MCPS Back to School Fair
SPRING 2019 SPOTLIGHT
Remembering Laura Wood
It is with great privilege that I write this Spotlight article in memory of a dear colleague and friend, Laura Wood. Born Laura Ann Steadman, her journey on earth began August 8, 1968. As the eldest of two daughters born to Russell and Dorothy Steadman, she was born and reared in Seattle, Washington. Laura graduated high school in 1986, then attended Washington State University, graduating in 1990 with a Bachelor’s of Education degree. Laura first embarked on her career in education as a third grade teacher at Meadowdale Elementary School in Dayton, Ohio. Over the next seven years, while honing her teaching skills, Laura married Theodore (Ted) Wood, and earned Master’s and Specialist-level Educational Psychology degrees from University of Dayton. During the summer of 1998, the Wood’s relocated to Maryland.
On an MCPS interview day, summer of 1998, our psychological services specialist Matthew (Matt) Kamins was struck by Laura’s “elegance and poise” as she entered the interview room to face a large panel of administrators and psychologists. “Laura was not dismayed...[ her] answers were genuine and to the point. She was all about the kids...her answers were spot-on. She left us no choice, hire her today!” So began Laura’s illustrious 20-year career as a school psychologist with MCPS. First assigned to the Central Placement Unit in Carver Educational Services Center (CESC, aka “Central Office”) Laura supported MCPS students placed in private, self-contained special education schools. Subsequently, Laura had a short stint as a curriculum development specialist, then returned to a position as a school psychologist. During this period, Laura felt extremely privileged to bore her daughter Alexis (an intelligent, compassionate, and sweet-natured teen who now attends high school in MCPS). Although her marriage terminated several years later, Laura remained steadfastly devoted to her daughter, career, and families of children she served. Laura was afforded opportunities to support public elementary, middle and high schools, initially from the Spring Mill Field Office (SMFO) in Silver Spring, and later from the Upcounty Field Office (UFO) in Germantown. Michelle Palmer recalls the good holiday and end-of-the year parties Laura hosted at her beautiful home, for UFO and school-based colleagues.
After the field offices were dismantled, Laura relocated to a pod office in Gaithersburg and supported a middle school and high school. For the past two years, Laura’s assignment was exclusive to Watkins Mill High School. Colleagues in a variety of positions have such fond memories of Laura, whom they collectively characterized as a “fierce advocate for children” ; loyal, professional, and a hard-worker who went the extra mile; a shrewd problem-solver; generous, personable, and bubbly; and loving devoted mother. As Rori Silver, transition specialist at Watkins Mill High School said, “It is so hard to put into words what an incredible person Laura was. I worked with many different psychologists but none had the dedication of Laura or touched me the way she did. She was so genuine and a large part of the reason I eventually moved to Watkins Mill full time.” Penny Drew, MCPS psychologist and friend said of Laura, “[She] helped me to be a better person professionally and personally...I’ll strive to continue being a better person based on [her] model.”
On March 6, 2019 after a private battle with cancer, Laura died peacefully, surrounded by family, loved ones and close friends. She is greatly missed by the colleagues, school teams, and MCPS friends who had the privilege of knowing Laura.
Respectfully submitted by: Tamie Smith
On an MCPS interview day, summer of 1998, our psychological services specialist Matthew (Matt) Kamins was struck by Laura’s “elegance and poise” as she entered the interview room to face a large panel of administrators and psychologists. “Laura was not dismayed...[ her] answers were genuine and to the point. She was all about the kids...her answers were spot-on. She left us no choice, hire her today!” So began Laura’s illustrious 20-year career as a school psychologist with MCPS. First assigned to the Central Placement Unit in Carver Educational Services Center (CESC, aka “Central Office”) Laura supported MCPS students placed in private, self-contained special education schools. Subsequently, Laura had a short stint as a curriculum development specialist, then returned to a position as a school psychologist. During this period, Laura felt extremely privileged to bore her daughter Alexis (an intelligent, compassionate, and sweet-natured teen who now attends high school in MCPS). Although her marriage terminated several years later, Laura remained steadfastly devoted to her daughter, career, and families of children she served. Laura was afforded opportunities to support public elementary, middle and high schools, initially from the Spring Mill Field Office (SMFO) in Silver Spring, and later from the Upcounty Field Office (UFO) in Germantown. Michelle Palmer recalls the good holiday and end-of-the year parties Laura hosted at her beautiful home, for UFO and school-based colleagues.
After the field offices were dismantled, Laura relocated to a pod office in Gaithersburg and supported a middle school and high school. For the past two years, Laura’s assignment was exclusive to Watkins Mill High School. Colleagues in a variety of positions have such fond memories of Laura, whom they collectively characterized as a “fierce advocate for children” ; loyal, professional, and a hard-worker who went the extra mile; a shrewd problem-solver; generous, personable, and bubbly; and loving devoted mother. As Rori Silver, transition specialist at Watkins Mill High School said, “It is so hard to put into words what an incredible person Laura was. I worked with many different psychologists but none had the dedication of Laura or touched me the way she did. She was so genuine and a large part of the reason I eventually moved to Watkins Mill full time.” Penny Drew, MCPS psychologist and friend said of Laura, “[She] helped me to be a better person professionally and personally...I’ll strive to continue being a better person based on [her] model.”
On March 6, 2019 after a private battle with cancer, Laura died peacefully, surrounded by family, loved ones and close friends. She is greatly missed by the colleagues, school teams, and MCPS friends who had the privilege of knowing Laura.
Respectfully submitted by: Tamie Smith
2019 School Champion of the Year
Congratulations to Jeanne McCormack and Quince Orchard (QO) High School for winning the 2019 Children's Mental Health Matters! School Champion of the Year Award for Montgomery County, Maryland! The QO Mental Health Awareness Club, in conjunction with SGA and QOTV, put on several great activities during Children’s Mental Health Matters week in May!
Students created a video about mental health and made a bulletin board called Be Kind to Your Mind. They created a team at the SpeakUp 5K in support of the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation to raise awareness of teen depression and suicide. They then ran and volunteered at the event. Ms. McCormack presented to students on mindfulness and to parents on mental illness, how to recognize it, and how to respond. They also partnered with the organization People Animals Love (PAL) and had therapy dogs come to the school to meet with students. To recognize staff needs to be mentally healthy a Self-Care Bingo game was played to encourage positive mental coping skills. Lastly, daily tweets and announcements were provided with the Mental Health Tip of the Day.
Students and staff put in great efforts to spotlight the importance of mental health in MCPS students. Ms. McCormack and QO are excited for next year to see how the club continues to grow and develop new ideas to decrease the stigma around mental health, and to encourage students to "be kind to their minds."
Students created a video about mental health and made a bulletin board called Be Kind to Your Mind. They created a team at the SpeakUp 5K in support of the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation to raise awareness of teen depression and suicide. They then ran and volunteered at the event. Ms. McCormack presented to students on mindfulness and to parents on mental illness, how to recognize it, and how to respond. They also partnered with the organization People Animals Love (PAL) and had therapy dogs come to the school to meet with students. To recognize staff needs to be mentally healthy a Self-Care Bingo game was played to encourage positive mental coping skills. Lastly, daily tweets and announcements were provided with the Mental Health Tip of the Day.
Students and staff put in great efforts to spotlight the importance of mental health in MCPS students. Ms. McCormack and QO are excited for next year to see how the club continues to grow and develop new ideas to decrease the stigma around mental health, and to encourage students to "be kind to their minds."
MSPA Maryland School Psychologist of the Year
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Congratulations to Jeanne McCormack on receiving the MSPA Maryland School Psychologist of the Year award! Jeanne's commitment to the students and families she serves, her leadership amongst colleagues, and her dedication to the field encompass the highest qualities of a school psychologist. MCPS is proud to have Jeanne as one of our own!
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School psychologist Amanda Hearn recently featured in The Pitch - a student news site published by Walter Johnson High School students. Read more here!
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2018-2019 School Psychologist of the Year: Jeanne McCormack
It is an honor to recognize one of our outstanding colleagues, Jeanne McCormack, for MCSPA School Psychologist of the Year. Mrs. McCormack has been practicing school psychology for the last six years with MCPS. The glowing recommendations provided by her colleagues demonstrate that she exemplifies the professional qualities of our occupation. As one colleague shared, “her teams routinely praise her wealth of knowledge and her dedication to the profession… [S]he often goes above and beyond the routine duties of her position to support the academic, social, physical, and emotional well-being of her students.” The Administrative Team and Counseling Department at Quince Orchard High School, “admire her knowledge, wisdom, decisiveness, and passion and enthusiasm she has for her work.”
In addition to supporting students, staff, and families at Quince Orchard High School and Fields Road Elementary Mrs. McCormack is a leader and pioneer in advocating for the School Psychologist profession within MCPS. During her two year tenure as co-president of Montgomery County School Psychologists’ Association (MCSPA). In 2017, she conceptualized the First Annual Mental Health Fair, which helped raise awareness regarding the innumerable ways in which MCPS School Psychologists promote the academic, social, physical, and emotional well-being of its students.
Mrs. McCormack is truly an exemplary colleague and a valuable asset to Montgomery County Public Schools.
In addition to supporting students, staff, and families at Quince Orchard High School and Fields Road Elementary Mrs. McCormack is a leader and pioneer in advocating for the School Psychologist profession within MCPS. During her two year tenure as co-president of Montgomery County School Psychologists’ Association (MCSPA). In 2017, she conceptualized the First Annual Mental Health Fair, which helped raise awareness regarding the innumerable ways in which MCPS School Psychologists promote the academic, social, physical, and emotional well-being of its students.
Mrs. McCormack is truly an exemplary colleague and a valuable asset to Montgomery County Public Schools.
In Memoriam
We recently lost one of our most treasured school psychologists. Penny Peterson was absolutely beautiful inside and out. She was a sometime model, actress, and dancer; a loving mother, grandmother, and wife; the life of the party; and a fierce advocate for children. Here is the tribute that fellow psychologist Matthew Kamins gave at her memorial service.
Call to Action
In February, the Montgomery County School Psychologist Association joined hundreds of national organizations, local organizations, and individuals who endorsed Call for Action to Prevent Gun Violence in the United States of America, which provides clear guidelines and recommendations for preventing violence in our schools.
Our Purpose:
- To promote and maintain the highest standards of professional practice for the provision of psychological services as set forth by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
- To encourage and facilitate discussion by psychologists on matters of professional interest and help secure conditions which promote the greatest effectiveness in the practice of school psychology.
- To advocate for the interests of children through school psychology as a science and profession.
- To provide input to Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education, Leadership and Administration to assist children in meeting or exceeding performance and achievement standards.
- To establish a liaison and encourage effective collaboration with other professions and professional agencies concerned with education and well-being of children.