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KLASS Center


Twenty-five members from Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling (EPC) were commended at the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS) Faculty and Staff Recognition Ceremony on April 25, 2018.

To see photos from the event, please go to the “EPC at the 2019 CEHHS Faculty & Staff Recognition Ceremony” album on our EPC Facebook page.

Awards

Gary L. & Rebecca S. Blauser Endowed Faculty Support Award in Honor of Bob Rider, Dean
Awarded to recognize current and past accomplishments or future projects of one outstanding faculty member for excellence in teaching, research, and/or service efforts within any CEHHS area.

Jennifer Ann MorrowJennifer Ann Morrow
Associate Professor in Evaluation, Statistics & Measurement

“What I love most about working at UT is I get to mentor an amazing, diverse group of graduate students as they become more proficient in research methodology. A profound thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Blauser for their support for this award in honor of Dean Rider. Thank you!”


Helen B. Watson Faculty/Student Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation
Awarded to a student and the faculty member who directed the outstanding doctoral dissertation within the departments of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies; Educational Psychology and Counseling; Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies; or Theory and Practice in Teacher Education.

Chris SkinnerChristopher H. Skinner
Professor in School Psycholgy

 

“I value this award because it recognizes collaborative research efforts. I spend a great deal of time working with students to develop their research skills. My time spent with Kala was the best of times.

It is nice that the college acknowledges these efforts and I hope there is even more emphasis placed on faculty mentoring their students in research.

I am humbled and scared (“Can I keep up with their dreams and aspirations?”) – when students like Kala come to work with me. I hope that they keep coming and pray that I can keep up.”

Kala TaylorKala Taylor
PhD Candidate in School Psychology

 

“I am honored to receive this award with Chris Skinner, professor, who has been my greatest academic advocate over the past five years. His dedication to mentoring me, writing with me, and teaching me has been invaluable to my career as a researcher and future psychologist. I am particularly delighted to receive recognition for this project, which is dear to my heart because of its potential to provide teachers with improved methods for presenting diverse learning material to their students.”


Recognition

Casey A. Barrio Minton
Professor & Program Coordinator for Clinical Mental Health Counseling

– Recognized under Presidents of National/International Professional Organizations for being President-Elect of Southern Association of Counselor Education & Supervision

– Recognized under Recipients of National/International Professional Awards for the American Counseling Association Fellow


Carolyn Blondin
Licensed Psychologist for the Korn Learning, Assessment & Social Skills Center

– Recognized under UT Faculty & Support Staff Service Awards for five years of service


Ralph G. Brockett
Professor in Adult Learning

– Recognized under UT Faculty & Support Staff Service Awards for 30 years of service


Beverly Cate
Accounting Specialist II

– Recognized under UT Faculty & Support Staff Service Awards for 25 years of service


Synthia Clark
Administrative Specialist I

– Recognized under UT Support Staff Awards & Certifications for the AECT Design & Development Competition Award


Lisa Crawford
Associate Director of the Center for Literacy, Education & Employment

– Recognized under Grants & Contracts Recipients as PI for the TDOE Summer Trainings, Tennessee Department of Education, $621,980


Stephanie Daniels
PhD Candidate in School Psychology

– Recognized under Grants & Contracts Recipients as PI for “Understanding students’ typing skills: Evaluating the effects and efficiency of a typing intervention for elementary school students,” Society for the Study of School Psychology, $5,000


David Fields
Program Manager/Event Manager of the Center for Literacy, Education & Employment

– Recognized under UT Faculty & Support Staff Service Awards for 10 years of service


Katherine H. Greenberg
Professor Emerita

– Recognized under Authors/Editors of Books & Assessments Published 2018-2019 for Greenberg, K. H., Sohn, B. K., Greenberg, N. B., Pollio, H. R., Thomas, S. P., & Smith, J. T. (2019). The phenomenological heart of teaching and learning: Theory, research, and practice in higher education. New York, NY: Routledge.


Aaron Kohring
Director of the Center for Literacy, Education & Employment

– Recognized under Grants & Contracts Recipients as Co-PI for the TDOE Summer Trainings, Tennessee Department of Education, $621,980


Robert Kronick
Professor & Director of University-Assisted Community Schools

– Recognized under Grants & Contracts Recipients as PI for the University-Assisted Community Schools, United Way of Greater Knoxville via Catholic Charities, $125,000 of anticipated $375,000


R. Steve McCallum
Professor in School Psychology

– Recognized under Editors/Co-Editors of Peer Reviewed Publication for being Co-Founder and Consulting Editor of the Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment

– Recognized under Authors/Editors of Books & Assessments Published 2018-2019 for Bracken, B. A., & McCallum, R. S. (2018). Universal nonverbal intelligence test. Austin, TX: ProEd Publishing Company

– Recognized under Authors/Editors of Books & Assessments Published 2018-2019 for McCallum, R. S., & Bracken, B. A. (2018). Universal talented and gifted screener (UTAGS). Austin, TX: Prufrock Publishing Company


Merilee McCurdy
Associate Department Head, Associate Professor & Program Coordinator for School Psychology

– Recognized under Grants & Contracts Recipients as PI for “Understanding students’ typing skills: Evaluating the effects and efficiency of a typing intervention for elementary school students,” Society for the Study of School Psychology, $5,000


Lauren Moret
Assistant Professor in Evaluation, Statistics & Measurement

– Recognized under 2019 Chancellor’s Honors Awards for Excellence in Teaching


Jennifer Ann Morrow
Associate Professor in Evaluation, Statistics & Measurement

– Recognized under 2019 Chancellor’s Honors Awards for Excellence in Advising


Louis Rocconi
Assistant Professor in Evaluation, Statistics & Measurement

– Recognized under Grants & Contracts Recipients as PI for “Measuring quality in legal education: Examining the relationship between law school rank and student engagement,” Association of Institutional Research, $50,000


Blaine Sample
Coordinator I of University-Assisted Community Schools

– Recognized under UT Faculty & Support Staff Service Awards for five years of service


Mike Sass
East TN Teaching Coordinator & Team Leader of the Center for Literacy, Education & Employment

– Recognized under 2018-2019 Faculty & Staff Retirements, 1996-2018


Gary J. Skolits
Associate Professor & Program Coordinator for Evaluation, Statistics & Measurement

– Recognized under Editors/Co-Editors of Peer Reviewed Publications for being Co-Editor of The Qualitative Review


Qi Sun
Associate Professor & Program Coordinator for Adult Learning

– Recognized under Editors/Co-Editors of Peer Reviewed Publications for being Co-Editor of Adult Education Quarterly
– Recognized under Recipients of National/International Professional Awards for the Outstanding Service Award by The American Association of Adult and Continuing Education


Christine Tidwell
Administrative Specialist III

– Recognized under UT Faculty & Support Staff Service Awards for 15 years of service


Connie White
Associate Director of the Center for Literacy, Education & Employment

– Recognized under 2018-2019 Faculty & Staff Retirements, 1990-2018


Brian Wilhoit
Director of the Korn Learning, Assessment & Social Skills Center

– Recognized under UT Faculty & Support Staff Service Awards for 10 years of service


Three School Psychology PhD candidates – Carly Chwat, Caroline Jaquett, and Jonah Ruddy – were matched with APA-accredited internships.

To become a licensed psychologist, all school psychology doctoral students must have completed an internship. Internships accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) are highly sought out, yet a large number of applicants go unmatched. In 2017, almost twenty percent of applicants were not matched with an APA-accredited internship.

Read below to see where each of the three will be interning and their experiences of the process.


Carly Chwat

Carly Chwat
Tennessee Internship Consortium
Loudon, TN

 

 

What was the application process like?
We had great support from faculty and within our cohort, so it actually wasn’t too stressful! I enjoyed traveling around for interviews and meeting other psychology students.

How do you feel about being matched?
I’m very excited for the opportunity to participate in an APA internship, and to have the potential to become a licensed psychologist.

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?
I will be in a fully school-based position in Sweetwater City Schools where I will work consulting with teachers and doing evaluations for students for special education. I actually did a practicum at Sweetwater my 1st year in the graduate program, so I’m very excited be be going back there. At that time, I was the student shadowing an intern, and now as an intern I’ll have students come and shadow me.

How do you feel about staying in Tennessee?
I’m thrilled to be staying in Tennessee! I would love to continue to stay connected to the university to do research and also to supervise future practicum students. Also now that I know I’m staying, I can work on getting my parents to retire up in East Tennessee!


Caroline Jaquett

Caroline Jaquett
Tennessee Internship Consortium
Loudon, TN

 

 

What was the application process like?
The application process was stressful, just due to all of the deadlines that co-occurred with an already busy school year. However, we were really supported throughout the entire process and I never felt alone. The professors in the program and my other cohort members were a huge help!

How do you feel about being matched?
I am thrilled! It has always been my goal to become a licensed psychologist, and this is another step accomplished towards that goal!

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?
I will be doing the work of a typical school psychologist in East Tennessee. This involves completing evaluations and re-evaluations for children who need special education, assisting with and leading IEP meetings, consulting with teachers and other staff as needed, and of course directly helping children whenever possible!

Will you be at one specific site?
Yes! I will be with Lenoir City Schools. I will serve students at the elementary, intermediate, and high school levels.

How do you feel about staying in Tennessee?
Over the past four years I have really grown to love Knoxville. I brag about the city to everyone I know – it has great food, scenery, and there is always something going on downtown! I have made great friendships here and I am so glad I don’t have to say goodbye to Tennessee just yet.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?
I am nervous, but excited to get started! It is exciting that after 4 years of graduate school my career is finally about to begin!


Jonah Ruddy

Jonah Ruddy
Tennessee Internship Consortium
Loudon, TN

 

 

What was the application process like?
The application process was long and complicated. There are many excellent internship sites to choose from, and each site has unique qualities to consider. It took a lot of time to research each site and evaluate what they had to offer. The APPIC Internship Match requires detailed records of your academic career, research, and clinical experiences as well as letters of recommendation and essays briefly describing your personal background, theoretical orientation, research interests, and experiences with diversity. There is a lot of red tape, fees, and deadlines to navigate. Luckily, Merilee McCurdy, associate professor, and several alumni helped us navigate the process.

After submitting my applications to the APPIC match website during the fall, one of the hardest parts of the process was waiting to hear back from the programs to learn if you would get an interview. I was asked to interview at 7 of the 12 programs that I applied for. December and January were spent planning and going on trips meeting face-to-face with each site. I traveled through rain, sleet, and snow to Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and, of course, Tennessee. I received a warm welcome at each location and enjoyed meeting the faculty, interns, and other applicants. It was also exciting to see the great work all of the programs were doing to train new professionals, meet the needs of their clients, and support their communities. Even harder than waiting to hear about interviews was waiting for match day and learning my placement. It was definitely a relief when the day came and I learned that I would be interning with the Tennessee Internship Consortium in Psychology (TIC).

How do you feel about being matched?
I am both excited and relieved to be matched with an APA-accredited internship. The accreditation assures me that the internship meets the training standards needed to help me prepare for a career in school psychology, makes me more competitive in the job market, and simplifies the bureaucratic process to become a licensed psychologist.

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?

I will be working with child and adult clients with learning and behavioral concerns. This includes conducting psychoeducational assessments to diagnose learning, developmental, behavioral, or mental health issues; providing direct intervention services; and consulting with parents, teachers, and other professionals.

Will you be at one specific site?
I will be splitting my time between the KLASS Center and Cherokee Health Systems, Inc.

How do you feel about staying in Tennessee?

While I visited and fell in love with several internship sites during this process, it is a relief to be staying in Tennessee. I have a wife and teenage son whom I would have lived away from for a year if I was matched to another placement. I know they are very happy that I am staying home. I also think it is a great opportunity for me to help clients in the community and surrounding area that I have called home for many years.

Carly Chwat, Jonah Ruddy, and Caroline Jaquett

“I want to thank my colleagues, Carly Chwat and Carrie Jaquett, who have shared this journey with me over the last four years. We’ve developed a great friendship, become family, and have been there for each other through all the ups-and-downs that have come our way. Their support has been an essential element in my success and growth. I am grateful that the Three Musketeers will be able to finish our final year together in Tennessee.” – Jonah Ruddy


School Psychology

Samantha is currently seeking her PhD in School Psychology. Originally from Centerville, OH she received her BA in psychology from Cedarville University (Ohio) and her MS in Applied Educational Psychology from UT Knoxville. In 2012, she joined EPC. We asked her to reflect on some past and current experiences. Read her responses below.

Awards
  • Chancellor’s Fellowship (2012-2016): Fellowship given to support the continued education of students.
  • The Ron Carlini Persistence Award (2014): Award given through the school psychology program for assisting with the APA accreditation process.
Accomplishments

Roles/Positions
GRA in the School Psychology program: 2012-2015
KLASS Center Clinic Coordinator: 2015-2016
GTA for Assessment Practicum in the School Psychology program: 2015-2016

Peer Reviewed Publications
Cazzell, S. S., Browarnik, B. L., Skinner, A. L., Cihak, D. F., Skinner, C. H., & Forbes, B. (2016). Extending research on a computer-based flashcard reading intervention to post-secondary students with intellectual disabilities. School Psychology Forum: Research in Practice, 10, 191-206.

Forbes, B. E., Skinner, C. H., Maurer, K. M., Taylor, E. P., Schall, M., Cazzell, S., Ciancio, D., Conley, M., & Conley, E. (2014). Prompting faster reading during fluency assessments: The impact of skill level and comprehension measures on changes in performance. Research in the Schools.

Watson, T. L., Skinner, C. H., Skinner, A. L., Cazzell, S., Aspiranti, K., Moore, T., and Coleman, M. (2016). Preventing disruptive behavior via classroom management: Validating the color wheel system in kindergarten classrooms. Behavior Modification, 1, 1-23.

Schall, M., Skinner, C. H., Cazzell, S., Ciancio, D., Ruddy, J., & Thompson, K. (e print January 2016). Extending research on oral reading fluency measures, reading speed, and comprehension. Contemporary School Psychology. DOI 10.1007/s40688-015-0083-

Cazzell, S., Skinner, C., Ciancio, D., Aspiranti, K., Watson, T., Taylor, K., McCurdy, M., & Skinner, A. (in submission). Evaluating a Computer Flashcard Sight-Word Recognition Intervention with Self-Determined Response Intervals in Elementary Students with Intellectual Disability. School Psychology Quarterly.

Peer Reviewed Presentations
Cazzell, S., Taylor, K., Skinner, C., McCurdy, M., Skinner, A., Ciancio, D., Beeson, T., & Cihak, D. (February 2016). Evaluating a computer flashcard reading intervention with self-determined response intervals in a post-secondary student with Intellectual Disability. Poster presented at the University of Tennessee Gallery of Excellence, Knoxville TN.

Gibbons, S., Ryan, K., Skinner, C., Taylor, K., Beeson, T., Ciancio, D., & Cazzell, S. (February 2016). Expanding Research on a Computer-Based Flashcard Reading Intervention with a Post-Secondary Student in the FUTURE Program.Poster presented at the University of Tennessee Gallery of Excellence, Knoxville TN.

Taylor, K., Skinner, C., Cazzell, S., Ruddy, J., Ciancio, D., Cihak, D., & Beeson, T. (February 2016). Perceptual disfluency and learning in a FUTURE student with Intellectual Disability. Poster submitted for presentation at the University of Tennessee Gallery of Excellence, Knoxville, TN.

Taylor, K., Crabtree, K., Turnbull, S., Ciancio, D., & Skinner, C. (August 2015). The effectiveness of readability formulas as predictors of oral reading fluency. American Psychological Association (APA) Conference, Toronto, Ontario.

Schall, M., Skinner, C. H., Cazzell, S., Ciancio, D., Ruddy, J., & Thompson, K. (February 2015). Extending research on oral reading fluency measures, reading speed, and comprehension: The ransom note study. Presented at the National Association for School Psychologists (NASP) Conference, Orlando, FL.

Schall, M., Skinner, C. H., Cazzell, S., Ciancio, D., Ruddy, J., & Thompson, K. (October 2014). Extending research on oral reading fluency measures, reading speed, and comprehension: The ransom note study. Presented at the Tennessee Association of School Psychologists (TASP) Conference, Chattanooga, TN.

Tiffany, W., Katie, C., & Cazzell, S. (October 2014). The Effectiveness of Readability Formulas as Predictors of Oral Reading Fluency. Presented at the Tennessee Association of School Psychologists (TASP) Conference, Chattanooga, TN.

Cazzell, S. (April 2014). Student perceptions of the utility and effectiveness of a computer-reading intervention. Presented at the University of Tennessee (Survey Research class), Knoxville, TN.

Forbes, B. E., Schall, M., Cazzell, S., Taylor E. P., & Skinner, C. H. (February 2014). Prompting faster reading: The impact of comprehension measure. Presented at the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Conference, Washington, D.C.

Cazzell, S. S., Browarnik, B. L., Skinner, A. L., Cihak, D. F., Skinner, C. H., & Forbes, B. (November 2013). Extending research on a computer-based flashcard reading intervention to post-secondary students with intellectual disabilities. Presented at the Tennessee Association of School Psychologists (TASP) Conference, Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, TN.

Cazzell, S. S., Browarnik, B. (November 2013). Assessment of Two Reading Interventions. Presented at the Tennessee Association of School Psychologists (TASP) Conference, Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, TN.

Cazzell, S. S., Browarnik, B. (March 2013). Assessment of Two Reading Interventions. Presented at the Graduate Student Research Colloquium, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.

See Curriculum Vita for additional details.

Current Occupation

Pre-Doctoral School Psychology Intern
Lenoir City Schools
Lenoir City, TN

As a school psychology intern at Lenoir City Schools, I will be working with students in elementary, middle, and high school who have academic, behavioral, and/or social-emotional concerns. In these schools, I assess students with educational concerns, develop academic and behavioral interventions, and consult with parents and teachers to promote student growth. I also have opportunities to counsel students with social-emotional concerns.

Personal Interests

I have really enjoyed exploring Knoxville after moving here from Ohio for graduate school. I especially like visiting the mountains with my husband, going downtown to shop at the Farmer’s Market, paddle-boarding at the Quarry, and trying out new restaurants. I also enjoy baking treats, going on walks after work, and spending time with my family and friends.

Future/Vocational Goals

After I complete my internship, I hope to work in the schools and put the skills that I have learned into practice. I especially like working in school environments because it allows for continued collaboration with teachers and parents to make educational decisions that benefit students. Eventually, I may pursue licensure in the hopes of becoming a licensed psychologist so that I can also have the opportunity to work in a clinic setting with children, adults, and families.

group photo of School Psychology interns

What sold you on this program?

I decided to attend the University of Tennessee to study school psychology for several reasons. To begin, I appreciated this program’s timeline that allows for students to progress through classes, complete their dissertation and internship, and ultimately, finish the program within five years. I also liked how supportive the students appeared during the interview process and how willing they were to answer all of my questions. Finally, I chose this program because of the funding opportunities presented through assistantships. I am so thankful that this funding was available throughout the duration of my time at UT Knoxville.

What would you tell an incoming student who joins the program?

I would encourage students to develop a good working relationship with their cohort and seek outside experiences to broaden their knowledge-base, especially during the first few years of the program. In seeking outside opportunities in their respective area(s) of interest, students can build their vitaes and gain experiences working with varied populations that will be beneficial when applying for internships and jobs. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions! Getting through a graduate program is a long process, and the cohorts above you are excellent sources of information if you have any questions.


Seven School Psychology PhD candidates – Brooke Browarnik, Trish Franklin, Leslie Hart, Katie Scott, Kelly Smyth, Kelly Thompson, and Samantha Turnbull – were matched with APA-accredited internships.

SP Interns Web_042616_SClark_37

To become a licensed psychologist, all school psychology doctoral students must have completed an internship. Internships accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) are highly sought out, yet a large number of applicants go unmatched. In 2016, almost thirty percent of applicants were not matched with an APA-accredited internship.

Read below to see where each of the seven will be interning and their experiences of the process.

Brooke BrowarnikBrook Browarnik
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Cypress, TX

 

 

What was the application process like?
Have you ever seen “The Shining”? It was a lot like that. But I had tons of support from my professors and cohort!

How do you feel about being matched?
Relieved — I’m so happy to have matched!

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?
I’ll be working in a school district.

Will you be at one specific site?
I’ll “float” between three to four schools.

How do you feel about moving to Texas?
Yee haw!


Trish Franklin

Trish Franklin
Nebraska Internship Consortium
Lincoln, NE

 

 

What was the application process like?
It was stressful for the most part. It was really fun to look at all the different programs and visit places for interviews, but there was a lot of waiting. We started working on application materials in August and interviews were in January

How do you feel about being matched?
Very, very happy. Having an accredited internship makes licensure a lot easier.

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?
I’ll be working with kids who have pediatric feeding disorders. My program is in the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at the Munroe-Meyer Institute (which is part of the University of Nebraska Medical Center) so a lot of the kids we serve have autism, but we work with other kids that have issues with feeding due to developmental, behavioral, or medical concerns as well.

Will you be at one specific site?
Primarily yes, but my internship is part of a consortium, so I’ll have a chance to visit some of the other sites and programs as well.

How do you feel about moving to Nebraska?
Very excited! I love going to new places. I’ll have to get used to the cold though 🙂


Leslie Hart

Leslie Hart
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Cypress, TX

 

 

What was the application process like?
The application process was equal parts stressful and interesting. It’s really neat to be able to search a nationwide database to see how you can build on the foundational skills we’ve learned here at the University of Tennessee. ​That said- it’s also stressful to get interviews, not get interviews, and pay for everything in between.​

How do you feel about being matched?
Matching was an incredible relief. ​It feels like a step in the right direction.

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?
I’ll be working ​as a Predoctoral Intern ​at the Cypress-Fairbanks ​I​ndependent School District with the ​Department of ​Psychological Services. I’ll be helping students across different settings and learn the ropes of being an effective school psychologist. ​I’m particularly excited for opportunities to build counseling skills both with students and with families. I walked away from the interview feeling like the staff at Cypress-Fairbanks emphasize the training of their interns across all the different areas of school psychology. I’m excited to join the next year’s cohort and join a training-focused internship program!

Will you be at one specific site?
No – I’ll be splitting time across different schools within the same district. ​

How do you feel about moving to Texas?
I’m incredibly excited to move to Texas and forget everything I ever knew about snow.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?
As much as I’m excited for the next adventure, I’m incredibly grateful for all my amazing practica and supervision here in Knoxville.


Katie Scott

Katie Scott
Tennessee Internship Consortium
Loudon, TN

 

 

What was the application process like?
The application process was overall very stressful. We had to be extremely organized and on top of things in order to meet all of the required deadlines. The finances involved with applying to multiple sites was also a major stressor!

How do you feel about being matched?
I was both thrilled and entirely relieved to be matched with an APA-accredited internship!

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?
As the Cherokee intern, I will have the opportunity to work with several Head Start programs throughout East Tennessee as a behavioral consultant. I will also have opportunities working in the schools as a psychologist and in the KLASS Center as a clinician.

Will you be at one specific site?
No – I will be a part-time Cherokee Health Intern and a part-time KLASS Center Intern, so I will have a very diverse internship experience!

How do you feel about staying in Tennessee?
I am excited to remain in Knoxville and finally call Rocky Top my “home sweet home!”


Kelly SmythKelly Smyth
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Cypress, TX

 

 

What was the application process like?
The process was long and stressful – with tons of waiting in between phases. But thankfully, the cohort worked together throughout the whole process and made it a bit more manageable.

How do you feel about being matched?
Very excited – this is the culmination of our graduate program and it feels really good to have all my hard work pay off with this internship.

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?
Traditional school psych duties, but also some specific work with the autism and ADHD populations. Additionally, we will get the chance to conduct some parent training activities that I am very excited about as well.

Will you be at one specific site?
No – I will be assigned to several different schools within the school district I will be working for.

How do you feel about moving to Texas?
Excited and nervous. The moving process is not my favorite and moving across the country is a little overwhelming. But my fiance is coming with me and we are very excited about our next adventure together.


Kelly ThompsonKelly Thompson
Tennessee Internship Consortium
Loudon, TN

 

 

What was the application process like?
The application process was a little time consuming and nerve wracking. Counting all of my hours of experience took a lot of time, but thankfully our cohort helped each other when we had questions or were unsure of how to complete the application.

How do you feel about being matched?
I feel very thankful and excited to get started!

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?
I will be working as the school psychology intern for Sweetwater County Schools.

Will you be at one specific site?
Yes, I will be placed in Sweetwater County Schools.

How do you feel about staying in Tennessee?
I am very excited about staying in Tennessee. My husband grew up in Knoxville and we have family in town as well. I have grown to love Knoxville and am very happy to stay in Tennessee.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?
I am excited to get more experience in the school setting!


Samantha TurnbullSamantha Turnbull
Tennessee Internship Consortium
Loudon, TN

 

 

What was the application process like?
The application process was complex and tedious.

How do you feel about being matched?
I am excited and relieved to have been matched with an APA-accredited internship.

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?
I will be working full-time at Lenoir City Schools doing activities that a typical school psychologist does in the schools.

Will you be at one specific site?
I will be at Lenoir City Schools four days a week and will receive supervision one day a week.

How do you feel about staying in Tennessee?
I am really excited to stay in Tennessee. After being here for four years, Tennessee has become my new home.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?
I am glad that I finally get to apply everything that I have learned during this program on internship next year.


Four School Psychology PhD Candidates – Elizabeth Hays, Megan Schall, Ellie Trant, and Tiffany Watson – were matched with APA-accredited internships.

SchoolPsychInterns_042415_SClark_026

To become a licensed psychologist, all school psychology doctoral students must have completed an internship. Internships accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) are highly sought out, yet a large number of applicants go unmatched. In 2015, more than fifteen hundred applicants were not matched with an APA-accredited internship.

McCurdy,Merilee_081214_S.Clark_32_1“It is always a program goal for our students to receive APA-accredited internship positions. However, not all internship applicants receive an internship, particularly an APA-accredited one. The program faculty are very excited for these students!”- School Psychology Program Coordinator, Merilee McCurdy

The application process was described as long, complex, and intimidating. To address this, the program offers an internship course to make things more manageable and help students through the process.

SchoolPsychInterns_042415_SClark_091

Elizabeth Hays will be going to the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District in Texas.

Hays explained how she was thrilled to be matched to an APA-accredited internship because she believes it will give her more flexibility with future career options. Her internship is in a school district, where she will work with students in general and special education. Her primary roles will be behavioral consultation, assessments, and pre-referral intervention for behavioral, social, and academic concerns. However, she will also be providing individual and group counseling to students and have opportunities to practice evidence-based interventions in the Family Counseling Clinic.

SchoolPsychInterns_042415_SClark_080“I am very excited to try something new and learn as much as I can while I am at Cy-Fair ISD. I will have access to a diverse range of training experiences and supervisors through this internship, and I think this diversity in training will be invaluable.”

Megan Schall, Ellie Trant, and Tiffany Watson will be at the Tennessee Internship Consortium (TIC).  TIC is an overarching entity linking interns to many different agencies, such as school systems, assessment centers, and health systems.

Schall will be at Lenoir City Schools four days a week, and receiving supervision and training one day a week. She explained how she would be conducting the same types of work activities school psychologists in school systems typically do.

SchoolPsychInterns_042415_SClark_053“I’m thrilled to be matched with an APA-accredited internship! It was a great relief to get the match email and see the results. And, even though it would be fun to live in a new city, I am also very excited to be staying in Tennessee. After four years living in Knoxville, it feels like home so I am glad to get to stay for another year.”

Trant will be working at Sweetwater City Schools, mainly doing assessments and consultation.

She explained how happy she was to be staying in Tennessee because she fell in love with this part of the country after moving here from Louisiana.  Also, the internship location allows her and her fiancé to live together once they get married in July.

SchoolPsychInterns_042415_SClark_069“I have learned so much about school psychology during my time at UT, and I am looking forward to putting those skills into practice. I am also excited to learn more about the field of school psychology and expand my abilities. UT has given me a great foundation, which I know will be significantly enhanced during my internship year.”

Watson has a split internship. Part of the time she will be working with the Korn Learning, Assessment, and Social Skills (KLASS) Center on campus. There, she will see clients for interventions and evaluations for ADHD and learning disabilities. The other part of her internship will be with Cherokee Health Systems in a school system.

SchoolPsychInterns_042415_SClark_051“I am so blessed and thankful to be matched to an APA site. It opens up more opportunities down the road for licensure. I grew up in East Tennessee and I’m so excited to stay and work in the area. I’m also excited to finally start applying things I’ve been learning for the past four years!”