GEOFFREY BROWN
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST
GEOFFREY BROWN, CAGS, LEP, NCSP
BILINGUAL EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST (Spanish)
EVALUATION AND CONSULTATION SERVICES
PROVIDED IN YOUR SCHOOL
I contract with schools to offer specialized school-based evaluation and consultation services for English Language Learners. I am licensed as a School Psychologist by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, an Educational Psychologist by the Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Services, and I am a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Working in schools, my professional focus has been on supporting adolescents of diverse backgrounds who immigrated to the United States, are adjusting to a new culture and community, and need to learn English quickly while simultaneously managing the academic, social, and emotional demands in their new school. I am passionate about working with English Language Learners (ELs), immigrant families, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students who need a specialized approach, social-emotional support, accommodations, and effective methods and skills to become independent learners.
Overview of Services
Psychoeducational Evaluations in Spanish
I contract for services with school districts to conduct comprehensive bilingual psychoeducational evaluations. These evaluations combine assessments of cognitive, academic, and social-emotional/behavioral functioning. These evaluations are an essential part of the process of determining eligibility for Special Education services.
Evaluations for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students
My bilingualism allows me to conduct evaluations and develop meaningful connections with families in Spanish, but I often evaluate a much broader range of culturally and linguistically diverse students. I apply my underlying theoretical knowledge and experience to conduct evaluations in an ethical manner that highlights strengths that are valued in a child's culture while also using data to understand a child's learning difficulties.
Consultation on Intervention and Instructional Practices for ELs
I offer consulting services to school districts regarding academic, social-emotional, and behavioral intervention and support for English Language Learners. I consult on IEP development for ELs in cases where a disability is identified, as well as tiered interventions, District Curriculum Accommodation Plans, and coaching/training for ESL inclusion support staff.
Why hire a bilingual school psychologist who specializes in ELs to evaluate CLD students?
In my psychoeducational evaluations with culturally and linguistically diverse students, I use methods that consider the complex array of factors that influence performance. My reports include a validity statement that takes into account a student's level of acculturation, family and educational history, interview data, and the application of procedures in my analysis of cognitive and academic test results that can determine the level of impact of cultural and linguistic factors on performance. In addition to benefitting the students, my evaluations benefit the school district because I am able to produce a report of high legal and ethical standards, specifically addressing requisite exclusionary criteria that is part of Special Education law.
Free Initial Consultation
If you would like to speak with me about providing services to your school or district, or if you have a particular case that you would like to discuss, email me at GeoffreyBrownLEP@gmail.com to set up a free introductory phone or video call.
EVALUATIONS IN SPANISH
I conduct bilingual evaluations (Spanish/English) for students when there are complex factors that are simultaneously impacting a child's progress in school (English language acquisition, acculturation, gaps in education, impact of stress and social-emotional factors that interrupt learning, etc.). My evaluations have high legal and ethical standards and take into account developmental and educational history, as well as cultural and linguistic factors when assessing for the presence of an educational disability. In addition to the report in English that the district will use as part of the Special Education process, I am able to produce a supplemental parent report in Spanish and meet with families to go over results in Spanish so that they fully understand their child's needs.
EVALUATIONS FOR CULTURALLY/LINGUISTICALLY
DIVERSE (CLD) STUDENTS
​School districts sometimes encounter a situation where a student enrolls shortly after immigrating to the United States and teachers are noticing significant difficulties that appear to go beyond those that could be explained by limited English proficiency. I am often asked to evaluate these students for Special Education eligibility and have extensive knowledge and experience in this area. Working within the gray area between programming for English Language Learners (ELL), Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE), and Special Education is something I am passionate about and I am eager to work with students, families, and districts to support these students and help understand their learning needs​.
CONSULTATION SERVICES
Many districts have strong Special Education departments with educators who are highly trained interventionists able to meet a wide range of learning needs. However, there are a unique set of learning needs that can impede progress with English Language Learners where a specialized set of skills, experience, and knowledge is needed in order to identify and implement appropriate interventions. Students who are both developing English proficiency while simultaneously wrestling with other learning challenges can often present complications with programming for districts. Working with a specialist can be helpful in these situations that often require creative solutions. In addition to evaluation and diagnostic services, I offer consultation to districts regarding intervention design and instructional practices for these CLD students with a complex learning profile.
Licenses/Certifications
Contact Information
Licensed School Psychologist (Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)
Licensed Educational Psychologist (Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Services)
Nationally Certified School Psychologist (National Association of School Psychologists)