Ryan Hook
What is your ‘why’ for wanting to become a school psychologist?
My mom worked as a first-grade teacher for over 30 years, enriching the lives of the students and community she served while supporting me as a single parent. I’ve seen what an amazing impact teachers like my mom have made on their communities just as I see the potential of school psychologists to support and positively impact their districts. The educators who raised and supported me through the hardest times allow me to pay that gift forward for the children and families that I’ll work with as a school psychologist.
Why did you choose the School Psychology program at Lewis & Clark?
Living in the Pacific Northwest has always been a dream of mine, and the incredible faculty we get to learn from made Lewis & Clark an easy choice for me. Between the beautiful campus, scenic natural splendor of Oregon, and the knowledgeable and supportive faculty, I couldn’t be happier with my decision!
What is something that you have done recently at your field placement that you are excited about?
I just recently began one-on-one counseling sessions with students at my K-5 school and have been thoroughly enjoying making the content my own. I’ve always been interested in taking a play-based approach to my work, and so far, integrating play into CBT/DBT curricula has been a natural fit. I’m so excited to continue working with students on expanding their emotional vocabulary and insight into their own experiences.
Why is the social justice mission of Lewis & Clark important to your work?
Advocacy and social justice are central to our work in schools. As school psychologists we can choose to either uphold the status quo as it stands, or reimagine those systems to better serve all of the children and families in our care. My hope is to bring a spirit of positive change to the districts I work in, and social justice is the foundation for that change to be implemented.