Working in schools can be controversial. Parents send their children to school expecting a safe environment filled with professionals who not only teach, but identify any problems or ailments their children might have.
Dr. Richard Brozovich has worked as a school psychologist for Oakland Schools, a regional service agency, for most of his career since 1966. Students are referred to Brozovich after being evaluated once in their local school district.
People in the area should be familiar with Dr. Brozovich through his column for The Oakland Press called ‘The School Psychologist,? which serves as a public service to promote development and the well-being of the children.
Serving on the educational front lines for so many years, Brozovich has a close up view of what is going on in schools. Over the last six or seven years, he said he has seen more selective mutism over the years, which he described as a social anxiety disorder where kids won’t speak in school.
‘Its always been around, but people are recognizing more that there needs to be intervention. They’re usually thought of as shy children. People think they’ll be okay and outgrow it. You really want to get in there and intervene as early as you can because it holds them back academically and socially,? said Brozovich.
Few other problems facing children are receiving more attention recently than the behavioral disorder autism, which Brozovich has also observed over the years. Based on his observations, Brozovich points to the diagnosis of symptoms as one cause for increased rates.
‘With any condition, when you’re looking at severity of behavior, if you move your criteria up slightly you will include a lot more people,? said Brozovich.
‘I’ve been diagnosing autism for many years and what we used to consider autistic used to be a very severe condition’There’s no question in my mind we’ve widened the criteria. There may be other outside factors though,? said Brozovich.
With the increased diagnosis of other disorders like ADHD, medicines are a hot-button topic in Brozovich’s line of work.
‘I’m conservative with the use of medicines. There’s two sides to that. I’ve seen both. Parents sometimes medicate quickly and probably over medicate. It’s a method of controlling behavior that’s disturbing, but there are many behavioral things and environmental changes and adaptations you can try, that could make things better, but they’re hard work,? said Brozovich.
‘I think there’s too quick a tendency to put kids on medicine. At the same time, I’ve seen parents so anti-medication that despite cases of what we’d call classical cases of ADHD, they wait too long, which can have damaging effects. My solution is you need a good evaluation team to tell if the condition is present. Then you need a good intervention team and you should consider all the options, medication being one of them,? said Brozovich.
Another problem Brozovich has seen in schools is over-scheduled students who are constantly on the go, sometimes following a daily itinerary of their actions.
‘You’re taking away an opportunity children have to use their own imagination, and develop their own abilities to interact and entertain. With over scheduling, everything is being adult supervised and children are feeling a lot of pressure. Children are expected to excel in sports, academics and music and there’s a lot of pressure on kids at a tender age,? said Brozovich.
‘I would caution parents to give your children some downtime to relax and do what kids do,? he continued. ‘Often, kids rate their self worth tied up on how well they perform, instead of what we all probably want, which is unconditional self acceptance.?
Brozovich says signs a child is over-scheduled include: being temperamental, outbursts, high anxiety, preoccupation with achievement and feeling self worth through what they are good at.
In addition to some of the aforementioned trends in child development and education, Dr. Brozovich looks at a different home structure as one of the biggest change in his years of work.
‘I think people are fundamentally the way they’ve always been. I have seen a change in the family structure from when I’ve started to now though’I used to have no trouble calling home and getting someone. Now, a big problem is communication and setting up appointments,? said Brozovich.
Dr. Brozovich earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in math and psychology. He earned his masters and Ph.D. at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University.
Brozovich’s work has not gone unnoticed. He was recognized by his peers when the Michigan Association of School Psychologists named him as the 2003-2004 School Psychologist of the Year.
During his career, Brozovich has authored and co-authored several booklets and pamphlets, some with well-known names in the field including Dr. Orlando Villegas, who Brozovich says helped start the nationwide ADHD discussion. The pamphlets are designed to help advise parents, educators and other relevant people about issues facing students and education like ADHD, foster children, Ritalin and many other topics.
Brozovich recalls early interest and aptitudes that helped his career during which many children have been treated.
‘I always had an interest in psychology going back to high school. It seems people liked to talk to me and confide in me,? said Brozovich.
‘I’m most proud that I always took the side of the child. Sometimes I took some heat for that from the school or the parent. I tried to say this is what the child needs and the parent may not like hearing it. You try to do it in a gentle way and if they’re not accepting, you have to be persistent. That might make some people not think too kindly of you, but you have to think about what the child needs,? said Brozovich.
Outside of school, Brozovich enjoys his family, biking, playing tennis and cutting wood. His wife, Diane, and he have spent the last 25 years biking along trails which were converted from railroads by the Rails-to-Trails conservancy program around the country. The Brozoviches also garden; Diane focusing on flowers and Dr. Brozovich on vegetables and things you eat.
Diane is a well known face around Clarkston. She worked at Village Apparel and Gifts for 31 years and says the village has become busier with more shoppers over the last three generations.
The Brozoviches moved to Independence Township a year ago from Waterford.
‘We wanted a one level house and have always been attracted to the area. We like to go to the library, use the bike trails and walk down to the high school for games,? said Brozovich.
The Brozoviches have been married for 42 years and have three children James, Susan and Tom. James and his wife Missy live in Clarkston with their children Kaitlin, 10, and Amy, 7. Susan is married to Ed Kaleel and their children are Eddie, 7, and Jamie, 5. Tom is married to Karen and they have Rachelmary, 10, Elizabeth, 9, and Franklin, 7.
(Note: Another school psychologist Jayanne Roggenbaum also writes because Dr. Brozovich asked her to provide new ideas.)