Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony West Jr..
Hi Tony, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my college career at Virginia Tech University. Due to financial reasons (out-of-state tuition), I had to leave my dream school and move back home. During this time, I became reckless and made many bad decisions. After about 3-4 years of working in the restaurant industry and living without a future in mind, I decided to turn my life around. I enrolled in community college and eventually transferred to Georgia State University, which is where I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in Sociology. I decided to dedicate my life to helping children and promote healing from within. I attended Radford University located in Virginia for graduate school. I decided to pursue school psychology which was a way for me to combine my love for education and my love for psychology and mental health. I did my internship in Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada. A wonderful eye-opening experience that inspired me to stay for two more years after graduating with my Ed.S in school psychology. I moved from Las Vegas NV back home to the east coast. I worked in Aiken County in SC for two years and then came back to the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. I’ve. worked for several different districts and I currently work in Gwinnett County School District as a school psychologist.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. Financial struggles was one of the many challenges that I have had to deal with. Trying to figure out how I was going to pay for my education and support myself was difficult… My field of school psychology isn’t the most diverse field. The majority of school psychologists in this country are white women. So as a black man in this field, you can think of me as a double minority which has its own struggles. Being accepted by those who believe you don’t look like a school psychologist is an obstacle I continue to encounter.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a school psychologist, I am a qualified member of school teams that support students’ ability to learn and teachers’ ability to teach. I apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. As a school psychologist, I partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community. As a school psychologist, I have received specialized advanced graduate preparation that includes coursework and practical experiences relevant to both psychology and education.
I am most proud of my ability to connect with others. I believe my genuine love for people is what sets me apart from others. It is extremely important for me to be able to connect with my students and their families so that I am able to understand what’s going on and help translate it to those who can assist. Consultation and Collaboration with adults to support children’s success and create strong families is a love of mine.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My best advice is don’t allow other people’s opinions of you dictate the trajectory of your life. Fully immerse yourself in your craft. Learn everything you can and experience everything you can. Step outside of your comfort zone and embrace new people and new experiences. Find a mentor or mentor, and pick their brain at every opportunity. Find a community of like-minded individuals and support each other from graduate school to retirement of your career. This career is not for everyone and it can be very overwhelming and consuming. I also encourage you to join your state and national professional organization and become involved. I am a member of NASP (National Association of School Psychologists) and I am not only a member of GASP (Georgia Association of School Psychologists) but in the month of July, I will take the position of President Elect for my state organization, GASP. Representation, diversity and inclusion are especially important in my field of education & mental health.
Always keep what is best for the student as a compass for your actions. A lot of people in children’s lives don’t always want the best for children, sometimes adults want what’s easy and convenient. And a lot of times, what’s easy and convenient is not always best for children.
Another piece of advice is never stop learning, progressing and challenging yourself. I have some upcoming new adventures that I will be embarking on. Be on the lookout for a podcast coming out this summer, called The Tony West Project. I am also working on starting my own consultation company called the L.A.E. Group. The L.A.E. Group will begin in the industry of education, mental health and Human Resources.
