Lee Saecker
- Customized Employment Graduate Assistant, Fall 2004 - Present
- Degree: Ph.D. Candidate with a concentration in School Psychology
I started my Graduate Assistantship position with the Center for Disability and Employment in the Fall of 2004, the same year I began my long journey towards a PhD. in the school psychology program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I have the pleasure of working with some amazing and very talented people from whom I have learned so much about the process and content of evaluation. One of my first projects was to research and assist in writing an overall evaluation of the status of state employment services for persons with significant disabilities in the state of Tennessee. This gave me the opportunity to learn about the disability field, an area with which I was previously unfamiliar. Having this background knowledge has proved useful during my practicum experiences in local neighborhood schools and I’m sure will prove helpful in my future endeavors. I also had the opportunity to participate in the peer review evaluation process. This process is designed to assist Tennessee Customized Employment Partnership (TCEP) staff in receiving information to improve and sustain the quality of their efforts for people with significant disabilities moving to the world of work, as well as to learn about new practices.
As a future school psychologist, the transition project is of particular interest to me. I have the opportunity to work with data on the quality of life for people participating in the school to work seamless transition project and observe the project first hand, while gathering qualitative research data. I have met many wonderful people who have shared their expertise with me and helped increase my experience and knowledge in the education and the disability fields, while making excellent connections along the way. . . |
