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WIU School Psychology Graduate Students Meet with Potential Internship Sites Virtually

November 24, 2020

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, Western Illinois University's School Psychology program hosted its second meet-and-greet for graduate students looking for internship opportunities in school psychology, with a twist - it was virtual.

Nationally, there is a shortage of school psychologists, particularly in rural parts of the country. As a result, many school districts and special education cooperatives in Iowa and Illinois have contacted the WIU Department of Psychology to inquire about the availability of school psychology interns, with the hope that the graduating students will stay on to fill existing positions.

Although WIU graduates work across the state and the country, the University's program is particularly important in providing school psychologists for the western Illinois region. All three school psychologists in the Macomb School District and several school psychologists in the Quincy Public School District are graduates of the program. There are also WIU alumni working as school psychologists with the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency in the Quad Cities, and two WIU school psychology interns serving in the Quincy School District.

Because last year's inaugural event was well received, the department decided to host a second event, which was moved online because of the pandemic. Some of the individuals representing sites are also alumni of the WIU program. This year's event included representatives from:

• BMP Special Education Cooperative
• Four Rivers Special Education District
• Galesburg CUSD #205
• Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency
• Tazewell Mason Counties Special Education Association
• Tri-County Special Education Association,
• East Peoria Elementary District #86
• Knox Warren Special Education District
• Springfield Public School District #186
• Tremont CUSD #702
• Valley View CUSD #365U

All of these sites met with six of WIU's first-year students and five second-year student to talk about the internship opportunities available next year, and in the future.

Tina Johnston, a school psychologist for Tremont CUSD #702, said she was impressed with the great group of students who participated in the event.

"Overall, it worked pretty smoothly, and I'm glad I was able to participate," said Johnston. "I would be happy to be able to work with any of the students I met at the event."

For more information about the WIU School Psychology program, visit bit.ly/2OmyOuL.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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