Career Chronicles: Lawrence Pelkey
Lawrence Pelkey, BOCES 8:1:1 School Psychologist, did not take a traditional path into education. His journey is one rooted in perseverance and a deep desire to help others.
Pelkey began his undergraduate degree at age 34 while working construction to support his family. During his early coursework, he found himself drawn to the human services field.
“I was working toward my undergraduate degree and realized how much personal fulfillment I got from helping people,” Pelkey said. “The coursework was engaging and really sparked my interest in human services.”
That realization set him on the path to becoming a school psychologist. While his professional title includes responsibilities such as psychoeducational evaluations, Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA), Behavioral Intervention Plans (BIP), Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and educational support planning, Pelkey says his daily work goes far beyond paperwork.
“I wear many hats,” he said. “Counselor, crisis interventionist, social worker, classroom support, staff advisor and community and family outreach support. My most important duty by far is being a consistent and trusted adult for our students and a trusted school employee for parents and staff.”
A typical day begins with checking in with teachers and staff before students arrive, often while returning calls to service providers, administrators and parents. From there, his schedule may include individual and group counseling sessions, crisis response, or pushing into classrooms to support instruction and behavior.
“My door is always open to help students and staff with any concerns they may have,” Pelkey said.
Balancing full-time work while attending college and graduate school was one of the biggest challenges he faced.
“It was one of the most demanding and challenging things I have done,” he said. “What kept me going was the support of my family and friends.”
Today, the moments that stand out most in his career are deeply personal.
“Seeing the tears of happiness and smiles of joy on parents’ faces when they realize their child is responding positively to our program and enjoying coming to school every day means everything,” Pelkey said. “It’s also incredibly rewarding to see former students grow into productive members of our community.”
For students or adult learners considering a similar career, Pelkey encourages exploration.
“Sample a large variety of coursework to determine your strengths and interests before focusing on one area,” he said. “Remember the three most important things when working with students with challenging behaviors: rapport, rapport and rapport.”
He also hopes more people understand the balance required in the role.
“Working with students is only one part of the job,” Pelkey said. “Paperwork and other duties can take us away from the true joy of our work, which is working with students. You must carve out time to engage with them in meaningful and productive ways while still meeting deadlines.”
Outside of school, Pelkey enjoys staying active and working with his hands. He spends time gardening, tackling home improvement projects and helping friends and family with theirs. He also enjoys time at his camp on Tug Hill, where he fishes, swims, hikes and rides four-wheelers.