of our children have learning differences and need additional support, they work with our teachers, administrators, and parents when conducting evaluations to determine if students have an educational disability.
This week you will get to know several of our dedicated and highly qualified school psychologists who personify 901 heart, determination, innovation, soul, and pride as well as our bilingual psychologists.
Today we introduce you to Deirdre McClellan.
Deirdre McClellan exemplifies heart as a school psychologist because she has brought unapparelled passion to her job each day for the last 32 years.
Deirdre knew at early age in her life that she wanted to work with preschool age children and eventually children suspected of having autism as well. She graduated from the Memphis State University in 1988 with an Ed.S. and immediately began working as a school psychologist. She is also a past winner of the Tennessee Association of School Psychologist (TASP) School Psychologist of the year award.
Deirdre is a strong advocate for early intervention and works full time at SCS’s Colonial Hearing, Speech, and Vision Center where she evaluates preschool age children typically transitioning from Tennessee Early Intervention Services (TEIS) to SCS. Parents bringing their children to Colonial Center for their child’s first comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation are worried about their child’s future, and Mrs. McClellan has a wonderful gift of empathizing with parents to reassure them every child has positive and unique qualities.
A leader in our community in assessment of autism, Deirdre was among the first in west Tennessee to receive specialized training at Vanderbilt University. If co-worker ever needs assistance with testing a student suspected of having autism, Deirdre never hesitates to help.
In her free time Deirdre volunteers at Grizzlies Prep where she provides swimming lessons. She is a certified Lifeguard Instructor and is well known in the community for teaching swimming lessons to children with disabilities.