The internship experience can mix excitement and stress for School Psychologists. However, with the right direction (and supervision) it can be a crucial learning experience that sets you on a path to success within School Psychology. Now I know everyone has different supervision experiences, most of the differences come from the location of your internship. I know of experiences ranging from sharing campuses with your supervisor to your supervisor not even working in your district and being contracted out. The list below is based on my experience as an intern and a supervisor for many years. These are the key points/experiences that I ensure my interns go through every year. Without further ado, here we go!
- Build Strong Relationships
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- Establishing positive relationships with school staff, students, and parents is imperative to creating a cohesive community on campus. Effective Communication and trust are key to success and relationship building. This is not just a matter of socializing; it is a strategic approach.
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- Understand Your District Policies
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- Make sure to familiarize yourself with your district policies and procedures. Get a firm understanding of confidentiality and special education regulations to ensure compliance in your district. Understanding the policies is essential for operating within the legal and ethical framework of the educational system. It ensures you are informed about your responsibilities, rights, and procedures to follow in various situations. This all helps contribute to your effectiveness as a school psychologist and the overall well-being of students and the school community.
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- Learn your Assessment Tools
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- Learning assessments are essential for providing high-quality, individualized support for students and making data-informed decisions. Get experience in cognitive, academic, and behavior assessments. Don’t forget about the more informal assessments. Being proficient in interviews and observations will help in the long run. Assessments are the bread and butter for School Psychologists. This is a skill that cannot be ignored.
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- Shadow Experienced School Psychologists (if able)
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- I know this may be difficult for some interns based on your site, but I will speak to this point in a generalized way. Try to spend as much time shadowing your supervisor, especially at the beginning of the year. This will help you obtain valuable experience in learning practical skills and strategies for working with students (and parents!)
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- Stay Organized
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- CRUCIAL!! Develop efficient systems for managing caseloads, paperwork, and your daily schedule to stay sane and meet your deadlines. Find out what works best for you. Whether digital or planner and pen, you need to find a groove. Being organized helps with your emotional health, work-life balance, adaptability, reducing errors, and efficiency.
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- Obtain Experiences
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- If you are able, try to get as much experience as possible during your internships. Know your limits, but also be willing to jump into situations and try things out (with proper supervision, of course!). If you are based at an elementary school, ask if you can evaluate one of the secondary schools and vice versa. You get the point, get out there!!
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- Seek Constant and Consistent Feedback
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- Even if you are not on the same campus as your supervisor, set time aside each week to regularly meet with your supervisor for guidance and feedback on your performance. Use these opportunities for professional growth. It helps you refine your skills, adapt to the needs of the students, and foster a culture of continuous improvement in the educational setting.
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- Stay Current
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- Utilize your student status. Most states and associations will give discounts to students for workshops, professional development, and conferences. Use these opportunities to network and develop social skills with fellow school psychologists. Also, try to stay updated on the latest research, best practices, and trends in school psychology. If you want, utilize social media to connect with fellow practitioners across the state and country.
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Remember that being a School Psychologist intern is a learning experience, so embrace the different opportunities that will be given to you for growth. Also, remember that you need to be adaptable, as much as you schedule your day out, something will inevitably come around to screw it up! These tips and tricks will help you embark on this rewarding journey!
