Helping Students Achieve

Student Literacy

Understanding the impact of reading skills on one’s everyday life, Dr. Greene will advocate implementing evidence-based reading interventions aligned with county and state guidance. He will advocate for increased reading support in collaboration with our educators, families, and community partners. As is known, reading is an access point to the world in which we live. Additionally, by properly supporting literacy through interventions and building time for educators to implement such with fidelity, students who may have learning disabilities in noted areas can be properly identified, with targeted goals driving the application of services and supports.

Therefore, Dr. Greene will continue to advocate for professional development that supports students in both “learning to read” and “reading to learn,” with a focus on phonological awareness, fluency (word-reading accuracy and reading rate), and overall comprehension (both reading and listening). He will seek guidance and support from academic content experts within our school district (e.g., teachers) regarding the factors that impact students’ overall literacy skills in all academic areas (e.g., Written Expression, Math Problem Solving, etc.).

Additionally, as the son of a math professor with graduate degrees in math and engineering, Dr. Greene’s literacy advancement policies will also continue to focus on academic skills related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). In this technological age, imagination, creativity, and innovation must be central to any policies seeking to improve literacy rates. Therefore, any interventions and increases in support will require ingenuity from Natomas USD’s leadership in regard to current and future resources, with students, families, and educators leading the way.

Student Supports

As a former school psychologist in Natomas USD who worked with both general and special education students, Dr. Greene knows firsthand the impact that a lack of individualized support can have on students of all backgrounds. 

Therefore, he will advocate for increased support for students on IEPs and 504 Plans, ensuring that services are provided, accommodations are followed, goals are met, and students are celebrated for their achievements. Such work will also include retaining and increasing staffing across multiple positions, improving and increasing specialized programming, and maintaining open communication/collaboration with our families and their students. Consistent professional development—both provided within Natomas USD and through district-supported professional conferences—for our support staff will play a vital role in helping educators continue to use best practices in supporting our students.

Additionally, as a school psychologist trained in special education law and ethics via his noted certification, licensure, and overall work experiences, the understanding and application of noted special education and disability law with fidelity will also be a focus of Dr. Greene’s. Such increases in student-centered support will also focus on our families experiencing housing insecurity and/or raising foster children, as well. 

Student Safety

During his work as a school psychologist in Natomas USD, Dr. Greene has supported multiple schools during times of crisis. In both his work as a school psychologist and as a professor of such practice, Dr. Greene has been trained in crisis support, has helped develop crisis protocols, and has trained both staff and future school psychologists in applying these protocols. Therefore, student safety is a top priority for him as it is for our families and fellow educators across the country. Overall, each student deserves to feel safe in environments that allow them to be seen and heard, regardless of background.

Therefore, by retaining as well as increasing social-emotional support staff, furthering community safety partnerships (including local universities, e.g., internships), collaboration with state associations on best practices for school safety, and improving school climate to the point where students have the courage to be upstanders, schools in Natomas USD can further become places where students are both physically and psychologically safe. 

California Safe and Supportive Schools Webinar: https://ca-safe-supportive-schools.wested.org/resource/stronger-connections-our-stories-of-strength-using-photovoice-to-explore-youth-psychological-strengths-and-improve-school-climate/