Cheryl Sadd
Marietta
Summary
Results-oriented School Psychologist skilled in supporting students with disabilities in educational settings and standardized testing. Expertise in coordinating accommodations and managing multidisciplinary teams to ensure compliance with accessibility regulations. Collaborates effectively with educators, families, and service providers to create equitable testing and learning conditions, advocating for student success through tailored support and data-driven strategies.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
School Psychologist
Cobb County School District
Marietta
07.2003 - 07.2021
- Conduct comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations which include formal and informal testing; review of records; observation of the student's functioning in the classroom and other settings; interview with the student, teacher(s), parent(s), administrators and/or outside agencies.
- These evaluations result in written psychoeducational reports that address student needs and placements.
- Collaborated with Student Support Teams and School Core Teams to develop targeted interventions for student success.
- Consulted with school personnel to design and implement effective interventions for students facing learning or behavioral challenges.
- Consulted with school personnel to provide interventions to staff for students who are experiencing learning or behavioral difficulties.
- Actively participate on Student Support Teams and on School Core Teams.
- Participate in eligibility meetings with personnel from Special Education.
- Provided crisis intervention during critical incidents.
- Expanded professional skills by participating in and developing didactic and staff development programs, workshops, and professional organizations.
School Psychologist Doctoral Intern
Cobb County School District
Kennesaw
07.2002 - 06.2003
- Executed responsibilities of school psychologist, engaging in two specialized rotations.
- Supervised by Laurel Kinard, Ph.D.
- Preschool Assessment Rotation: Conducted cognitive, academic, adaptive behavior, and socio-emotional screenings of preschool children. Wrote reports for all assessments. Completed developmental observations of preschool students who are potentially eligible for a Significantly Developmentally Delayed (SDD) eligibility in Special Education. Areas assessed in the screenings include typical development, occupational and physical therapy, speech and language therapy, and play-based assessment. Observe preschool students in community based settings. Observe preschool children in Cobb County Schools being served under a SDD eligibility.
- Supervised by Barbara Eklund, Ed.S. and Jeannie Miller, Ed.S.
- Marriage and Family Counseling Rotation: Co-therapist for couples and families in Cobb County Schools that are in need of counseling services. Utilized John Gottman's framework to assess marriage and couple issues. Utilized Susan Johnson's techniques of Emotion Focused Therapy when working with couples and families. Utilized behavioral family systems and structural/strategic frameworks when needed. Interviewed and consulted with teachers of children in therapy. Maintained written process notes and developed treatment plans. Co-led a divorce support group. Co-led a marriage enhancement retreat for 20 couples.
- Supervised by Timothy Turco, Ph.D.
Advanced School Psychology Practicum Student
Lexington/Richland School District Five
Irmo
08.2001 - 05.2002
- Completed psychoeducational evaluations for preschool children with disabilities and high school students with emotional, behavioral, and learning disabilities, informing tailored educational strategies.
- Consulted with a special education teacher on strategies to motivate a student with an emotional disability to seek assistance on schoolwork.
- Co-led a therapy group on grieving the loss of a loved one.
- Completed a systems intervention project for the district on how to transition expelled students back into the regular high school curriculum.
- Facilitated focus groups with school psychologists and guidance counselors, conducted interviews with district-level and school administrators, surveyed teachers, and researched best practices to enhance student transition strategies.
- Wrote reports and presented findings at Multidisciplinary Team meetings.
- Presented findings to the district in an in-service presentation.
- Served as field supervisor for Bill Sobotowicz, Ph.D., overseeing student evaluations.
- Acted as university supervisor for Marion Burns, Ph.D., mentoring students during their internship.
Learning Disabilities Specialist
The University of South Carolina Office of Disability Services
Columbia
08.2000 - 05.2002
- Conducted intake interviews to assess needs of students with disabilities seeking academic accommodations.
- Advised students with disabilities on course selections to align with their academic goals and support their learning needs.
- Provided guidance to students with disabilities on suitable course selections to enhance their academic journey.
- Consulted with teachers, parents and outside agencies on how to best help students with disabilities in post-secondary settings.
- Consulted with teachers, parents, and outside agencies to develop tailored strategies for supporting students with disabilities in post-secondary environments.
School Psychology Practicum Student
Lexington School District Two
Columbia
08.2000 - 05.2001
- Completed psychoeducational evaluations of elementary and middle school students with mental, learning, and emotional disabilities.
- Authored reports and presented findings at Multidisciplinary Team meetings to inform intervention strategies.
- Provided individual counseling to an elementary school student with a behavioral disability.
- Provided individual counseling to address behavioral challenges of an elementary school student.
- Supervised fieldwork for graduate students under Fifi Stackley, Ed.S.
- University Supervisor: Julia Mendez, Ph.D.
Group Leader
Building Cultural Bridges Conference
Charleston
07.2000 - 12.2000
- Guided high school students in designing interventions to implement conference insights within their schools.
- Led discussions with diverse high school students on race relations, fostering critical dialogue and understanding.
- Organized workshops to foster cultural exchange among diverse participants.
- Coordinated logistics for conference sessions and speaker engagements.
- Managed volunteer teams, ensuring effective support during events.
School Psychology Leadership Training in Community-Based Services Grant Fellow
The University of South Carolina
Columbia
08.1999 - 07.2000
- The purpose of this fellowship was to learn and work within a multisystemic model of service delivery to children in both regular and special education.
- Designed and completed a needs assessment for a local high school interested in strengthening family-school partnerships with families from a low-income housing project.
- Executed responsibilities that supported agency missions, including tutoring and contributing to treatment team meetings.
- Attended weekly seminars designed to integrate coursework with field experiences and provide training in sensitivity to cultural, familial, and economic diversity.
- Interviewed and observed professionals working in agencies providing services to children and families from diverse backgrounds, including schools, hospitals, day treatment programs and transitional housing programs.
- Executed duties relevant to the mission of agencies, including tutoring and participating in treatment team meetings.
- Delivered a comprehensive written summary of assessment results to the school.
- University Supervisors: Laurie Ford, Ph.D. & Richard Nagle, Ph.D.
School Psychology Practicum Student
The University of South Carolina
Columbia
08.1999 - 12.1999
- Developed an in-service on alternative methods for diagnosing learning disabilities, promoting broader understanding beyond the IQ-achievement discrepancy model.
- Shadowed school psychologists to observe their assessment methods and interactions with students.
- Observed classroom dynamics in regular and special education settings to understand diverse learning needs.
- Topics discussed in the course include the profession of school psychology, including its historical development, evolving roles and functions, professional standards and ethics, and major contemporary issues in the field.
Student Advisor
Kaplan Educational Center
Atlanta
08.1997 - 06.1998
- Counseled students on strategies and resources for standardized exam preparation, enhancing their readiness.
- Guided students through exam preparation strategies.
- Proctored mock standardized exam sessions to simulate testing conditions, helping students manage exam anxiety.
Special Education Practicum Student
The University of Georgia
Athens
08.1997 - 05.1998
- Co-taught K-5 special education resource classroom, supporting students with learning, behavioral, emotional, and intellectual disabilities in achieving individualized education goals.
- Assisted faculty with research and data collection for academic projects.
- Collaborated with peers on group presentations and class assignments.
- Attended workshops to enhance knowledge of educational practices and theories.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy - School Psychology
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC08-2003
Master of Arts - Special Education
University of Georgia
Athens, GA06-1999
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Georgia
Athens, GA03-1997
Affiliations
National Association of School Psychologists
Clinical Work Experience
- School Psychologist, Cobb County School District, Marietta, GA, 07/03, 07/21
- School Psychologist Doctoral Intern, Cobb County School District, Kennesaw, GA, 07/02, 06/03
- Learning Disabilities Specialist, The University of South Carolina Office of Disability Services, Columbia, SC, 08/00, 05/02
- Advanced School Psychology Practicum Student, Lexington/Richland School District Five, Irmo, SC, 08/01, 05/02
- School Psychology Practicum Student, Lexington School District Two, Columbia, SC, 08/00, 05/01
- Group Leader, Building Cultural Bridges Conference, Charleston, SC, 07/00
- School Psychology Leadership Training in Community-Based Services Grant Fellow, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 08/99, 07/00
- School Psychology Practicum Student, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 08/99, 12/99
- Student Advisor, Kaplan Educational Center, Atlanta, GA, 08/97, 06/98
- Special Education Practicum Student, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 08/97, 05/98
Course Related Practica Experience
- Mental Health Consultation, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 08/01, 12/01
- Clinical Neuropsychological Assessment, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 01/01, 05/01
- Psychosocial Interventions, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 01/01, 05/01
- Behavior Assessment Intervention, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 01/00, 05/00
- Personality Assessment, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 08/00, 12/00
- Assessment of Children's Achievement and Adaptive Behavior, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 01/00, 05/00
- Assessment of Children's Intelligence, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 08/99, 12/99
Professional Publications And Presentations
- How to Read a Psychological Report, In-Service, Special Education Staff in the Lassiter High School Cluster, 2004-2021
- Using the Woodcock Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities with Students with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Ford, L., Keith, T.Z., Floyd, R.G., Fields, C.A., Schrank, F.A., 2003
- Tackling Systems-Level Problems in the Schools: Application of an Effective Needs Assessment, Suldo, S.M., Fields, C.A., Annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Toronto, Canada, 2003
- How to Market yourself as a School Psychologist, Fields, C.A., Symposium accepted for presentation at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Toronto, Canada, 2003
- Family-school partnerships with secondary students: Successes, challenges, and lessons learned, Waizenhofer, R.N., Lindsay, R.F., Fields, C.A., McCullough, J., Tolbert, M., Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Washington, DC, 2001
- Assessment of family-school partnerships of secondary students, Fields, C.A., Waizenhofer, R.., McCullough, J., Tolbert, M., Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Washington, DC, 2001
Volunteer Experience
- Community Volunteer, St. Lawrence Housing Community After-School Program, Columbia, SC, 08/99
- Community Volunteer, Timothy Road Elementary School After-School Program, Athens, GA, 08/98-05/99
- Community Volunteer, Shelter for Battered Women, Athens, GA, 09/98
- Community Volunteer, The University of Georgia Reading Clinic, Athens, GA, 09/97-05/98
Training
- Comprehensive Assessment of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Individuals, Cobb County School District, Marietta, GA, 11/02
- Stop and Think Social Skills Training Trainer of Trainer's Workshop, Cobb County School District, Marietta, GA, 07/02
- Brief Seminar: Woodcock-Johnson III, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 02/01
- University Classroom Teaching, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 08/99
Scholarships Honors
- Research Award, $7500, Woodcock-Munoz Foundation, 2002
- USC Graduate School Professional Travel Grant, 2000
- Doctoral Leadership Fellowship, US Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 1999-2000
- Presidential Scholar, 1997-1999
- Inducted into Psi Chi--National Honor Society in Psychology, Fall 1996
- Helping Outstanding Pupils Education (HOPE) Scholarship, 1993-1997
- Dean's List, 1993-1997
Research
- Doctoral Dissertation, Post-Secondary Students with Learning Disabilities and the Foreign Language Requirement, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 08/01, 06/03
- Research Assistant, ADHD Team, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 05/00, 05/01
- Research Assistant on the Woodcock-Johnson Validity Study, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 08/98, 05/99
- Master's Thesis, A comparison of the executive functions of college-aged students with nonverbal learning disabilities, language learning disabilities, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 05/99
- Research Assistant, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 08/97, 05/98
- Research Assistant, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 01/97
Certification
School Psychology (P-12) [FLD711] – Georgia Standard Professional Certificate
Issued: 07/16/2003 | Expires: 06/30/2026
SPED Social Science Cognitive Level (P-5, 4-8) [FLD941] – Georgia Standard Professional Certificate
Issued: 08/15/2005 | Expires: 06/30/2026
SPED Science Cognitive Level (P-5, 4-8) [FLD921] – Georgia Standard Professional Certificate
Issued: 08/15/2005 | Expires: 06/30/2026
SPED Learning Disabilities (P-12) Consultative [FLD777] – Georgia Standard Professional Certificate
Issued: 08/02/2001 | Expires: 06/30/2026
Issued: 07/16/2003 | Expires: 06/30/2026
SPED Social Science Cognitive Level (P-5, 4-8) [FLD941] – Georgia Standard Professional Certificate
Issued: 08/15/2005 | Expires: 06/30/2026
SPED Science Cognitive Level (P-5, 4-8) [FLD921] – Georgia Standard Professional Certificate
Issued: 08/15/2005 | Expires: 06/30/2026
SPED Learning Disabilities (P-12) Consultative [FLD777] – Georgia Standard Professional Certificate
Issued: 08/02/2001 | Expires: 06/30/2026
Timeline
School Psychologist
Cobb County School District
07.2003 - 07.2021
School Psychologist Doctoral Intern
Cobb County School District
07.2002 - 06.2003
Advanced School Psychology Practicum Student
Lexington/Richland School District Five
08.2001 - 05.2002
Learning Disabilities Specialist
The University of South Carolina Office of Disability Services
08.2000 - 05.2002
School Psychology Practicum Student
Lexington School District Two
08.2000 - 05.2001
Group Leader
Building Cultural Bridges Conference
07.2000 - 12.2000
School Psychology Leadership Training in Community-Based Services Grant Fellow
The University of South Carolina
08.1999 - 07.2000
School Psychology Practicum Student
The University of South Carolina
08.1999 - 12.1999
Student Advisor
Kaplan Educational Center
08.1997 - 06.1998
Special Education Practicum Student
The University of Georgia
08.1997 - 05.1998
Doctor of Philosophy - School Psychology
University of South Carolina
Master of Arts - Special Education
University of Georgia
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Georgia