School Psychologist & Bilingual Support Facilitator | Eleutheria
In honor of National School Psychologist Week
A Career That Started with One Teacher
Forty years ago, a high school psychology teacher named Ms. McMurry introduced Marisa Armendariz to the field, and she was hooked from the start.
"I majored in psychology and knowing I wanted to work with kids, chose to study school psychology in graduate school," Marisa recalls.
That decision launched a career spanning more than three decades. Marisa spent 28 years as a traditional school psychologist in Texas before moving to Arizona, where she's now in her fourth year as a non-traditional school psychologist and her third year with Eleutheria, part of the Point Quest Group family.
Every Day Is Different
Ask Marisa what she loves most about her work, and the answer comes easily.
"Every day is different; I've never been bored doing what I do," she says. "I'm constantly learning as school psychology continues to evolve."
Moving to a new state mid-career came with challenges, but she's embraced the growth that came with it. Her favorite perk? Time with students. "Listening to them, laughing with them, and learning from them."
The Work People Don't See
Marisa notes that most people outside education don't fully understand what a school psychologist does, but she believes that's changing as the field grows.
What's less visible, she says, is the depth of the work: the hours spent planning evaluations, gathering and analyzing data, and writing reports that will follow a student through their school career. Along with that; the emotional weight that comes with it.
"People don't see how much we care about each child's story," she says, "and how much of that we take home."
Advice for the Next Generation
Marisa's guidance for aspiring school psychologists is candid and grounded in experience.
"Hold on, it's going to be an incredible ride! School psychology is a rewarding career, but it can take a lot out of you."
Her warning is specific: school psychologists tend to take on more than they should and often feel responsible for solving everyone's problems. That, she says, leads to burnout early in a career.
"Rely on your team, ask for help, and take care of yourself."
Beyond the Office
Outside of work, Marisa and her husband (whom she met on a blind date!) travel to and compete in vintage car shows, explore new wineries in the Temecula Valley, and enjoy life as empty nesters with their two French Bulldogs, Ziggy and Zelda.
Why She Stays
What Marisa values most in her work is autonomy; the freedom to create her own schedule and work at her own pace, as long as the job gets done.
"Eleutheria and Point Quest Group have allowed me that independence," she says.
For a psychologist who has spent 31 years in the field, that kind of trust matters.
This National School Psychologist Week, we're grateful for Marisa and for every school psychologist who shows up for students and carries their stories with them!