Jonas Salk’s school psychologist, Mary Wurster, was named the Illinois School Psychologist Association’s Ted Smith Practitioner of the Year Award winner at the annual ISPA convention in Springfield Jan. 17.

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The award is given annually to the most outstanding ISPA member who

uses talent and perseverance, and makes significant contributions of time and energy in the practice of school psychology.

Wurster came to Valley View School District 365U at the start of the 2006-07 school year as a school psychologist for both Brooks Middle School and Wood View Elementary School. She moved to Salk Elementary School as school psychologist a year later.

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master’s Degree in School Counseling from Loyola University-Chicago, a Specialist in School Psychology from Illinois State University, and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Lewis University.  She is also a Nationally Certified School Psychologist.

ISPA’s mission is to serve the educational and mental health interests of all children and youth by working as partners with parents, educators and fellow mental health professionals, to help students reach optimal levels of achievement and well-being.

Editor's note: This is a press release from Valley View School District 365U.