Keri Anacker
Title: School Psychologist
Job site: ʻAiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex Area
Years in the HIDOE: 6 years
Years in the position: 6 years
Q: Briefly describe your career path.
A: I attended The College of New Jersey, double majoring in Early Childhood Education and Psychology where I earned my bachelor’s degree. I continued on to attend Kean University for graduate school, where I earned my master’s degree in educational psychology and then a professional diploma in school psychology. I was hired by Central District on O‘ahu in 2018 and have been here ever since!
Q: How did you get into this field?
A: During my student teaching experience at TCNJ, I found myself drawn to the students that were struggling and I got to go to the "behind the scenes" meetings for those students with my host teacher. At those meetings, I met the school psychologist who asked great questions, shared awesome data, and presented interesting reports. I was inspired to go to grad school and start the path of school psychology.
Q: What are your primary duties?
A: School psychologists are trained to provide direct support and interventions to students, consult with teachers, families, and other school-employed mental health professionals to improve support strategies, offer evidence-based interventions, work with administrators to improve school-wide practices and policies, and collaborate with community providers to coordinate needed services. Sometimes, we are also referred to as "gatekeepers of special education," and in our state, much of my role here involves assessing students for special education eligibility and programming. I love calling myself a "brain detective!" I also have been starting to deliver professional development sessions to share my knowledge and my passion for helping students thrive.
Q: Favorite part about the job?
A: I love bringing answers, relief and support to families and teachers who have concerns about struggling learners. Seeing progress and getting students what they need is so rewarding.
Q: Most challenging part about your position?
A: The shortage of school psychologists in our state and nation. I am one of only three full-time school psychologists for the ʻAiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex Area.
Q: What advice do you have for people considering this position?
A: Have confidence in your expertise and know that you CAN make a difference. Always remember to put the students first.
Q: How does your role support student success?
A: School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students' abilities to learn and teachers' abilities to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning and behavior to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally and emotionally. School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators and other professionals to create safe, healthy and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections among home, school and the community. I like saying that school psychologists are the educators who know the most about psychology, and the psychologists who know the most about education. It is the perfect blend of knowledge that helps me support the whole child – academically, mentally, emotionally, behaviorally, etc.
Keri Anacker was named the 2024-25 School Psychologist of the Year by the Hawai‘i Association of School Psychologists.
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