Cara Anne Vaccarello EDUCATION 10/10 08/12 Doctor of Philosophy Educational Psychology Specialization: School Psychology University of Wisconsin - Madison Minor: Development and Education of Diverse Children Dissertation: Effects of a Problem Solving Team Intervention on the Problem Solving Process: Improving Concept Knowledge, Implementation Integrity and Student Outcomes 12/10 Master of Science Educational Psychology Specialization: School Psychology University of Wisconsin - Madison Thesis: Social Communication Behaviors of Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Observation in the Home Setting and Parent Accuracy of ABC Observations 12/06 Bachelor of Science Psychology Northwestern University SUPERVISED CLINICAL EXPERIENCE 08/12-present Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow The Autism Clinic and TAP Training Program University of Illinois at Chicago Duties: Conducted comprehensive diagnostic evaluations for individuals with suspected autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Facilitated feedback sessions with families regarding diagnostic and intervention recommendations for ASD. Implemented weekly social skills group instruction using evidence-based curriculum for individuals with ASD. Provided individual therapy with children, adolescents, and adults with developmental disabilities. Conducted parent education and assistance for behavior management strategies. Provided consultation to school teams in the development of appropriate special education programs for students with ASD. 08/11-08/12 Predoctoral School Psychology Intern APA Accredited Program, Illinois School Psychology Internship Consortium The Hope Institute for Children and Families/The Autism Program, Springfield IL Conducted comprehensive evaluations with children and adolescents with suspected autism spectrum disorders. Provided group counseling program in female residential home targeting appropriate behaviors, social skills, and sexuality awareness. Provided academic intervention and social skills group instruction to middle school students in alternative school setting. Facilitated problem solving meetings, staff trainings, and data collection for Hope youth behavior plans. 8/11 8/12 Predoctoral School Psychology Intern APA Accredited Program, Illinois School Psychology Internship Consortium Southern Illinois University: Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics/Psychology Duties: Conducted comprehensive psychological evaluations with families at the Developmental-Behavioral Clinic of St. John s Hospital. Provided intervention and consultation for services targeting social-emotional, behavioral, and academic concerns. Conducted neurodevelopmental assessment to children 0-3 years who were at risk for
Vaccarello 2 developmental delays due to premature birth and related risk factors. Provided physicians and families with recommendations for early intervention services when appropriate. Training included specific focus in comprehensive evaluation and intervention for ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, internalizing, and externalizing behavioral concerns. Collaborated with medical physicians regarding appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations, including behavioral, academic, and psychopharmacological interventions. Supervised medical residents in the development of intake interview strategies. 01/10 6/10 School Psychology Practicum Student, Schenk Elementary School Madison Metropolitan School District, Madison, WI Duties: Conducted academic, social-emotional, and behavioral assessments at the elementary school level. Developed and implemented intervention plans for academic and behavioral referral concerns. Taught class-wide social-emotional/behavioral curricula. Conducted special education evaluations through participation on IEP teams. Provided teacher consultation for the development, implementation, and evaluation of class-wide and individual student behavior management plans. Completed evaluations of school-based interventions, teaching methods, programming for English Language Learners, and school referral rates. 08/09 12/09 School Psychology Practicum Student, Stoughton High School Stoughton Area School District, Stoughton, WI Duties: Conducted academic, social-emotional, and behavioral assessments at the secondary school level. Developed and implemented social skills and cognitivebehavioral intervention plans for students with intellectual and social-emotional disabilities. Provided student counseling regarding issues of alcohol and drug abuse. Provided professional development to school personnel regarding cognitive-behavioral strategies for students with anxiety and depression. Collaborated with parents and community mental health personnel for student programming. 08/08 5/09 Clinical Practicum Student, University of Wisconsin-Madison Educational and Psychological Training Center, Madison, WI Duties: Provided psychological and educational services to children and their families focused on issues of anxiety, externalizing behaviors, and academic skills. Provided group and individual intervention activities targeting academic and social-emotional problems in school, home, and community settings. Conducted sessions focused on goal setting and risk and resilience factors with adolescents in the Juvenile Retention Center. Disseminated intervention information by preparing written reports and communicating with educational professionals and parents. 09/07 05/08 Clinical Practicum Student, University of Wisconsin-Madison Monona Grove School District; Monona, WI Duties: Conducted and interpreted data from screening assessments for students in early childcare, preschool, elementary, middle, and high school settings. Consulted with school psychologists at the elementary school level. Attended school-, district-, and regional-level RtI professional development meetings, data review meetings, and board of education meetings.
SUPERVISED TRAINING EXPERIENCE Vaccarello 3 08/09 07/11 Traineeship, University of Wisconsin-Madison Wisconsin Center for Education Research Training Seminar: Training School Psychologists in Culturally Competent and Evidence-Based Practice for Children with Disabilities Duties: Provided professional development to students and educational professionals regarding educational legislation and system-based support for children with disabilities. Participated in school reform efforts related to positive behavior support and improved academic achievement. Co-authored book chapter on problem-solving consultation frameworks for school psychology. Contributed to the development and presentation of skill-building workshops at national conference for the National Association of School Psychologists. 08/07 05/09 Traineeship, University of Wisconsin-Madison Wisconsin Center for Education Research Training Seminar: Response to Intervention and School Reform: Training School Psychologists and Special Educators in the Wisconsin REACh Prevention Project Duties: Provided professional development to school districts regarding systemic interventions, school reform, and procedures associated with tiered response to intervention prevention models. Aided in the implementation of school-wide collection and analysis procedures for identifying students in need of supplemental and intensive intervention. Participated in didactic seminar sessions focused around Wisconsin s framework for RtI [Responsive Education for All Children (REACh)]. Contributed to the development and presentation of skill-building workshop at national conference for the National Association of School Psychologists. SUPERVISED RESEARCH EXPERIENCE 07/11-08/12 Co-Investigator, Original Research Project, University of Wisconsin-Madison Duties: Conducted original research project for dissertation project. Served as primary contact for project participants (i.e., three elementary school problem solving teams). Provided observational training to graduate research assistants regarding components of problem solving integrity. Provided participating problem solving teams with problem solving integrity intervention, including training in a problem solving protocol, performance feedback, and targeted coaching sessions. Evaluated student outcomes in relation to problem solving procedural integrity. Measured problem solving team member knowledge and skill in problem solving components pre and post-intervention. Evaluated problem solving team acceptability of problem solving intervention procedures. 05/09 10/10 Co-Investigator, Original Research Project, University of Wisconsin-Madison Duties: Conducted original research project for master s thesis. Served as primary contact for project participants (i.e., families with toddlers with autism spectrum disorders). Conducted extensive in-home observations of parent-toddler interactions. Complete descriptive assessment analyses of direct observations. Provided parent training for documenting child social communication behavior patterns. Evaluated parent-observer agreement in describing child social communication behavior patterns. Evaluated parent acceptability of assessment procedures. 05/09 05/10 Project Assistant, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Vaccarello 4 Duties: Participated on the dissertation project of advanced graduate student. Recruited project participants (i.e., families with toddlers with autism spectrum disorders). Conduct comprehensive structured interview of child social skill abilities and patterns. Provided parent training in child social communication behavior recognition and procedures for collection of child social communication behavior patterns. Assisted in preliminary data analysis of parent-identified child social communication behaviors. 11/08 5/09 Project Assistant, University of Wisconsin-Madison Duties: Participated on the dissertation project of advanced graduate student. Received training in observational coding procedures (i.e., the Snapshot Assessment Tool and the Multi-Option Observation System for Experimental Studies). Provided assistance with preliminary data analysis of social interactions of children with autism spectrum disorders and their peers in school. 06/05 06/07 Research Assistant, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL Duties: Assisted in clinical sessions with family participants (i.e. parents and their children, ages 3-5 years) on project investigating child temperament and its relation to parental mood disorders. Received training in observational coding procedures and participated in data analysis of a range of child behavior, affect, and interfamilial interactions. SUPERVISED TEACHING EXPERIENCE 06/09 08/09 Teaching Assistant, University of Wisconsin-Madison Masters of Science for Professional Educators Program Designing and Managing the Learning Environment Duties: Assisted in course sequence development and preparation of course materials. Lecture on topics related to classroom management strategies and school-wide positive behavior support. Provided students with assistance in written products, and assist professor with evaluation of written products. VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE 09/06 06/07 Child Psychiatry Assistant, Children s Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Partial-Hospitalization Program Duties: Assisted children and adolescents maintain behavioral and social goals in shortterm hospital-based therapeutic program. Assisted in the development of weekly academic and recreational activities for patients. Consulted with physicians, psychologists and other health service professionals during group therapy sessions and family-based counseling activities. RELEVANT EXPERIENCE 09/07 09/11 School Psychology Student Association Representative, University of Wisconsin-Madison Duties: Served as SPSA treasurer and manage association funds. Participated in student initiatives and activities and attended faculty meetings as a student representative. 09/08 05/10 National Association of School Psychologists Student Leader, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS Vaccarello 5 Duties: Distributed information to students regarding NASP resources and professional development opportunities. Developed and participated in School Psychology Awareness Week and educational advocacy activities. Communicated regularly with NASP Student Leaders and NASP state representatives. Christianson, S., Asmus, J.A., Mulford, L., Horner, J.A., & Vaccarello, C.A. (2009, May). Use of descriptive assessment and structural analysis to evaluate social behavior in children with autism. Symposium presented at the annual convention of the Applied Behavior Analysis International, Phoenix, AZ. Felt, J.N., Schienebeck, C.J., Vaccarello, C.A., & Racine Gilles, C.N. (2009, March). Resource mapping: A critical skill set for the school psychologist. Mini-skills workshop presented at the annual convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, Boston, MA. Gorski, J., Quintero, N., Vaccarello, C., & Burke, M. (2013, January). Updates in Diagnostic Practice for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Learning Disorders. Workshop presented at the Illinois Psychological Association, Chicago, IL. McGivern, J., Reisch, L., Schienebeck, C.J, & Vaccarello, C.A. (2011, February). Effective classroom management consulting with teachers to design multi-tiered interventions. Mini-skills workshop to be presented at the annual convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, San Francisco, CA. Mulford, L., Asmus, J.A., & Vaccarello, C.A. (2010, May). Parents' ability to identify social communication behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders. Poster session presented at the annual convention of the Applied Behavior Analysis International, San Antonio, TX. O Connor, E.P., Seigel, S., Vaccarello, & C.A., Macomber, C., Schienebeck, C.J., & Butler, M.C. (2010, March). RtI application in preschool settings: Research to practice. Mini-skills workshop presented at the annual convention of the National Association of School Psychologists, Chicago, IL. PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS Johnston, H. F., Schienebeck, C.J., & Vaccarello, C.A. (manuscript in progress). Attention-deficit hyperactivity in adults: A guide. Madison Institute of Medicine: Rockston Inc. The Progressive Press. Johnston, H. F., Schienebeck, C.J., &Vaccarello, C.A. (manuscript in progress). Attention-deficit hyperactivity in children: A medication guide. Madison Institute of Medicine: Rockston Inc. The Progressive Press. Racine Gilles, C.N., Kratochwill, T.R., Felt, J.N., Schienebeck, C.J., & Vaccarello, C.A. Problem-solving consultation: Applications in evidence-based prevention and intervention. (in press). In Bray, M.A. Kehle, T.J. (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of School Psychology. Oxford University Press: New York. PROFESSIONAL AND GRADUATE ASSOCIATIONS 2011 Present American Psychological Association 2007 Present National Association of School Psychologists