Overview:

In an effort to recruit and retain the best employees, the Cherokee County School District (CCSD) offers a comprehensive full-time School Psychology Paid Internship Program that lasts for two semesters.  The number of candidates who can be accepted is limited in order to provide quality supervision and training experiences.  All paid internship positions are dependent on budgetary funding and the number of experienced school psychologists who are willing to provide direct supervision.  Final placement for internships is made by the Department of Special Education and the Office of Human Resources. 

Description of Training Program

Interns who are selected to participate in this program will work with School-Site Mentors to learn how to do the following:

• Respond appropriately and within federal and state guidelines to referrals for initial psychological assessment and for reevaluation of children in special education programs
• Demonstrate a competent understanding of the psychometric characteristics of a variety of assessment instruments
• Demonstrate appropriate consultative skills in parent, teacher and student conferences
• Communicate psychological assessment results and recommendations both verbally and through written reports
• Participate in eligibility and program decisions in meeting the needs of students with disabilities
• Participate in and contribute to professional development activities
• Recommend appropriate remedial and intervention procedures for students
• Manage time and resources effectively
• Provide differential diagnosis in areas of intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities and emotional/behavioral disorders

Supervision and Evaluation

Interns will be assigned a School-Site Mentor who is a school psychologist employed by the District.  The School-Site Mentor will be paid a $500 stipend per semester to supervise the Intern.  In addition to the School-Site Mentor, the Intern will also be supervised by CCSD's Lead School Psychologist and Director of Special Education.  Supervision follows a gradual release of responsibility model based on Intern performance and readiness. Interns may be placed at one or multiple school sites at any level.

Internship Training Sequence

The internship training sequence is broken up into Stage I and Stage II. Interns will not move to Stage II without a recommendation from the School-Site Mentor, the Lead School Psychologist, the Director of Special Education, the Office of Human Resources team, and the University Program Coordinator. The Intern must be in Stage I for a minimum of 4 months to be eligible to move to Stage II.

Stage I Sequence

• Onboarding with School-Site Mentor, Lead School Psychologist, Director of Special Education, Office of Human Resources and Intern
• Intern observes School-Site Mentor performing duties.
• Intern performs school psychologist duties along with School-Site Mentor
• Intern performs school psychologist duties under School-Site Mentor's direct supervision

 Stage II Sequence

• Intern begins to deploy to other schools in zone to perform school psychologist duties under the supervision of each school's respective school psychologist. School-Site Mentor continues to check-in with the Intern.
• Intern is eligible to be hired full-time and work independently while maintaining regular check-ins and co-signing all evaluations with School-Site Mentor.

Stipend Eligibility

Interns participating in this program will receive a $7,000 stipend per semester with the maximum amount of $14,000 for the year. Stipends are awarded at the end of each semester.

In order to be eligible for each stipend the Intern must:

• Adequately and professionally fulfill all internship duties and responsibilities for the entire semester.
• Commit to working for the Cherokee County School District for one year post internship by signing an early employment contract if offered.

Qualifications of Interns

To qualify for the paid internship program, candidates must be enrolled in a PSC-Approved school psychology program at a college or university that has a partnership agreement with the Cherokee County School District.

Documents Required for Hire

Candidates interested in participating in the paid internship program must submit the following:

• an online CCSD school psychologist internship application
• a letter of interest
• a resume or curriculum vita
• an unofficial copy of the applicant’s graduate transcripts
• an unofficial copy of the applicant’s undergraduate transcripts
• two letters of recommendation (including one from University Program Coordinator)
• one professional writing sample

Timelines for Application and Selection

• Candidate must submit application and required documents by December 1st of the year prior to the start of the paid internship.
• The CCSD team will review all documents and select candidates to interview.
• Selected candidates will be interviewed by a panel in December and January.
• Notification of acceptance into the paid internship program will take place by the end of February.