![Angie Withers]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1635976375/rsdedu/arw7lzdsg72ov9txxz1a/Angie.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1635976375/rsdedu/arw7lzdsg72ov9txxz1a/Angie.jpg","width":467}])
Angie Withers, a Richland School District school psychologist and co-leader of the district’s Mental Health Assistance Team (MHAT), is the Washington State School Psychologist of the Year.
Withers received the award at the recent annual conference of the Washington State Association of School Psychologists. She and seven other RSD staff members were at the conference to make presentations on district initiatives around special education and social-emotional learning.
“Angie’s commitment to the social, emotional and mental health needs of our community’s children is exemplary and she has been a critical part of our efforts to assess and support students in our schools,” says Assistant Superintendent Todd Baddley. “She is incredibly deserving of this honor.”
Withers joined RSD during the 2013-14 school year and has served as a school psychologist for students across the district. That includes screening and evaluation, providing services, working with school staff to support students in the classroom and working with families to access community resources.
She and Michelle Sorenson, one of the district’s school social workers, began leading the MHAT during the 2020-21 school year. Made up of school psychologists, school social workers, school counselors, school nurses and administrators, the team has led the implementation of the district’s social-emotional learning assessment for students and identifying resources and initiatives to support student mental health.