Wesley Shelley, licensed school psychologist

I am a school psychologist who is passionate about teaming up with kids, teens, parents, and adults.  I’ve worked in schools for nearly two decades, completed over 600 comprehensive evaluations, and led several school-based problem-solving teams to ensure that struggling students could thrive: academically, socially, and behaviorally.

But I’ve changed course and am now focusing on my private practice.  Why?  Quite simply because there is a need for excellent evaluations–for kids, for teens, and for adults.  And because in a private setting, I’m not rushed.  I can truly take the time to complete a super-thorough evaluation.  Because what I believe deeply is that a good evaluation matters.  And I’ve seen this time and again over the years.

So, what’s my training?  After graduating from Dartmouth College, I spent several more years in New Hampshire where I worked at a school for at-risk boys.  Here, I met my beautiful wife and now mother of three kids. I retired my snowboard after my family moved to Virginia then completed my graduate studies in school psychology at James Madison University.  Since this time I have been a school psychologist for a few districts in central Virginia. Somewhere amidst these years I have taught art and math in both public and private schools as well as for UVa’s Summer Enrichment Program.

But, perhaps my most important experience–both rewarding and terribly humbling–is raising three markedly beautiful yet markedly different children. I’m a parent, too, and I know the highs and lows, the hopes and fears of this winding road.  Speaking of kids and gifts, most recently I did the sweetest and perhaps stupidest thing in decades: I brought home two foster kittens, thereby tripling my family’s cat population.  I guess my kids were right, I am a sucker for cats.

Anna Weaver, licensed school psychologist

Anna spent her formative years living with and working in a community for adults with disabilities.  Here she led a team with a clear mission: people–regardless of age, label, ability or disability–deserve compassionate care.  This was her work and her passion: the mundane of the day-to-day, the simple joys of living together, and even the intermittent crises.  So, when this chapter of her life ended, she transitioned to school psychology.  As a graduate student, she spent two years at JMU’s Office of Disability Services.  Here she helped college students with disabilities navigate the ins and outs of classes, accommodations, and finding their stride.  Since this time, I’ve had the pleasure of supervising Anna, guiding her as she blossomed professionally.  And what I can say is this: her evaluations are insightful, personal, and precise.  Her counseling skills are astute and above-all solution-focused.  I’ve literally worked alongside Anna 500+ hours.  I’ve seen her firsthand, working with kids, teens, adults, parents.  And what I know deeply is this: I trust her completely.  And not just as a psychologist, but more importantly as a person.

Speaking of person, Anna claims to be a dog person, yet she has no dogs.  Curious.  Who knows, maybe she’s an imaginary dog person.

Rick Krogmann, licensed school psychologist

Rick and I met years ago—I supervised his year-long internship as a school psychologist. We worked side-by-side: completing evaluations, setting up small group supports, counseling, consulting with teachers, and more.  What was clear to me from the beginning was this: Rick had a passion for helping kids and families.  For giving them his absolute best.  For not compromising.

And it’s these characteristics that made him a trusted colleague in the public school setting.  He tried hard to cut through red tape, do what’s right for kids, and make the Special Education process personal.  After all, to a parent, there’s nothing worse than feeling like your kid is just a number in this massive and impersonal machine.  Rick pushed against this, and—even as a young professional—he’s had the guts to openly disagree with a number of decisions he believed were wrong. It’s this drive and mission that I love about Rick.  He is consistently striving to be better and do better for our clients.  And diving into private practice is his next step.

Rick loves the outdoors, music, mindfulness, and mutts—just ask him about his latest adventures with Georgia.  And just for the record, I don’t hold it against him that he’s a dog person.  Georgia is pretty cute after all—but not as cute as my cat Walter.

Jessica Williams-Chase, resident in school psychology

Jessica started her career as a special education teacher, first in high school, then elementary.  Through the highs and lows, she decided to continue serving kids and families, but shifting her focus to psychology: offering both counseling and evaluations.  So, she enrolled at JMU’s school psychology program, she completed her internship with me (Wes), and she’s been at it ever since.  What I love about Jessica is that she doesn’t just embrace learning and serving, but she’s passionate about learning and serving.  Jessica has served public schools well and after four years, she’s diving into private practice with us.  Although her old team is sad to see her go, we’re ecstatic to work alongside her.  In addition to her warmth and calm, Jess brings not just knowledge but also first-hand experience in curriculum, instruction, and teaching.

Jess is a mom, a wife, an artist, she even sews her own clothes, and—arguably most important—she loves cats.  She has two tabbies, Leah and Han Solo (plus one dog, Mae).  It’s important to note the numbers here: since she has more cats than dogs, she’s officially a cat person.