New school psychologist is here to help students with academic and emotional needs

When students think of a psychologist, they probably are thinking they’re going to talk to a person with a notebook in a long chair who listens to their problems. While this is true in some cases, this is all that a school psychologist does.

Mrs.Riley is the new school psychologist at Milford High School. The school psychologist is here to work with students to improve their academic performance and provide a foundation for a caring community.

Riley is an MHS grad and found she wanted to be a school psychologist after a psychology teacher inspired her. She loved to work with special education students in high school and psychology was always a huge interest to her.  School psychology combines her two loves into one.

“I’m really excited to work in the building because it’s a good place to grow up and work in,” said Riley. “I love working with high school students because the phases you guys are at in your life. You’re still growing and maturing and making decisions. It´s an exciting time to be apart of.”

One thing she does is work with students for emotional support in times of crisis or if students are a victim of bullying. These aren’t as easy to detect as academic struggles, so it is important for students to talk about these issues with Riley or other adults, so they can help them.

“My main advice right now is to be kind to each other and to ask for what you need. Whether it’s with school or emotional problems,” said Riley.

She also wanted to emphasize how teachers cannot always see bullying that’s happening, so it’s important to reach out.

Emotional support can help students with their academic struggles too. Although talking through these problems is an important part of her job, it isn’t Riley’s only focus.  

As a school psychologist, she analyzes tests and works with counselors to find where specific students are struggling most in the classroom. Academic progress is easily detected through tests. Riley may suggest programs to help students through any problems that show up on these test.

She works a lot with special education students, planning programs and testing to see where they  should be placed at Milford’s special education program.  

You may have seen her around the school the past three years working with the special education students in the adult program. She was not a para-educator or special education teacher; she was their psychologist.  

Riley can be found in the Student Services office. She is not available every day at Milford because she also works at Country Oaks Elementary, but students could still make appointments to talk about problems they are facing academically or emotionally.

Parents can ask Riley any questions about their child and she will work with them to find a solution. The best way to contact her is by email, [email protected]. Or you could try to contact by phone, (248) 684-8478.

Overall, Riley is here to evaluate students struggles and come up with ways to help those students by working with counselors and parents to give students all of the opportunities they need for success in high school.