The program includes practica that are an important part of individual courses and are a precursor to the third-year externship and fourth-year internships. These experiences, both at external locations and at our Saltzman Community Services Center clinic, are meant to enrich course material and give students practical experience in assessment, intervention planning, and implementation. During the first year of the program, the practicum typically involves one day per week in schools, while in the second year, it involves two days per week in a school. This sets the stage for the more intensive internships that follow.
Supervision of the practicum assessment is a thorough process that takes place both on-site and at Hofstra University. While the practicum supervisor's guidance is important during experiences at placements outside of Hofstra, it's equally crucial to keep the University faculty informed of all activities at the external location. This communication is done through written and verbal reports to the University faculty. In the case of the practicum experience at the Saltzman Community Service Center, a University faculty member will be assigned to each student.
Students are evaluated on their practicum performance, just like during internships. This evaluation is conducted through written assessments by the practicum site supervisor, providing students with a clear understanding of how their performance will be measured.
Some of our recent practicum placements have included:
- Bay Shore Union Free School District, Dr. Maria Lombardo
- Plainview-Old Bethpage Union Free School District, Dr. Maria Xydas
- Lawrence Union Free School District, Dr. Tony Procaccino
- Commack Union Free School District, Dr. Randie London
- Rockville Centre Union Free School District, Dr. Janine Rose
- North Shore Union Free School District, Dr. Meredith Cherry
- Farmingdale Union Free School District, Dr. Yuvelin Baltar
- North Shore Union Free School District, Dr. Bill Kitay
- Eastern Suffolk BOCES, Dr. Germaine Allison
- Levittown Union Free School District, Dr. Julie Chiarello
- Hempstead Union Free School District, Dr. Gabrielle Kirby
- Great Neck Union Free School District, Dr. Alison Brennen
- Brentwood Union Free School District, Dr. Lolita Mitchner
- Valley Stream Union Free School District, Dr. Jennifer Leest
- The Churchill School, Dr. Orit Goldhamer
- Northshore Union Free School District, Dr. Merry Cherry
- The Little Village School, Dr. John Feingold
- South Huntington Union Free School District, Dr. Maria Voll
- Clarkstown Union Free School District, Dr. Tonia Driscoll
- Oyster Bay Union Free School District, Dr. Cara Riebe
- Wantagh Union Free School District, Dr. Meredith Protzel
- Huntington Union Free School District, Dr. Kathleen Ozimkowski
- Baldwin Union Free School District, Dr. Robin Murray
- Glen Cove Union Free School District, Dr. Lori Seele
- Long Beach Union Free School District, Dr. Sabrina Cantore
- Sachem Union Free School District, Dr. Eugene Lubliner