Alumni Spotlight: Haley Klein

Haley Klein (she/her)

• Major: PSY BA (Spring 2020)
• Position: School Psychologist
• Employer: Schaumburg School District 54

What is your work like? What are your duties?

As a school psychologist, I lead our school's Child Study Team to identify students with potential disabilities and guide the initial and re-evaluation evaluation process to determine eligibility for special education and related services. We consider factors such as multilingual status, educational history, and discrepancy from peers to determine if a student is eligible. I utilize rating scales, observations, standardized assessments, and parent and teacher collaboration to determine the needs of the students. If they are eligible for services, the school and family team works together to determine appropriate accommodations and educational placement to ensure the student's needs are met in the least restrictive way.

On a daily basis, I run weekly groups and individual counseling sessions to help students reach social/emotional and executive functioning goals. I work with students in our general education classrooms and students with autism who participate in our instructional classrooms. Additionally, I consult with teachers to problem solve challenging behaviors and brainstorm interventions.

How would you say your psychology degree has helped you with your current job?

My courses in data analysis, individual differences, cognitive psychology, and research methodologies have been very beneficial in my current role. I use data to determine whether students are discrepant from peers, and understanding how to conduct research effectively guides my ability to determine the types of evidence I need to collect as assessments are conducted.

In what way has your major complemented your current job?

My psychology major taught me the foundational skills I needed to be successful in my graduate program and daily practice. I use data often to make informed decisions for my students and team. My major also gave me the tools to think critically about the effects of trauma and other aspects of one's environment that may impact how they present at school.

How did you find your current position? 

I found the field of School Psychology through a summer internship with a clinical psychologist who completed neuropsychological assessments. I loved the idea of finding a student's strengths and using them to help them in their areas of weakness. After speaking to psychologists at the practice, I realized that I wanted to be able to collaborate with parents and teachers to help students who are experiencing difficulty. I enjoy having a role with various responsibilities and stakeholders, and working somewhere that gives you a new challenge daily. 

To enter school psychology, I talked to professors from the school psychology department at UMN and used their advice to seek out a good fit graduate program. Once in my program, I used my state school psychology association to help me find districts with open positions. 

What advice do you have for our current psych students and recent grads?

There are so many ways that you can use your psychology degree! Think about the populations you enjoy working with and the work environment you hope to be in to guide your path. Also, don't be afraid to take courses from related departments (e.g., child psychology, educational psychology) to learn about additional opportunities in the field.

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