Here’s what’s new with the class of 2005!
Amanda Landis:
Where is your current school placement? Pavilion Central School (K-12)
How is practicum different for you as a second year student? I am doing so much more independently. I work more with teachers and students a lot more face-to-face on my own, and they recognize me as "the intern", and sometimes even come to me with problems. My days fly by!
How do you feel about preparing for internship soon? Excited to finally be getting there!
What are your current ideas/areas of interest for your thesis/project? Early intervention measures and maybe even throwing something with social-emotional in the mix.
What do you like the best about being a school psychology student at RIT? The least? I like the closeness with my classmates the most. I feel like we can ask each other anything, and we love to spend time together (when we can)! I hate having to scramble to find test kits!
Katrina Johnson:
Where is your current school placement? Manchester-Shortsville Central School District- Better known as Red Jacket K-12
How is practicum different for you as a second year student? This year I have a lot more freedom to try things, and I feel a little more relaxed since I know what to expect.
How do you feel about preparing for internship soon? Scared. It still feels like we have so much to do (i.e. putting our portfolios together and research projects) this year, plus I worry about districts possibly choosing not to hire interns with the increased financial crunch they are under.
What are your current ideas/areas of interest for your thesis/project? CBM reading fluency measures- how do they correlate with state/national tests that have teachers so worried? How good are they at identifying students with comprehension difficulties?
What do you like the best about being a school psychology student at RIT? The least? The thing I liked best used to be the ROTC guys that were down the hall. I thought they created nice scenery. But their office moved, and they've been replaced by the foreign language department, which doesn't impress me nearly as much. So now I'm back to Ben & Jerry's as my favorite thing. The thing I like the least is the cost- both tuition and protocols.
Othniel St. Ulme:
Where is your current school placement? East Rochester High School
How is practicum different for you as a second year student? More independence/autonomy; interactions with faculty and staff are more so at a co-worker level
How do you feel about preparing for internship soon? Too far ahead to think about, considering what's currently on my plate.
What are your current ideas/areas of interest for your thesis/project? Psychological Safety and Belief in a Just World-- exploring possible relationships between the two constructs
What do you like the best about being a school psychology student at RIT? The least? Best: Practicum and diverse faculty (with respect to expertise background, personality, and teaching style) Least: Quarter system
Brian Kurdziel:
Where is your current school placement? Oakfield Alabama Elementary School
How is practicum different for you as a second year student? More independent
How do you feel about preparing for internship soon? Nervous, but anxious to get started
What are your current ideas/areas of interest for your thesis/project? Something focusing on professional issues in school psychology; likely on testing and IDEA reauthorization.
What do you like the best about being a school psychology student at RIT? The least? I like best and least the quarter system. I'm glad to have extra classes and be learning more, but the timelines for completing the coursework are demanding.
Kim Tucker:
Where is your current school placement? Fyle Elementary in Rush-Henrietta
How is practicum different for you as a second year student? My first practicum I spent a lot of time in the classroom, just observing the flow of classrooms and helping out teachers, like a teacher aid almost. You also spend more time just learning about the dynamics of the school and how it functions day to day. As a 2nd year student, you get more opportunities for hands on activities. I've done individual counseling, led a skillstreaming lesson, and I've really been able to fine tune my student and class observation skills. Overall, you're more independent than you were during your first year, as you supervisor expects a little more from you.
How do you feel about preparing for internship soon? It's a bit overwhelming thinking about starting our thesis, getting our portfolios together, and applying for internships. I think RIT has done a good job of teaching us the fundamentals and the knowledge base we will need...the rest will come with experience and time.
What are your current ideas/areas of interest for your thesis/project? Using Curriculum Based Measurement to assess reading fluency and comprehension to predict scores on statewide tests. Although that's one of many possible ideas revolving around reading, which is my area of interest.
What do you like the best about being a school psychology student at RIT? The least? What I like best about being a student here is that our wide exposure at practicum will make us marketable when it comes time for internship. I've also made some great friends here and all my classmates are easy to talk to, especially when we're stressed out. What I like the least is that at times the workload and information coming in to absorb is just overwhelming. And it doesn't help that RIT is on the quarters system, in which we have to cram 15 weeks of material into 10. If that doesn't stress someone out, then I don't know what will.
Elaine Fadgen:
Where is your current school placement? I am currently placed at St. Mary's School for the Deaf in Buffalo, NY
How is practicum different for you as a second year student? I have been given more independence. I also feel like an intregal part of the school community.
How do you feel about preparing for internship soon? I am excited to work! I have already started contacting potential sites and feel confident that I will find something great!
What are your current ideas/areas of interest for your thesis/project? My interest is in the area of deafness and I think I am going to do a project geared for parents. It will help (hopefully) improve parent-child relations. I am quite unsure at this moment if this is my final topic or if i will change it, but that is natural so I am not worried.
What do you like the best about being a school psychology student at RIT? The least? Best: I love the diverse and rich campus. All students here are able to learn so much about deaf culture and deafness that it makes us all more knowledgeable school psychologists. I also like the workshops that are in the area this year (for ex. the WJ and Stanford Binet workshop). Least: I become frustrated that the class times and days (for the upcoming quarter) change daily. It is hard to know what is going on and plan other things when your schedule is uncertain. I know it is difficult so I work with it, but I wish we did not get a schedule until it was final.
Sarah Dash:
Where is your current school placement? LeRoy CSD
How is practicum different for you as a second year student? I think that I have a better idea about what is going on--I know what everyone is doing, how, and why.
How do you feel about preparing for internship soon? I don't even have time right now to LOOK!
What are your current ideas/areas of interest for your thesis/project? A program that promotes social competence during middle school. Increasing social competence will hopefully prevent some of the less desirable behaviors that begin in middle school (drugs/alcohol, bullying, sex, etc.) from occurring.
What do you like the best about being a school psychology student at RIT? Everyone in the program (students and faculty) wants everyone else to do well. Everyone is so helpful and encouraging! The least? Winter and the quarter system/scheduling.
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