Shawna MacKellar, M.Ed.
Passion, Experience & Collaboration
‘Miss Shawna’ as her students often call her, is a Psychometrist who provides Psychoeducational Assessment (testing) and consulting services based out of Courtice, ON. She works part time in local schools, and provides private Assessment and consulting services part time from home. She is passionate about making a difference with learners of all ages, and aspiring others to become all they were meant to be. Through a positive and encouraging disposition that values data, qualitative information, and clinical judgement, her goal is twofold: (1) to provide each person she encounters with a greater awareness as to their individual strengths, talents, and areas for growth and (2) to equip parents and teachers involved in a student's life with a greater understanding about how to help them be as successful as possible.
Shawna has 20 years of combined professional experience in the field of School Psychology attained in Canada and the United States, and is a mother to 3 busy boys. Like most people, she has also faced her own share of challenges and so she knows first hand how critical it is to receive quality care, support, and service.
Shawna greatly values professional collaboration when it comes to striving to meet the complex needs of children. As such, Shawna has a number of people she often consults with, which include a Speech and Language Pathologist, a Psychotherapist, certified teachers, a tutor, as well as Registered Psychologists who oversee all aspects of Shawna's work from start to finish..
Outside of work, Shawna loves spending time with her boys and dog, reading, meeting friends for coffee, dreaming in HomeSense, and days on Lake Dalrymple with her favourite people. In 2015 Shawna and her younger boys traveled to Villa Altagracia in the Dominican Republic to meet one of their World Vision sponsor children, Maria, which was a life changing experience for all. To read about this experience, check out page 5 of the WV Magazine at http://www.helpmesara.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/World-Vision-Canada-Childview-Magazine-Summer-2015.pdf
Training & Credentials
Shawna attended the University of Toronto and University of New Brunswick, and has a Masters of Education degree specializing in School/Educational Psychology, and a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Law in Society. Additional training pertaining to mental health and learning is ongoing as part of Shawna’s professional development and commitment to understanding the changing and complex needs of children. Shawna is a trained ASIST provider (suicide intervention) and has completed threat assessment and non-violent crisis intervention training. She has completed the Mental Health first aid training and is a MHFA educator. Recent online coursework includes completing the "Science of Well Being" virtual course through Yale University.
Prior to settling in Ontario, all licenses were in good standing which include an Education Specialist Credential in Mild-Moderate Disorders (California) as well as a Masters Level Clinical Psychologist license (Michigan). Shawna is a member of the Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals, and provides services in consultation with a Registered Supervising Psychologist in order to meet the legal and ethical standards here in the province of Ontario.