Meet Krystal

Krystal Pardy (Co-Treasurer / Membership Duties) 

Tell us a bit about yourself:

Best wishes and warmest regards! 

I'm a school counsellor in a primary setting. I've been fortunate to work across Canada and internationally, and I'm most fortunate to be back home in Central NL with the littles and PIE’s Executive Team.

I've held different roles in education and it's helped me realize it takes a village! In not-for-profit roles I've advocated for healthy, active living particularly, opportunities for women and children. I’ve worked in healthcare as a team-based assessor and I really like talking to people who help children live their best lives. 

Outside of work I love all things outdoors, taking in the beauty of NL. I'm terrible at water skiing but is it ever fun! I read and travel whenever possible. I love cooking and laughter around a table makes my world a better place.

Why did you decide to become a School Psychologist?

I was always interested in weird and wonderful facts about learning. Worrying about a test can contribute to a failing grade? Telling yourself you’re good at math positively affects performance? Mind-body connection is amazing: thought, behaviour, connection, and communication impact what and how we learn. 

I wanted to help children and youth reach their full potential but I wasn't sure how to make an impact. The more psychology I learned, the more I wanted to share those cool concepts in accessible ways. My goal was to bridge the gap between psychological theory and educational practice and that led me to become a registered psychologist in the school system.

What do you love about being a School Psychologist?

Developmental psychology is my area of focus: how we learn and grow. I assess neurological disorders by looking at ways children communicate, play, plan their thoughts and actions, and gain information. In school, this helps us figure out what students need to learn and that excites me every.single.time. That's how I know I'm exactly where I'm meant to be - grateful to be part of the action.

Resource(s) you love and want to share:

There's a lot of excellent information available but also information that isn't reliable. Journals like Paediatric and Child Health provide peer reviewed articles on different topics. Magazines like ADDitude Magazine  have scientific advisory members who check data before it's published. Psychology knowledge is constantly evolving, using up-to-date information and approaches is important.

Favourite quote(s) / affirmation / mantra / saying:

“I’m sorry for what I said when I was hungry.” This one reminds me to keep the basics in check when evaluating the needs of humans!