Advocate for success
School psychologist key in removing learning obstacles
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools celebrated American Education
Week Nov. 16-20 by featuring a different staff member each
day. While these CMS employees have different positions and
backgrounds, all of them bring dedication and enthusiasm to public
education.
School psychologist Lorraine Zelenz spends her days building up
students and tearing down roadblocks that hinder their success.
“Building relationships is huge – it’s what I love to do,” said
Zelenz, who has spent her 18-year career in Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Schools. “Schools have a central role in a child’s life, and they need
to know they have that consistent safe place. It’s so important to be
able to support their well-being.”
Zelenz determines why a student is having difficulty in class,
then develops positive interventions to get them back on track. Many
challenges can affect student learning, from physical disabilities to
family situations, and school psychologists have the tools to get to
the root of the problem.
“We have a lot of expertise because our training is in education
and mental health,” Zelenz said. “We can give psychological
evaluations, identify learning needs and refer them for more help if
the problem is more significant. We develop interventions that bring
awareness, focus on strengths and support the student.”
Each student has an intervention team, which includes the
psychologist and other staff members related to the case, Zelenz
said. In addition to meetings with the team, she also holds individual
and group counseling sessions, and sometimes works in the
classroom. She recently spoke with fourth-graders at Beverly Woods
Elementary before they signed their anti-bullying banner.
6 • Jan/Feb 2016 • Parent Teacher News
Every school
is served by one
of the district’s
66 school
psychologists.
Zelenz divides her
week between
three schools –
Beverly Woods
and Pinewood
elementary schools
and Randolph
Middle – and said her biggest challenge is serving the more than
2,300 students assigned to her.
“There are so many needs you can address, but there are only
so many hours in the day,” she said. “Every school can benefit from
having a psychologist and having early intervention so there is less of
an impact on a student long-term.”
Zelenz’s principals value having a psychologist at their schools, as
well as what Zelenz brings to the role.
“She exudes a passion for ensuring all students feel safe and
supported and takes great initiative to be visible and connect with the
children,” said Caroline Horne, principal at Beverly Woods. “She also
makes sure parents feel well informed of the IEP and testing process
and that they have a strong voice in decision-making. What I admire
most about her is she comes to work every day with a smile and a
positive outlook.”
“She is super smart, great with parents, a pleasure to work with
and a true advocate for all students,” said Brian Bambauer, principal
at Randolph.
Zelenz is a native of Rochester, N.Y., and is married with two
sons. She was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder
that causes brittle bones, and has had more than 50 fractures. She
has limited ability to walk and uses a wheelchair for safety. She also
shares her story to help empower struggling families.
“Sometimes it helps them beat the discouragement,” Zelenz said.
“It gives them a little perspective. You have challenges, you can
overcome, achieve your dreams and be successful.”
Zelenz said she always wanted to work with kids, and she tries
to partner with families to give them the tools they need to be more
active in their children’s education. She said the issues can weigh on
her because they are personal and emotional.
“My main goal is to serve as an advocate for the student and
the family,” Zelenz said. “We can connect those dots and find the
key points to help students succeed academically, socially and
emotionally. All three are so important.”