CED Alum Leigh Kokenes Named School Psychologist of the Year by NASP

CED alumna, Leigh Kokenes (School Psychology ‘05) was just named School Psychologist of the Year by National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Kokenes is a School Psychologist in North Carolina where she has worked in the Wake County Public School System since 2006. When asked how the College of Education’s School Psychology credential program prepared her for the field Kokenes replied,

My entire experience at CSULB's School Psychology credential program prepared me for the obvious day-to-day work involved in being a School Psychologist but more importantly it prepared me to be a thinker, a problem solver, and a life-long advocate for children. The words and lessons of my professors from the School Psychology program resonate with me even today and many of the skills I learned have translated to systems changes within the district I currently work.  Our field has experienced a shift in thinking and in necessary skills over the last decade and I can attribute my leadership skills in navigating these changes alongside my colleagues to the depth and breadth of the coursework and fieldwork I received through CSULB's School Psychology credential program.  Furthermore, the connections I made with my classmates and professors have been beneficial to my ongoing professional learning and have kept me interested in this incredible field in education.  Thank you for making my experience at CSULB a wonderful one and one that continues to spark a love of learning, a passion for humanity for children, and a continued interest in School Psychology.