Mental Health Minute: Filer School District Psychologist wins statewide award

FILER, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Supporting students academically, mentally and behaviorally. These are the goals for school psychologists nationwide. And one local psychologist in Filer recently received a statewide award for her work with students, more in this week’s mental health minute.

Hillary Johnston says she was caught completely off guard by the news that she had been named the 2024 Idaho School Psychologist of the Year.

“I just feel very lucky and blessed to work in a district where I feel so valued and supported,” said Johnston, the Filer School District Psychologist.

Johnston has been the district’s psychologist for the past nine years, working with students in elementary all the way through high school.

“It’s basically a day-by-day thing, it’s awesome working with different ages and levels. I feel like I have positive relationships in all my buildings and that’s awesome,” Johnston said.

Johnston added that having a support system is a key to overcoming obstacles which is why she incorporates this idea into how she helps students.

“I think it’s really important to operate from the team level just because you have various members with different backgrounds that bring different strengths to the table, and you get a wide range of ideas to help problem solve and figure out ways to support students,” Johnston said.

As a school psychologist, Johnston’s goal is to have a positive effect across the district, but she says the kids have also had a great effect on her life as well.

“Definitely students have had an impact on me, and a lot of them were the toughest kiddos that have made the biggest impact just working with them through those {things},” Johnston said.