Q&A with New School Psychologist

Fitore Gjemnica is Prospect’s new school psychologist who started this year after Dr. Jay Kyo-Johnson’s retirement. 

Q: How long have you worked as a school psychologist before starting here?

A: “Actually, this is my first year. I just finished school … I had my internship last year with District [214] … I spent three years getting my degree … and I was a clinical mental health provider therapist.”

Q: What was your position as a clinical mental health provider therapist like? 

A: “I used to work with kids, ages six to 21 … [at] a child and family services … that’s actually in Massachusetts.”

Q: Are you from Massachusetts or New England?

A: “I actually grew up in Connecticut.” 

Q: Where did you study psychology?

A: “I got my bachelor’s and my master’s in clinical counseling from Assumption College in Worcester, Mass. and then I’ve gotten my education specialist degree for school psychology here … in Chicago.”

Q: Did you anticipate moving to Chicago before?

A: “No, actually, all was actually funny. I’ve always anticipated living and completing everything in New England. But I met my husband, and he was out here in the [Chicagoland] area and so that’s kind of the reason why [I looked for positions here].” 

Q: Why did you apply to Prospect in particular? 

A:  “I did my internship at Elk Grove. In fact, I really fell in love with the district, and I really wanted to be one part of the D214 family.”

Q: How would you compare this position to being a clinical mental health provider therapist?

A: I think it’s very similar in a lot of ways, especially because my position was … in the schools, so I really enjoyed being a part of the school community. So, [I’m still] working with students, but I was mostly at the elementary and middle school [previously]. I just fell in love with schools, and I saw kind of what the school psychologists were doing.”