CLASS OF 09' SPRING UPDATES!

The 2nd year school psychology students are currently placed at their third practicum sites, where they continue to receive direct supervision in the field. Below are reflections on their present experiences.

Lisa N. Barzotto
My current practicum is with the Rochester Hearing and Speech Center.  Each week, I travel to Head Start preschools throughout the city and conduct cognitive assessments for preschool children who will enter the Rochester City School District next year. I also conduct functional behavioral assessments and consult with classroom teachers on a regular basis. It has been a very rewarding practicum-- I am learning a lot and it has helped me realize that I very much enjoy working with the preschool student population. I highly recommend this placement to students who would like to gain experiences working with preschool assessments.

Ashleigh Crumb
I am at Bloomfield Middle/High School.  This is a rural placement with grades 6-12.  I have been fortunate to be able to get all the experience I want at this placement.  I presented at a CSE meeting and I complete evaluations, counseling, and consult with teachers. One unique aspect is that I have had the opportunity to go on a field trip to a nature center with the 6th grade.  I also have gained a lot of great knowledge about various topics from my supervisor. 

Lynette DiBenedetto
I recently completed a 20-week practicum at Caledonia-Mumford where I got to do a lot of work with students from K-12.  For the last 10 weeks of my second year (wow it flew by!) I am at Stepping Stones Learning Center in Irondequoit, working under a clinical psychologist.  I am currently conducting testing for all students classified as Preschoolers with a Disability who are going to be transitioning into the Rochester City School District for Kindergarten next year.  Over the next couple of months I hope to learn a lot more about preschoolers with special needs, the early intervention process, and different programs for children with autism.  I recently found out that I will be an intern within the Palmyra-Macedon Central School District next year and I am very excited!

Kira Formicola
I am currently placed at Autumn Lane Elementary School in Greece, NY.  The population of students I work with ranges between Kindergarten through second grade. Thus far I have had the opportunity to conduct four full psychological evaluations, and present the results of these evaluations at Instructional Support Team meetings, as well as to the student's parents. In addition, I have been working in a second grade classroom to do benchmarking using Dibels to target at risk students for further reading interventions. I will be collaborating with their teacher to come up with interventions, and to do progress monitoring. Also, I will be pushing into a 12:1:1 classroom to do some social skill streaming to help students with their peer mediation and negotiation skills. I look forward to doing some individual or group counseling with this population of students because I have only counseled students at the secondary level. My experience at Autumn Lane has been excellent. I feel I have grown a lot in my sense of professionalism, my skills in collaborating, and my skills in both traditional and alternative assessment.

Annalise Johnson
My practicum placement is at Monroe #2 BOCES in Monroe/Orleans County. The students in this population range from kindergarten to age 21. My supervisor is responsible for triennial assessments for a wide variety of age groups and travels to many different schools and districts to work with students. I am getting amazing opportunities working with a wider variety of students whose home districts did not have appropriate programs for them. I am really broadening my assessment skills. I am also spending some time at Hope Hall with a different psychologist doing counseling and interventions.

Alison Senter
My current practicum placement is at Minerva DeLand in Fairport.  It houses the entire 9th grade for the suburb, which is a very different dynamic than other high schools.  I help my supervisor with assessments, counseling, report writing, and consulting.  I co-facilitate a girls group which has taught me a lot about this age group.  Also, I've assisted in implementing AIMSweb at one of the elementary schools which was a great experience to have first hand.  I'm also conducting journal writing groups for my thesis with the help of another practicum student and my supervisor.

Melissa Zywocinski
I am based out of Paddy Hill and Kirk Road Elementary Schools in Greece for my final practicum placement.  This setting has allowed me to become much more independent, making it a great placement to prepare for internship.  I have done complete evaluations, presented results to staff and parents, and performed individual and group counseling.  In addition, I have been spending a lot of time in Paddy Hill's autism classroom.  I have worked with a variety of kids with autism in the past few years and it is always fun to compare and contrast programs.  I will miss these two schools when the quarter is over but it has really helped prepare me for internship!