School psychologist at St. Charles East High School

I implement direct social, emotional, and behavioral intervention for individuals and groups at the tier-2 and tier-3 levels. I also conduct risk assessments with students in crisis, coordinate follow-up plans with families and outside agencies, and assist with the development of reintegration plans for students returning to school following hospitalizations. I conduct special education evaluations by administering standardized and informal assessments and collecting and analyzing data from a variety of sources. I integrate this evaluation data into psychoeducational evaluation reports that explain the educational needs of individual students within the domains of academic achievement, functional performance, cognitive functioning, and social emotional status. I explain my evaluation findings to students, staff, and parents during eligibility meetings. When needed, I also develop functional behavioral assessments and behavior intervention plans for students with behavioral difficulties, and facilitate the related FBA/BIP meetings. Within the domain of consultation, I regularly work with special education personnel, administrators, and PPS staff to engage in collaborative MTSS problem solving for individuals and groups of students. I also collaborate with parents and community providers to help ensure that students receive necessary social, emotional, behavioral, and academic support outside of school.I also provided direct and indirect services during a 20-day internship rotation at two elementary schools in Villa Park School District 45 from October 2018- December 2018.

AHSS is the leading provider of in-home ABA therapy to families of children diagnosed with autism in the Midwest. As a Registered Behavior Technician, I am part of a team of ABA therapists that works directly with clients and their families to identify current skills and deficits and implement strategic programs for improving the child's abilities. We work to improve weaknesses or deficits in a wide range of domains such as communication, life and vocational skills, academics, fine and gross motor skills, self-help skills, and positive peer interactions. I received training in applied behavior analysis through a combination of online modules, in-person orientation days, and direct training under the supervision of other ABA therapists and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. I currently provide one-on-one direct therapy to my child clients using their individualized behavior plans, and am responsible for carrying out therapy sessions with integrity, participating in monthly team meetings, diligently recording data for monitoring client progress and responsiveness to therapy, and ensuring the safety and well-being of each client.

As a summer substitute teaching assistant, my role was to assist in approximately 15 different classrooms and adapt to the various teaching methods and classroom policies while the primary teachers were away on a daily or weekly basis. I provided direct care to infants and children between the ages of 6 weeks to 5 years old by engaging them with academics, teaching appropriate peer interaction, and overseeing age-appropriate playtime activities. I also maintained professional and supporting relationships with co-teachers and keep records of daily activities to provide to the children's parents. This position also required diligent compliance with DCFS standards for ensuring the health and safety of all children.

I completed my yearlong internship in CCH's therapeutic, residential school that strives to provide safety and support in the lives of children diagnosed with severe psychological, emotional, and behavioral disabilities, autism, and/or traumatic life experiences. My role as an intern was diverse; while I had a psychological health focus, my primary responsibilities involved assisting students in overcoming barriers in their education.

My responsibility involved ensuring that customers were assisted in a courteous and prompt manner in my role as a barista in one of the campus' cafes. I consistently trained and supervised new employees in necessary operation and sanitation procedures, and was required to accomplish several tasks concurrently in a fast-paced, food-service environment. In prior positions, I have worked as both a member of a catering team and in one of the largest non-military cafeterias in the United States.

I advised new and current students during course exploration by leading them through technical registration processes and developing their semester schedules. I also assisted in applying their academic interests into possible additional programs of study as well as future career aspirations in psychology and related fields.

I facilitated data collection and analysis by interacting with participants and laboratory technology, and I consistently communicated with other assistants and the lab's head researcher to maintain efficiency and organization. In biweekly lab meetings, I participated in discussions about research findings and applied my knowledge of the subject material to offer my own insights about the lab's studies.

I led a class of freshman-year James Scholar honors students within the college of Liberal Arts and Sciences in a one-semester orientation course. My primary responsibility was to serve as a peer mentor for the rigorous campus honors program. I developed lesson plans and facilitated discussion about topics such as campus involvement, community engagement, leadership, and vital college skills for success. I was also responsible for grading, communicating via technology, and participating in a weekly seminar with other interns, during which I shared my own experiences and learned from those of my peers.

I led workshops about alcohol risk reduction throughout the first 6 weeks of the fall semester to groups of about 30 new students at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. I received training during a semester-long course prior to the beginning of my position, during which I learned how to facilitate challenging dialogue and gained knowledge about the culture of college alcohol abuse.