Alison Finegersh
Mountain View,CA
Summary
I am looking for a School Psychologists internship working with students, families, and the community to support student achievement and continue to grow as a professional.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Practium School Psychologist
Los Altos School DIstrict
10.2023 - Current
- Administering cognitive assessments
- Administering assessments for phonological processing, visual processing, and rapid naming.
- Writing up assessment reports.
- Student observations and report write-up.
- Observed social skill groups, Therapeutic Special Day classes, Resource assessment, team meetings, IEP and Triennial meetings, and counseling sessions.
- Collecting Antecedent Behavior Consequence behavioral data and developing a Functional Behavior Analysis for a Behavior Intervention Plan.
Special Day Class Teacher Mild/Moderator
Los Altos School District
08.2021 - 06.2023
- SDC setting for grades Kindergarten through Second, with a caseload of 6-9 students.
- Responsible for designing and implementing lesson plans with curriculum standards, common core standards, and Individualized Educational Programs (IEP) in mind
- Assess students’ regularly using curriculum and teacher-generated assessments
- Coordinating with general education teachers for mainstreaming opportunities
- Adapting materials for students to participate in the general education classroom
- Supervise and instruct paraprofessionals on how to run small groups, behavior interventions, and crisis interventions
- Coordinating the IEP team to develop and implement Reevaluation Reports and EIPs
- Participating in the professional community by developing agendas, taking notes for weekly Special Education meetings
- Enhanced student understanding of complex concepts by incorporating hands-on activities and real-life examples into lessons.
- Boosted student engagement and motivation by creating a positive, inclusive classroom environment.
- Collaborated with other Special Day Class teachers to develop interdisciplinary lesson plans and share best practices for instruction.
- Increased parent involvement in their child's education through consistent communication, and updates on progress.
Special Day Class Teacher
Autism Cluster-La Mesa Spring Valley School District
08.2016 - 06.2021
- SDC setting for grades 1st through 5th but have taught up to 6th grade, with a caseload of 10-15
- Responsible for designing and implementing lesson plans with curriculum standards, common core standards, and Individualized Educational Programs (IEP) in mind
- Assess students’ regularly using curriculum and teacher-generated assessments
- Coordinating with general education teachers for mainstreaming opportunities
- Adapting materials for students to participate in the general education classroom
- Supervise and instruct paraprofessionals on how to run small groups, behavior interventions, and crisis interventions
- Coordinating the IEP team to develop and implement Reevaluation Reports and EIPs
- Differentiated instruction for diverse learners, tailoring lessons to address individual needs and learning styles.
- Participating in the professional community by developing agendas, taking notes, and running job-like PLCs.
Primary (K-3) Autistic Support Teacher
North Allegheny School District
08.2013 - 06.2016
- Responsible for designing and implementing lesson plans with curriculum standards, common core standards, and Individualized Educational Programs (IEP), in mind
- Assess students using academic curriculums such as: Early Literacy Skill Builder (ELSB), Story Town, PCI Reading Program, RAC-word building, Harcourt Math Series, and Rocket Math
- Assessed students’ language and early learning skills using the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP)
- Conduct Functional Behavior Assessments to facilitate the creation of Positive Behavior Support Plans
- Teach and model behavioral intervention skills and crisis interventions
- Supporting varying levels of inclusion based on student needs
- Coordinating the IEP team to develop and implement Reevaluation Reports and IEP’s
- Participating in a school community by helping Special Education staff implement new assessments.
Student Support Coordinator
Pressley Ridge
08.2012 - 07.2013
- Essential responsibilities, supervise behavioral staff and aides
- Supervise the development of Functional Behavioral Assessments and Positive Behavioral Support Plans by the behavior support specialist
- When needed model interventions and conduct Functional Analysis
- Train staff on basic behavioral terminology and different data collection and graphing methods
- Supervise the development of Discrete Trial programs, model and train new staff on how to conduct the ABLLS-R and model discrete trial teaching methods when needed (reinforcement schedule, card sort system, behavioral momentum and so on)
- Managerial responsibilities, attend budget and planning meetings, mediate disputes between employees, complete employee evaluations, monthly observations and give tours of school.
Discrete Trial Specialist
Pressley Ridge
08.2011 - 08.2012
- Essential responsibilities, developed and oversaw students’ discrete trial programs
- Administered ABLLS-R twice a year to 20-25 students and used assessment results to guide the development of discrete trial programs
- Conducted school wide trainings focusing on principles of ABA: reinforcement schedules, discrete trial session, pairing and so on
- Modeled and oversaw the daily administration of discrete trial programs
- Additional responsibilities included training staff on principals of structured teaching, and picture exchange communication system.
Special Education Teacher
PS 94 M, District 75 (Special Education District)
08.2008 - 08.2011
- Special Education Teacher, Self-contained classroom for children with autism, classroom ratio 6:1:1 (six students, one teacher, and one classroom paraprofessional)
- Grade experience K-5
- Responsibilities: Responsible for designing and implementing lesson plans with curriculum standards, common core standards, and Individualized Educational Programs (IEP) in mind
- Assessed students using academic curriculums such as: Wilsons' Fundations, Equals, Smile, Everyday Mathematics, Emotional Literacy and Reading A-Z
- Assessed students’ basic language skills using Brigance and Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills-Revised
- Used assessments to design and develop IEP's and Verbal Behavior programs
- Scheduled and run IEP meetings with support staff
- Conducted Functional Behavior Assessments to facilitate the creation of Behavior Intervention Plans
- Oversaw the implementation of Behavior Intervention Plans
- Actively participated in the school community: inquire teams, curriculum design teams, lead grade level meetings and planning
- Managed a classroom staff of two to three adults.
Education
Master of Arts - Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology
Alliant International
Online10.2025
Coursework for Board Certified Behavior Analysis Certification (BCBA) and Practicum Supervision. -
Pennsylvania State University
State College, PA08.2012
Masters of Science in Urban Education-Childhood Education and Special Education grades 1-6 -
Mercy College
Bronx, New York05.2010
Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in Psychology -
Chapman University
Orange, California05.2008
Skills
- Student Engagement
- Adaptive Learning
- Special Education
- Progress Monitoring
- Report and IEP Writing
- Facilitating IEP meetings
- Administering Assessments
- Behavioral Management
Fellowships And Certifications
New York City Teaching Fellow 2008-2010, AmeriCorps Educational Award for service in high needs areas, 2008-2010., Education Specialist Instructional Credential-Moderate/Severe Disabilities, Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, Cross-cultural, Language and Academic Development Certificate, Board Certified Behavior Analyst Since 2012-2021, Instructional I Elementary K-6, Pennsylvania, Instructional I Special Education PK-8, Pennsylvania, Students with Disabilities grades 1-6, New York, Childhood Education grades 1-6, New York
Trainings And Professional Developments
- Functional Behavior Assessments and Data collection methods, 11/2012
- Review of the Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills and Skinners Verbal Operants, 08/2012
- Structured Teaching, Visual Schedules and Staff Schedules, 2011/2012 school year
- An introduction to Discrete Trial Teaching, 08/2011
- Evolving Ethics in Practice: Team Process, Communication and Coordination of Services, 9/2019
- Functional Assessment of Behavioral Disturbances Related to Diagnostic Features of ASD, 9/2019
- Instructional Strategies and Best Practices, 9/2019
- Precision Teaching, 9/2019
- Skinner’s Verbal Behavior and it’s Relation to PECS, 9/2017
- The Behavior Analyst in Schools: Ethics, Rules and Reinforcement, 9/2017
- ABA and Psychiatric Services, 9/2017
- A Behavioral Analysis of Linguistic Structure: Increasing the Length of Utterances, 9/2017
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Level 1 training, 9/2016
- Reading Achievement Center, Word Building and Sylla search, 02/2016
- Applications of Verbal Behavior: Language Intervention-Mark Sunberg, 9/2015
- Ethical and Legal Considerations for BCVA Practitioners-Jose Martinez-Diaz, 09/2015
- Induction Program-North Allegheny School District, 08/2013-06/2014
- Crisis Prevention and Intervention-North Allegheny School District, 12/2013
- Intensive Skill Training in Applied Behavior Analysis-PaTTAN, 07/2013
- National Autism Conference-Penn State, 08/2012
- BCBA Journal Club-University of Pittsburgh, 2012
- Therapeutic Crisis Intervention-Pressley Ridge, 09/2011
- Vestibular and Proprioceptive Systems-PS 94 M, 06/2011
- IPads in the Classroom-PS 94 M, 06/2011
- Data Collection in the Classroom-PS 94 M, 06/2011
- EQUALS-Age-Neutral, Special Education, K-12 Mathematics Curriculum-New York DOE, 03/2010-01/2011
- Mount Sinai School of Medicine Advances in Autism Conference, 04/2011
- Smart Board-Certified to develop and implement lessons with the use of an interactive whiteboard, 02/2011
- Building Social Skills Pre-K through Elementary-District 75, NYC DOE, 01/2010
- Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for students with Developmental Delay-District 75, NYC DOE, 05/2010
- Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely (SMART) Goal Writing- PS 94 M, 10/2009
- ABLLS-R –PS 94 M, 10/2009
- Therapeutic Crisis Intervention-District 75, NYC DOE, 09/2008 and again in 03/2010
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) -District 75 Speech Team, NYC DOE, 06/2009
- Joint Action Routines (JARS)-District 75 Speech Team, NYC DOE, 06/2009
- Argumentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)-District 75 Speech Team, NYC DOE, 2/2009
- Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports-PS 94 M, 09/2008
- Emotional Literacy (Developed at Yale University)- NYC DOE, 09/2008
- Individual Education Program Writing-Mercy College, 08/2008
Certification
Educational Specialist Instruction Credential-Moderate/Severe
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential-General Subjects
Certificate of Clearnece
Timeline
Practium School Psychologist
Los Altos School DIstrict
10.2023 - Current
Special Day Class Teacher Mild/Moderator
Los Altos School District
08.2021 - 06.2023
Special Day Class Teacher
Autism Cluster-La Mesa Spring Valley School District
08.2016 - 06.2021
Primary (K-3) Autistic Support Teacher
North Allegheny School District
08.2013 - 06.2016
Student Support Coordinator
Pressley Ridge
08.2012 - 07.2013
Discrete Trial Specialist
Pressley Ridge
08.2011 - 08.2012
Special Education Teacher
PS 94 M, District 75 (Special Education District)
08.2008 - 08.2011
Master of Arts - Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology
Alliant International
Coursework for Board Certified Behavior Analysis Certification (BCBA) and Practicum Supervision. -
Pennsylvania State University
Masters of Science in Urban Education-Childhood Education and Special Education grades 1-6 -
Mercy College
Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in Psychology -
Chapman University
Educational Specialist Instruction Credential-Moderate/Severe
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential-General Subjects
Certificate of Clearnece
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