HCPSS Crisis Intervention Teams Earn National Recognition

March 23rd, 2017

The Howard County Public School System Crisis Intervention Teams have been recognized by the National Association for School Psychologists with its School Safety and Crisis Response Award. The award recognizes outstanding commitment to advocating for and supporting comprehensive school safety and crisis response efforts that balance physical and psychological safety.

The award specifically recognized the HCPSS Crisis Intervention Leadership Team, which includes Atholton Elementary School Psychologist and HCPSS Crisis Intervention Teams Chairman J.T. Ridgely, Mayfield Woods Middle School Psychologist Dan Carr, Longfellow Elementary School Counselor Lori Jenner, Stevens Forest Elementary School Psychologist Keren Kreitzer, Waterloo Elementary School Psychologist Jeff Leard, Centennial High School Counselor Jennifer McKechnie, Atholton High School Psychologist Michael O’Shaughnessy, HCPSS Resource Psychologist Ivan Croft, and HCPSS Coordinator for School Psychology Cynthia Schulmeyer.

The HCPSS Crisis Intervention Leadership Team has established crisis intervention teams at each HCPSS school, plus a district-level response team. Additionally, the leadership team provides yearly training, a Crisis Intervention Manual, and a Quick Reference Guide for school administrators. The team also partners with the Howard County Police Department and other local agencies to provide additional training, support and joint responses to major crises.

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) represents more than 25,000 school psychologists, graduate students, and related professionals throughout the United States and 25 other countries, and is the world’s largest organization of school psychologists.