College Experiences That Helped a Director of Special Education Consulting Succeed
Anjanette's undergraduate psychology degree provided a strong foundation for a career in educational consulting, enabling the ability to "craft communication" and understand "the psychology of change" when working with diverse stakeholders, from teachers to school boards. This background helps Anjanette navigate the inherent vulnerabilities involved in helping school districts identify and address challenges, "helping people integrate who they think they are with where they want to be."
Psychology, Communication, Change Management, Problem-Solving, Educational Consulting
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Anjanette Pelletier
Director
Special EducationConsulting
UC Berkeley
Cal State Hayward, Masters in Clincial Child School Psychology
Psychology
Coaching, Speaking & Writing, Education
Education
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Psychology is a valuable foundation for a career in educational consulting, providing skills in communication and understanding people's reactions to information.
2. Strong communication skills are crucial, as you will be interacting with various stakeholders such as teachers, managers, and parents, each requiring a tailored approach.
3. Understanding the psychology of change and helping people integrate their current state with their desired future is essential for success in educational consulting.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
When I was in college, my undergraduate focus was psychology, and I graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology. That set the trajectory for almost my entire career. I became a school psychologist and got a master's degree in clinical child school psychology.
I still use my psychology training and skills as an educational consultant. I help people think about how others will react to information, how they will hear a message, and what components of a message are important for sharing with different stakeholders.
The way you explain something to a teacher will be different than how you explain it to their manager, and that will be totally different than how you explain it to a board of education or an audience of parents. My skills in psychology have really helped me craft my communication and my approach to helping people work through challenges in their work.
It takes a lot of vulnerability for people in a district to call us and say, "We have needs, we have problems. We know we need to fix something." Even when they're willing to be that vulnerable, it's harder for them to say, "Here are the ways that we're not doing well and need to improve." And it's even harder to say, "Here's how the change we need to make is going to be implemented."
Knowing the psychology of change, how people hear messages, and how to help people integrate who they think they are with where they want to be – all of those components have been really helpful for my career.
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