About Amy
My name is Amy Patenaude (Pat-Node). I am a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) and Licensed School Psychologist in sunny Florida. I wear many hats. Mother, wife, friend, and school psychologist. Each of these roles has shaped my life’s path.
For as long as I can remember, I have loved reading and learning in school. Growing up, we had a closet under the stairs in our home and my mother turned it into a play area for me and my siblings. I used to spend hours playing school with my brother and sister. I loved being the teacher.
My Road to Becoming a School Psychologist
I graduated from college with my bachelors degree in psychology. My first job out of college was teaching in the public school district in Tampa. I spent 2 years teaching as both a special education teacher and kindergarten teacher at a low-income school.
From my experiences as a teacher and my degree in psychology, I thought that the best fit for my interests would be to pursue a graduate degree in school psychology. I attended graduate school at the University of South Florida (go bulls!). I earned my masters and educational specialists degrees in school psychology. While in graduate school, I worked in the College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics. I helped conduct developmental screeners for children from birth to age three and co-facilitated behavioral parent training groups. My thesis examined the relationship between demographic variables of training participants and their levels of stress.
After graduating from USF, I spent almost 4 years working as a school psychologist in a Tampa at a low-income elementary school where many of the students were exposed to generational poverty. Some of the supports I provided included evaluating students for special education services, facilitating RtI/MTSS meetings, being a Positive Behavior Supports coach, individual counseling, small groups, and district level crisis intervention.
In May 2015, I joined a psychology publishing company as an Assessment Consultant for the Southeast Education markets. As a school psychologist and assessment consultant, I believe that the first part of an evaluation is to identify the strengths and weaknesses that a child has, and the second part of an evaluation is to use the data to inform your treatment plan. I have presented at the state, regional, and national levels on best practices in assessment, using technology, positive behavior supports, and response to intervention.
Of all the jobs that I have, being a mom and wife is my favorite. I met my husband when I was 19 years old (college sweet heart ️). We will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary later this year. We have two children. Heath is 5 years old and Edie is 2 years old.
Amy Believes
I’m an imperfect momma and have made my share of mistakes with my children and relationships but have used these mistakes as learning opportunities. Every day, I wake up and make a commitment to be the best mom and wife for my family.
I believe that all parents love their children and want the best for them. However, it’s not always easy to know what to do or who to ask for help. I created this blog to share information and research that I’ve found from the fields of education, medicine, and psychology to provide guidance and help you reflect on your parenting practices.
Thank you for coming on the parenting journey with me!
