Faculty: Elana Wolkoff, PhD, LEP

Elana Wolkoff

Elana Wolkoff, PhD, LEP

Associate Professor, School Psychology Department

Associate Director of Field Education, School Psychology Department

Email
elana_​wolkoff@williamjames.edu
Phone
617-680-8651
Location
208D
Pronouns
she/her
Degree Major/Emphasis Institution
PhD School Psychology Northeastern University
EdM Curriculum and Learning Environments Harvard University
BA Education and Political Science Hampshire College

Courses

  • Children and Adolescents with Special Needs (SN 512)
  • Consultation in Schools (CO 650)
  • Clinical Seminars III and IV (FP 601; FP 602)
  • Internship Seminar (CS 702)

Research and Practice Interests

  • Trauma responsive practices in K-12 Schools
  • Effectively managing difficult conversations
  • School psychology as social justice
  • School based consultation
  • Developing self-regulation and executive functioning
  • Developing growth mindset
  • Chronic absenteeism and school refusal
  • Increasing student motivation and resilience
  • Field supervision of interns and practicum students

Professional Licenses and Certifications

  • Licensed Educational Psychologist (Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health)
  • Licensed School Psychologist (Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)
  • Licensed Special Education Teacher K-12 (Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)

Publications and Presentations

Publications

  • Wolkoff, E. and Goodale, R. (2023) Conversations about race between educators and K-12 students. Race and Pedagogy Journal: Teaching and Learning for Justice, 6(2).
  • Wolkoff, E. (2019). Teaching children to self-regulate (pp. 88-100). In G. Macklem and A. Silva, (Eds.). Lessons from school psychology: Practical strategies and evidence-based practice for professionals and parents. New York, NY: Routledge.
  • Wolkoff, E., Goodale, R. and St. Louis, G. (2019). Talking with children about race (pp. 41-52). In G. Macklem and A. Silva, (Eds.), Lessons from school psychology: Practical strategies and evidence-based practice for professionals and parents. New York, NY: Routledge.

International Presentations

  • Wolkoff, E. (2021). Teaching Children to Self-Regulate. Online self-directed course for Education Elephant, Dublin, Ireland.
  • Wolkoff, E. (2021, October). Support a child in times of stress. Live webinar for Education Elephant, Dublin, Ireland
  • Wolkoff, E. (2021, May). How to increase a child’s resilience: Small changes – big improvements. Live webinar for Education Elephant, Dublin, Ireland
  • Wolkoff, E. (2021, May). Support a child in times of stress. Live webinar for Education Elephant, Dublin, Ireland
  • Wolkoff, E. (2019, July). Desarrollar de la independencia y mejorar el comportamiento (Developing Independence and Improving Behavior).
  • Workshop for parents of children with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
  • Wolkoff, E. (2019, July). Having difficult conversations and making them productive. Facilitation of roundtable discussion session at the International School Psychology Association 41st annual conference in Basel, Switzerland.
  • Wolkoff, E. (2019, July). Teaching Children to Self-Regulate. Workshop at the International School Psychology Association 41st annual conference in Basel, Switzerland.
  • Wolkoff, E. (2019, January). Apoyo a la inclusión para niños con síndrome de Down y discapaci-dades intelectuales (Supporting inclusion for children with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities). Virtual presentation to 100 special and general education teachers in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
  • Wolkoff, E. and Li, C. (2018, July). Developing high quality supervisors. Facilitation of roundtable discussion session at the International School Psychology Association’s 40th annual conference, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Cort, N., Wolkoff, E. and Bloom, J. (2017, July). Understanding and preventing suicide in Guyana: A gatekeeper training workshop. Two day workshop presented to employees at Suddie Hospital and local leaders, Essequibo, Guyana.

National Presentations

  • Wolkoff, E. (2023, August). Understanding, preventing and treating chronic absenteeism. Presentation at Mt Diablo Unified School District, Mt. Diablo, CA.
  • Wolkoff, E. (2023, February). Using data to increase equity. Presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Convention, Denver, CO.
  • Wolkoff, E. (2023, February). Conversations about race between students and K-12 educators. Presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Convention, Denver, CO.
  • Wolkoff, E, Paskiewicz, T., Struzzeiro, J., Amador, A. and Briesch, A. (2022, February). Promoting university collaboration to support field supervisors. Presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Convention, Boston, MA.
  • Wolkoff, E. (2021, February). Conversations about race between educators and K-12 students. Remote presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Convention.
  • Wolkoff, E. (2018, February). Having productive conversations with students about race. Facilitation of professional conversation session at the National Association of School Psychologists Convention, Chicago, IL
  • Wolkoff, E. (2018, February). Understanding, preventing, and treating chronic absenteeism. Mini-skills session presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Convention, Chicago, IL.
  • Wolkoff, E. and Grossman, S. (2017, February). Small changes in mindset mean big changes in resilience. Mini-skills session presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Convention, San Antonio, TX.

Local Presentations

  • Rudel, E. and Wolkoff, E. (2023, August). Transformative SEL in higher education: Increasing Resilience and Psychological Functioning. Presentation at William James College, New-ton, MA
  • Wolkoff, E., DiCero, K. and Waters, A. (2023, February). Using transformative SEL competencies to manage difficult conversations. Presentation at William James College, Newton, MA
  • Wolkoff, E. (2022, November). Transformative SEL for leadership. Presentation at William James College, Newton, MA
  • Wolkoff, E. (2020, October). Having difficult conversations and making them productive. Remote presentation as part of the William James College Campus Engagement Series, Newton, MA.
  • Wolkoff, E. (2020, July). Understanding educational support services for more effective advocacy. Presentation at William James College, Newton, MA
  • Wolkoff, E. (2020, June). Engaging your supervisee during re-entry. Virtual presentation at the Massachusetts Trainers of School Psychology Supervision Institute, Newton, MA
  • Wolkoff, E. (2020, June). The impact of stress on learning and behavior. Remote presentation for Boston Public Schools parents and guardians.
  • Wolkoff, E. (2020, January). Talking with children about race. Presentation at the MLK Day Community Conversation on Race: The Necessity of Talking about Race and Racism at Home, Lexington, MA.
  • Wolkoff, E. and Bratica, R. (2019, November). Creating trauma sensitive schools: Strategies for the school and classroom. EDCO Collaborative, Bedford, MA.
  • Wolkoff, E., Silva, A. and Pinto, S. (2018, June). School psychologists: Our role in social justice. Session presented at the Massachusetts Trainers of School Psychology Supervision Institute, William James College, Newton, MA.
  • Wolkoff, E. (2017, July). Understanding, preventing and treating school refusal and truancy. Full day workshop presented at Center for Professional Innovation (CPI), Mansfield, MA.
  • Wolkoff, E. and Jocoby, S. (2017, June). Integrating self-care into supervision. Session presented at the Massachusetts Trainers of School Psychology Supervision Institute, William James College, Newton, MA.
  • Silva, A. and Wolkoff, E. (2017, March). Promoting culturally responsive practice in the schools. Workshop presented to Needham Public Schools guidance staff, Needham, MA.
  • Wolkoff, E. (2016, November). Understanding, preventing and treating school refusal and truancy. Full day workshop presented for Center for Professional Innovation (CPI), Hyannis, MA.
  • Wolkoff, E., Silva, A., and Feinberg, A. (2016, June). Mentoring and teaching: Fostering student development over time. Session presented at the 2016 Massachusetts Trainers of School Psychology Supervision Institute, William James College, Newton, MA.
  • Wolkoff, E. (2016, June). Understanding, preventing and treating school refusal and truancy. All day workshop presented for Family Resource Centers (FRConnect), Sturbridge, MA.
  • Wolkoff, E. (2016, April). Understanding, preventing and treating school refusal and truancy. All day workshop presented for Center for Professional Innovation (CPI), Chelmsford, MA.
  • Wolkoff, E. and Silva, A. (2015, May). Weaving resiliency into the fabric of school communities. Session presented at the 2nd Annual Children and Families of Adversity and Resilience Conference, William James College, Newton, MA.
  • Wornum, K. and Wolkoff, E. (2014, January). Talking to your children about race. Workshop presented at the Wellesley Mothers Forum, Wellesley, MA.

Concurrent Leadership, Service and Professional Activities

  • Massachusetts School Psychologists Trainers Group
  • Consultant for Boston CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
  • Educational Consultant, Boston area charter schools
  • Professional development for K-12 educators
  • Volunteer special education family resource

Prior Experience

  • Chair, William James College Faculty Diversity Committee
  • Chair, Task Force for a Strategic Plan on Diversity and Inclusion at William James College

Prior Experience

  • School Psychologist and Team Leader, Wellesley Public Schools, Wellesley, MA
  • Director of Student Support, South Boston Harbor Academy Charter School (Boston Collegiate Charter School)
  • School Psychologist, Cambridge, MA
  • Special Education Teacher, Somerville, MA

Professional Affiliations

  • National Association of School Psychologists
  • Massachusetts School Psychologists Association

Community Involvement

  • Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Volunteer
  • Consultant for Boston CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
  • Volunteer special education family resource