Milford school psychologist earns Department of Education award

A school psychologist from Milford School District is the inaugural recipient of the Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of the Year award.

Rosa DiPiazza of Mispillion Elementary School said she approaches all of her relationships – with students, families, community members and colleagues – with genuine curiosity and interest.

“I want to understand the experiences, feelings and perspectives of the people with whom I work. I want to facilitate safe meeting spaces for people to share their stories. When we understand the why behind others’ actions, we are often more empathetic toward situations that might have otherwise angered us,” said DiPiazza, a Lewes resident. “When we are more empathetic, we are better able to work together to solve problems. People want to feel heard, validated and respected, even little ones.”

Secretary of Education Mark Holodick made the surprise announcement May 26 during a school-wide staff meeting at Mispillion Elementary.

“Rosa is an excellent representative for the critical work that behavioral health professionals perform in schools across our state every day,” Holodick said. “Mental health is health. Our students need to be healthy to learn, and I am proud of the work Rosa and BHPs across Delaware are leading for the wellness and growth of our students, families and communities.”

DiPiazza said she is known in her school for being able to build relationships with all families, including those who don’t yet have strong bonds with school staff.

“I think this is because I am able to interact with them openly and nonjudgmentally. I work hard to understand others’ backgrounds and situations, and have no problem seeking out cultural brokers to facilitate that understanding,” she said. “I do not expect people to respect me simply because of my position. I earn the respect of adults and students by being honest, professional and staying focused on solving the problems at hand. When I interact with students, I prioritize presenting myself as a safe person who is there to help them with whatever they need help with. I am kind, keep my promises and build trust.”

DiPiazza has led her school’s Trauma-Informed Classrooms Goal Team for the past three years. The team provides trauma education and implementation support for building- and classroom-level practices to help reduce the negative impacts of trauma on students.

“These initiatives have provided the education and tools necessary to support staff and students in becoming more mindful and understanding in their interactions,” she said. “When we are able to self-regulate and see behavior not as a reflection of who a child is but as an indicator of what has happened to them, we are better able to show compassion toward each other, which in turn builds a stronger school community.”

Milford Director of Student Services Laura Manges recommended DiPiazza for the honor, saying she is a highly skilled school psychologist and a well-respected colleague.

“She readily offers in-classroom supports to teaching staff in order to guarantee the fidelity of implementation of behavior interventions and consistently monitors the progress of interventions,” Manges said. “She has worked diligently to support at-risk students with mental health needs by offering mentoring to instructional and counseling staff. Rosa works closely with families in order to create trusting relationships designed to assist them in helping their students develop better emotional regulation skills.”