June 5, 2023
Jasmin Traughber has been named the 2022-2023 WCPSS School Psychologist of the Year.
Mrs. Traughber has been a school psychologist for eight years and has practiced in WCPSS for seven years. She currently serves Pleasant Union Elementary and Sanderson High.
Within the school psychology department, Mrs. Traughber serves on the School Psychology Leadership Team. In her work, she supports the department’s decision-making process to meet the needs of the school psychologists and the school system. Mrs. Traughber also serves on the School Psychology Mentor Team. She mentors a new school psychologist, plans and facilitates mentee events, and provides professional learning for mentors. For the district, Mrs. Traughber delivers Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training to staff.
At her schools, Mrs. Traughber demonstrates leadership through empowering others. She provides training for staff and regularly collaborates and problem solves with a variety of teams to improve student access and outcomes. Bryan Tunstall, principal at Pleasant Union Elementary School, says: “Jasmin takes time to hear out peers’ concerns and validate their observations and experiences. Jasmin is able to then problem-solve with them in a constructive manner where they feel supported but come up with student-centered decisions that best benefit the child.”
Mrs. Traughber builds partnerships with parents and students during the special education evaluation process. This year she focused on improving assessment practices to reduce bias, counteract stereotypes, and consider students’ unique backgrounds. She approaches assessment sessions as a discovery process for students and something done alongside them rather than to them.
To support behavioral health, Mrs. Traughber provides counseling services to students, delivers Signs of Suicide and human trafficking lessons, and supports development and implementation of behavior interventions for students.
Finally, Mrs. Traughber works to reduce burnout, which has been noticed by her colleagues. Mr. Tunstall stated: “I believe it should be highlighted that she also knows how to set boundaries to help her remain at peak effectiveness. This has in no way reduced her effectiveness as a school psychologist, nor has it impeded relationships with staff. I believe this is a valuable skill that should continue to be cultivated, celebrated, and spread to others in her field.”
We are grateful for the comprehensive school psychological services that Mrs. Traughber provides to the students, families, and staff of the Wake County Public School System.
