School Psychologists Needed in Weymouth Schools

There is a public health crisis as more young people need mental health services at a time when there are not enough psychologists in Massachusetts schools to care for students. Fortunately, the US Department of Education just funded scholarships available through William James College (WJC) to encourage recent college grads, paraprofessionals, teachers, or mid-career professionals to earn a graduate degree and pursue a fulfilling and well-paying career as a school psychologist.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there is an increase in depression and suicidal behavior among school-age children. At the same time, we do not have the number and diversity of school psychologists in our public schools to help students cope with mental health needs and focus on learning.

This shortage in the education workforce has high stakes for young people, especially in underserved communities. Yet, being a school psychologist is an excellent career that provides an average salary in Massachusetts of $92,000 and the opportunity to help young people in need.

Fortunately, to help with the current crisis, the US Department of Education just awarded a $5.9 million grant to William James College – the only graduate school in Massachusetts focused on psychology – to provide scholarships and stipends to assist people in securing a graduate degree in School Psychology.

Graduate students who are admitted to William James College are eligible to be awarded a $10,000 scholarship for tuition and stipends of up to $10,000 while completing their clinical training requirements in the college’s partner school districts, which include Weymouth and Abington.

William James College is also offering up to $20,000 in additional scholarships, which, combined with the scholarships from the federal grant, could mean that up to a third of the tuition needed to earn a school psychology degree could be covered.

For school-based paraprofessionals, William James College can help them complete their undergraduate programs at community colleges or WJC’s bachelor completion program; the college’s partners include Quincy College and other community colleges in the state.

The crisis related to school psychologists is not just about the shortage of these professionals but also the need for more diversity among them to meet the range of students in our public schools. Through this scholarship program, the US Department of Education and William James College are working to increase the number of graduate students pursuing a School Psychology degree who are first-generation students; those with disabilities; ethnic, linguistic, and racial minority groups; and those from the LGBTQ+ community.

While we have a crisis in our schools today, there is a way to make this better through this scholarship and stipend program that will help students in need by building up the workforce of skilled, diverse, and caring school psychologists while creating a pathway for interested candidates who want to develop good-paying and fulfilling careers.