The Devereux Center for Effective Schools is an applied research and technical assistance center specializing in bringing evidence-based practices to schools and districts through training, consultation, and new model program development. The Devereux Center for Effective Schools operates primarily in urban public school settings and adopts an integrated three-tiered (universal, secondary, tertiary) approach to prevention and intervention.

At the universal level, targeting all students in the school, programs are designed to assist school-based teams in developing strategies to prevent or minimize the occurrence of problem behavior while improving academic performance. Training and technical assistance activities focus on developing schoolwide interventions (e.g., schoolwide positive behavior support [SW-PBS], response-to-intervention [RtI], school-based parent training), class-wide interventions (e.g., behavior and instructional management strategies) and strategies for non-classroom settings within the school (e.g., The Lunchroom Behavior Game).

At the secondary level, targeting students at risk for behavioral and academic difficulties, training and technical assistance activities include assisting teams in the implementation of efficient, function-based strategies to prevent worsening problem behavior and academic performance (e.g., check-in/check-out interventions and study/social skills interventions).

At the tertiary level, efforts are made to increase general and special education teachers' capacity to effectively impact students with severe and chronic behavior and/or learning difficulties through in-class consultation and technical assistance. In addition, systematic efforts are made to help improve comprehensive behavior support by utilizing a wraparound model involving key individuals in the child's life at school, home, and the community.

All programs are implemented with an applied research focus. Formative evaluation and treatment integrity are cornerstones of service delivery.

The Devereux Center for Effective Schools provides an opportunity to train within a research institute dedicated to providing a continuum of services to public school systems. The intern will work as part of a team to serve several primary/intermediate level school-based teams and teachers on initiatives focused on developing and maintaining systems of SW-PBS and RtI. Other school-based responsibilities include providing clinical services such as academic and behavioral assessment, behavioral consultation, direct intervention, and parent/teacher training. Additionally, there are opportunities to develop skills in grant writing, although not a required component of the internship.

This is a unique training opportunity within the Devereux organization for interns seeking a non-traditional training opportunity. In contrast to other ICTR internships, the focus of service delivery within The Devereux Center for Effective Schools is primarily indirect in nature and involves strong development in consultation, training, and technical assistance skills.

The Devereux Center for Effective Schools is an excellent nontraditional training opportunity for candidates with training in school psychology, strong knowledge in applied behavior analysis and research design, and experience in behavioral assessment, intervention, and consultation. An interest in working with students with behavior disorders, educators, and parents in an urban setting is required. Knowledge of the basic tenets of schoolwide positive behavior support is preferred. The focus of service delivery is on empirically-based strategies for prevention and intervention at the individual, group, and systems levels. This intern site adheres to a positive behavior support/ applied behavior analysis theoretical orientation.

Primary Supervising Psychologist:
Amanda L. Lannie, Ph.D.

Education

• Ph.D., School Psychology, Syracuse University

Primary Areas of Interest:

• Academic & behavioral interventions, school-based consultation, parent management training, and students with, and at-risk, for emotional/behavioral disorders.

OSEP Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports
The Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) has been established by the Office of Special Education Programs, US Department of Education to give schools capacity-building information and technical assistance for identifying, adapting, and sustaining effective school-wide disciplinary practices