Meet Dr. Vangie Akridge | Licensed Educational Psychologist & School Administrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Vangie Akridge and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Vangie, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
The speciality of educational psychology is not acknowledged by the medical field in the same way that other counseling and behavioral disciplines are which means that services rendered by licensed educational psychologists are not accepted by insurance panels. This results in the families of children with special needs either paying for private specialized services out of pocket or requesting that the district cover the cost which, at times, requires them to pay up front and get reimbursed by the district. It is tragic that families with children with high needs must endure avoidable financial burdens and stressors and that licensed educational psychologists must limit who they serve. The lack of inclusion of licensed educational psychologists in the medical and health care systems only stands to maintain the achievement gap and limit the access to resources of low socioeconomic and marginalized communities.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
There are less than 2200 Licensed Educational Psychologists in the state of California of which only approximately 250 serve the county of San Diego with less than 1% of this group being of African American descent. Recognizing this disparity, I was compelled to offer educationally related services to provide students and their families with an opportunity to engage with a service provider that could personally relate to the cultural factors that directly impacts the experiences that have occurred while navigating the educational system. It was important for me to serve as a representative of my community and serve as a conduit for collaborative conversations to mend the trauma associated with the quest of marginalized communities for inclusion and equitable education.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
While I enjoy getting a bite to eat at Surf and Soul, Ace of Crabs or my neighborhood taco shop, I am more apt to treat my visiting guests to a home cooked meal either in the privacy of my home or at a local water front location. My family is known for hosting intimate gatherings that are full of good food, laughter and unconditional love and support. I am also blessed to be the parent of two of my favorite athletes, so I would definitely invite the to partake in the fandom of my youngest son and only daughter. Being in the stands with our family is always an experience! Ha!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I was fortunate to grow up in the shadows of greatness; my late aunt, Sherley Anne Williams, was an internationally acclaimed poet, playwright, author and Pulitzer Prize award nominee. As a child, I was not able to fully comprehend the impact that she was having on the world and literary community; consequently, I also did not understand the emotional stamina that was required for her to obtain such achievements. I am grateful to have had such an amazing example of the grace and endurance that this necessary to assume the role of one the community’s/world’s manifestations of excellence. I literally stand on her shoulders. The memory of her tenacity drives me.

Website: www.metroeducationalconsulting.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-vangie-akridge-49b5a013/

Image Credits
Steve Cooper II Life Styles