NH Association of School Psychologists

2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006

Award Year -- 2000
School Psychologist of the Year
Bow School District

Jeffrey S. McNish
23 West Sugarball Road
Concord, NH 03301
603/225-3212 (O)
603/228-2228 (Fax)
603/226-3708 (H)
jmcnish@bow.k12.nh.us

Biographical Data
Jeffrey McNish received degrees in Psychology and Elementary Education from Potsdam State College and a master's degree in school psychology from Alfred University. McNish worked in SAU #19 from 1989-93 and has been the school psychologist for SAU #67 in Bow since 1993. He has served as president of the New Hampshire Association of School Psychologists and is presently the NH Delegate to the National Association of School Psychologists.

Characteristics Leading to the Award
Jeffrey McNish is responsible for providing a number of services for children in the Bow school system. Primary duties include assessment of intellectual, academic and social/emotional status of students K-12; pre-referral, evaluation, and IEP team member; individual and group therapy; teacher, parent and student consultation; suicide prevention and intervention; member of the Drug, Alcohol and Safe Schools Committee and District Crisis Team; consultation with out-of-district professionals and school systems; and providing workshops and information to community members. As a school psychologist, Jeff coordinates educational and psychological services within the district. Flexibility and adaptability are essential as a typical day may include evaluation, counseling, crisis intervention and numerous meetings with students, parents and teachers. McNish coordinates service delivery with other individuals and strives to maintain an effective use of time in order to help children to the greatest degree possible. He advocates for children, family and education as he facilitates communication in the interest of promoting community.
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Award Year -- 2001
School Psychologist of the Year
Dover School District

Sandra Crosson
8 Swaan Drive
Lee, NH 03824
603/742-2162 (O)
603/742-2440 (Fax)
603/659-6728 (H)
scrosson@mediaone.net

Biographical Data
Sandra Crosson attended Marshall University in Huntington, WV where she earned a BA in psychology and math in 1970 and an MA in psychology in 1971. She received clinical training at the Atlantic Guidance Center in Atlantic, NJ and worked there as a clinical staff psychologist prior to the advent of casinos and gambling in the area. During the late 70's and early 80's, Sandra taught courses in psychology at community colleges in Atlantic county, NJ and Livonia, MI. After updating her credentials at the University of Delaware, she obtained her certification in school psychology, and worked as a school psychologist for Brandywine School District in Wilmington, DE in the mid 1980s. Crosson moved to New England in 1987, and has been working as a School Psychologist for the Dover School District ever since.

Characteristics Leading to the Award
Crosson is the past president of the New Hampshire Association of School Psychologists. Under her leadership, the organization obtained the governor's proclamation of School Psychology Day, increased PPR activities by members, revised the website, established a state listserve, promoted a strategic planning process, expanded the state conference to include vendors from organizations with the state, partnered with NH CAN, and successfully collaborated with the International School Psychology Association in sponsoring an international conference at UNH in the summer of 2000. Sandra's job responsibilities involve a healthy balance of assessment, consultation, case management, classroom programs, individual interventions, and staff development. She has been an essential supporter and consultant for innovations in her district, including Wraparound and Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS). She has also served on the Assessment Committee of the Dover Educational Improvement Program. She is a part of the Seacoast Critical Incident Response Team and participates in trauma related training activities. Recently, Crosson has been working on 'Bully proofing' initiatives. She received a grant which will help school based leaders develop more comprehensive programs in their schools.
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Award Year -- 2002
School Psychologist of the Year
Rochester School District

Barbara Cascadden
55 Mast Road
Lee, NH 03824
603/332-3678 (O)
603/659-5648 (H)
bcascadden@attbi.com

Biographical Data
Barbara Cascadden holds a BA in Elementary Education, a MA in Child Study and a CAGS in School Psychology. Cascadden taught kindergarten through grade 4 for 12 years before becoming a school psychologist. She has been employed by the Rochester School District for the past 18 years.

Characteristics Leading to the Award
Barbara Cascadden provides a range of psychological services to Rochester schools, working with parents and teachers as well as children. While psychological evaluations and consultations take up most of her time, she also finds time to serve on several committees and also to present workshops. She states that each day presents new challenges. She may be consulting on an autistic preschooler in the morning and work with a college-bound dyslexic high school student in the afternoon. Her particular interests are reading disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.
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Award Year -- 2003
School Psychologist of the Year
Derry School District

Kristen Thibodeau
5 Heritage Lane
Derry, NH 03038
603/432-1233 (O)
603/432-1235 (Fax)
kthibode@derry.k12.nh.us

Biographical Data
Kristen Thibodeau has earned a BS from Presbyterian College, and a MS in Clinical Psychology and a Doctor of Psychology with specialization in Clinical Psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology. She has also had several practicums with children, teens and adults. Since 1997, Thibodeau has been psychologist for the Derry Cooperative School District. Prior to this she worked for C.L.M. Behavioral Health Systems, Exeter Psychological Associates, Inc., Eastern Main Counseling and Testing Services, Inc., and as an adjunct for Antioch New England Graduate School.

Characteristics Leading to the Award
Kristen Thibodeau works daily with staff, administration, students and parents. A good portion of her time is spent evaluating students (preschool through high school) to help determine eligibility for special education services and to provide evaluation services to students already receiving special education. She explains the results of these and outside evaluation to parents and staff, giving them further insight into the student’s strengths and weaknesses. Thibodeau arranged for local training of Derry special education teachers and others from around New England in the Woodcock Johnson III Tests of Achievement. Dr. Thibodeau has also collaborated with the NH Psychological Association to implement community mental health screening. She is cited for her exemplary performance, creativity, originality and sensitivity to those with whom she works.
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Michael J. Cronin
31 South Street
Littleton, NH 03561
603/837-3088 (O)
603/837-9161 (Fax)
mikecronin@adelphia.net

Characteristics Leading to the Award
Michael's exemplary work as Coordinating School Psychologist at North Country Education Services has extended beyond the school into the community. Cronin describes his work as unique because as an itinerant School Psychologist, he is responsible for a large geographic region with a wide diversity of school staff, communities, and families.
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Meg Maroni
57 Summit Road
Plymouth, NH 03264
603/286-7143 (O)
nhmaroni@adelphia.net or mmaroni@winnisquam.k12.nh.us

Characteristics Leading to the Award
Meg Maroni, of Winnisquam Middle/High School in Tilton, NH, was chosen as the school psychologist of the year because she represents what is best about the profession. At her school she's responsible for evaluations, counseling, crisis intervention, and consulting. She works with school personnel, parents, and community agencies to improve students' mental health and school achievement.
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Award Year -- 2006
School Psychologist of the Year
Armand R. Dupont School

Nancy Frantz Clough
18 Horseshoe Pond Lane
Concord, NH 03301

Characteristics Leading to the Award
Nancy Frantz-Clough has been the School Psychologist for the Allenstown School District for over ten years. Her background includes work as a reading tutor, diagnostic teacher, and special education consultant in the field of education since 1977. She serves as a counselor to her students with emotional handicaps and as chairperson of an intensive team where Functional Behavioral Assessments are conducted. Through her work with children, staff, parents, and community, she is able to help all the constituencies understand the various disabilities and how to best deal with these special children in the most effective manner.
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