Lindenwood professor named Illinois School Psychologist of the year

Belleville Area Special Services Cooperative psychologist and Lindenwood-Belleville adjunct professor Dr. Christine Mitchell-Endsley has been honored as the top person in her field in Illinois.

Mitchell-Endsley was named the 2016 Illinois School Psychologist of the Year on Thursday at the Illinois School Psychologist Association Convention.

“I have such a rewarding job,” Mitchell-Endsley said. “It’s like I get to eat cake every day and then this is the icing.”

According to the Illinois School Psychologists Association, there are more than 1,200 school psychologists across the state who were vying for the honor, formally known as the Ted Smith Practitioner of the Year Award.

“There are so many wonderful school psychologists across the state,” Mitchell Endsley said. “It’s a tremendous honor that I will always treasure.”

BASSC Executive Director Jeff Daugherty said he thinks Mitchell-Endsley was a great choice for the award.

“She is a terrific school psychologist,” Daugherty said. “One of the best I’ve ever worked with. Winning this award not only says that, locally, her colleagues think a lot of her. But she is very well regarded by her peers all over the state.”

Linenwood-Belleville President Brett Barger said school leaders couldn’t be more proud.

“Our entire Lindenwood family is so proud when one of our own is recognized for their excellence and dedication to their field of expertise,” Barger said. “Our students benefit greatly from working with professors of the quality of Dr. Mitchell-Endsley.”

Mitchell-Endsley said her job consists of mediating behavior problems and conflicts for students, helping children with varying degrees of disabilities ranging from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to Autism and solving problems for students who might be homeless or have other issues at home.

She covers the Marissa, Millstadt, O’Fallon and Wesclin school districts.

“No two days are alike,” Mitchell-Endsley said. “But the bottom line is that we’re trying to put kids in the best position possible to get their education.”

Things have changed greatly in the last decade, Mitchell-Endsley said.

“It’s my 11th year working with the Millstadt Early Childhood Program,” Mitchell-Endsley said. “When I started about 12 percent of kids there were in the free and reduced lunch program. Now it’s 30 percent.”

In addition to the typical behavior problems, psychologists have had to adapt to help kids with problems of poverty and homelessness.

“There are a lot of issues to deal with that we didn’t have 10 years ago,” Mitchell-Endsley said. “But I deal with wonderful kids and wonderful colleagues. It’s so rewarding to be able to help someone. I couldn’t think of any job that I’d rather do.”

This was the second year in a row a BAASC school psychologist won the state honor. Michelle Eschman, who works with Mascoutah schools, won it in 2015.

This story was originally published February 2, 2016 at 11:17 AM with the headline "Lindenwood professor named Illinois School Psychologist of the year."