Curriculum Vita
Susan Unruh, Ph.D.
Nationally Certified School Psychologist
3717 Sleepy Hollow Drive
Wichita, Kansas 67208
(316) 687-6260 home
(316) 973-6340 work
Email: sunruh@usd259.net
Education
Ph.D., School Psychology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, August 2007.
APA-Accredited and NASP-Approved School Psychology Program
Specialization track: Bilingual assessment and education
Dissertation:
The development and validation of a Spanish language
version of the Test Anxiety Inventory for Children and
Adolescents.
Advisor: Patricia A. Lowe, Ph.D.
Scholarship: Edythe E. & Harold K. Kuebler Scholarship, 2002-2003.
Ed.S., School Psychology, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, December,
1991.
M.Ed., Educational Counseling, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas,
October,1980.
B.A., Psychology, Bethel College, N. Newton, Kansas, December 1975. Summa
Cum Laude.
Awards
2006
Student Reviewer of the Year Award
Presented on behalf of the Editors of School Psychology Quarterly and the
Division of School Psychology of the American Psychological Association
(APA) for excellence as a reviewer of manuscripts submitted for publication.
1995
Kansas School Psychologist of the Year
Conferred for outstanding contributions as a school psychologist by the
Kansas Association of School Psychology (KASP).
Certification/Licensure
Licensed School Psychologist in the State of Kansas
Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP)
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Professional Experience
Practicing School Psychologist Experience
Unified School District 259
Wichita, Kansas
2003-present School Psychologist
1991-2001
Assess, diagnose, and recommend interventions for students with special
learning needs. Consult with teachers, parents, and administrators about
students and programs. Supervise practicum and intern students. Assist in
piloting and evaluating programs for the District and tests considered for use
by the Department of Psychology. Serve as liaison with the medical and
mental health professionals who treat our students. Consult with and train
psychologists, teachers, and staff regarding educational issues, especially
those affecting English language learners and students with behavioral
concerns.
Teaching and Advising Experience
Wichita State University
Counseling, Educational, and School Psychology Department
Wichita, Kansas
2008
Instructor
Graduate Course: Individual Intelligence Assessment
Graduate Course: Psychology of Exceptional Children
Fall 2007
Advising; Intern and Practicum Supervisor
2004-2007
Instructor
Graduate Course: Professional Issues for School Psychologists
1998-1999
Instructor:
Graduate Course: Individual Intelligence Assessment
University of Kansas
Department of Psychology and Research in Education
Lawrence, Kansas
Summer 2008 Lecturer
Graduate Course: Clinical Techniques in Academic Assessment
Spring 2002
Lecturer
Undergraduate Course: Communication and Classroom
Management: Theory and Skills.
Teaching and Advising Experience continued
2
University of Kansas
Center for Psychoeducational Services
Lawrence, Kansas
2001-2002
Teaching Assistant
Graduate Courses:
Psychoeducational Clinic I and II:
Assessment, Consultation, and Intervention
Assisted in supervising second year school psychology doctoral and
education specialist students in psychoeducational assessments,
individual and group therapy, consultation, and implementation and
monitoring of treatment/intervention strategies. Promoted the
program by visiting schools and talking to faculties. Taught
individual class sessions as needed.
Butler County Community College
Center for Independent Studies
Andover, Kansas
1989-1990
Academic Advisor
Responsible for advising students and planning and implementing
academic strategies for students in the Center for Independent
Studies.
Academy of Mount Saint Scholastica
Atchison, Kansas
1980-1982
High School Counselor
Performed individual, group, and family counseling, served as a
consultant to faculty and staff, and developed and taught courses.
Research Experience
University of Kansas
Center for Educational Testing and Evaluation
Lawrence, Kansas
Summer 2002January 2003 Research Assistant
Conducted technical and field research on a statewide assessment
instrument to test language proficiency of English language learners.
Research Experience continued
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University of Kansas
Department of Educational Psychology and Research
Lawrence, Kansas
1977
Research Assistant
Kansas Elks Training Center for the Handicapped
Wichita, Kansas
1976-1976
Chief Surveyor/Fieldworker
Responsible for research and surveying for a study entitled The
Longitudinal Program Effectiveness Follow-Up Project. The purpose of the
study was to determine the success of KETCH programs in
integrating handicapped adults in the community.
Treatment/Therapist Experience
Maude Carpenter Children’s Home
Wichita, Kansas
1984-1989
Treatment Supervisor
Intake Worker
Responsible for intake interviews and decisions and the development
and administration of treatment programs for behaviorally disturbed
adolescents in residential care. Trained and supervised cottage staff,
coordinated treatment plans with the children’s families and with
medical, mental health, and educational professionals, and monitored
and evaluated the programs.
Bowen Center for Human Services
Therapeutic Preschool
Warsaw, Indiana
1986
Assistant Teacher/Therapist
Served as teacher and therapist for emotionally disturbed children
ages 3 to 6, helped plan their Individual Service Programs, consulted
with parents, foster parents, caseworkers and therapists, and helped
with program planning and promotion.
Publications
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Unruh, S.M. & Lowe, P.A. (under review). Development and validation of a
Spanish language version of the Test Anxiety Inventory for Children and
Adolescents (TAICA-S). Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and
Development.
Unruh, S. M., & Lowe, P. A. (in press). Backward translation. In C. R.
Reynolds, R. W. Kamphaus, & C. DiStefano (Eds.), Encyclopedia of psychological
and educational testing: Clinical and psychoeducational applications. New York:
Oxford University Press.
Unruh, S. M., & Lowe, P. A. (in press). Forward translation. In C. R.
Reynolds, R. W. Kamphaus, & C. DiStefano (Eds.), Encyclopedia of psychological
and educational testing: Clinical and psychoeducational applications. New York:
Oxford University Press.
Unruh, S. M., & Lowe, P. A. (in press). Test adaptation. In C. R. Reynolds, R.
W. Kamphaus, & C. DiStefano (Eds.), Encyclopedia of psychological and educational
testing: Clinical and psychoeducational applications. New York: Oxford University
Press.
Unruh, S. M., & Lowe, P. A. Selective mutism. In C. R. Reynolds & E.
Fletcher-Janzen (Eds.), Encyclopedia of special education (3rd ed.). New York: John
Wiley & Sons.
Lowe, P. A., Unruh, S. M., & Greenwood, S. M. (2004). Anxiety: Tips for
teens. In A.S. Canter, L.Z. Paige, M.D. Roth, I. Romero, & S.A. Carroll
(Eds.), Helping children at home and school: Handouts from your school psychologist II.
Bethesda, MD: The National Association of School Psychologists.
Bird, S., Cabral, R., Farnsworth, D., Johnson, J., Johnson, N., Kuhn, K.,
Ladwig, K., Millar, B., McGinness, L., Unruh, S. & Wall, M. (1999). Best
practices in general education interventions and comprehensive evaluations of English
language learners. Kansas State Department of Education:
http://www3.ksde.org/sfp/esol/bestpract.html).
Unruh, S. (1997). Book review of Brilliant idiot: An autobiography of a dyslexic.
Examiner, 23(3), 32-3.
Unruh, S. (1996). The assessment of bilingual children: Looking behind the
test scores. Examiner, 22(4), 7-10.
Unruh, S. (1995). Diagnostic dilemma: Conduct disorder versus severe
emotional disturbance: A research review. Examiner, 21(3), 11, 29.
Electronic News Briefs
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Lowe, P. A., & *Unruh, S. M. (2001, November). CPS Update: News Brief #4.
Lawrence, KS.
Lowe, P. A., & *Unruh, S. M. (2001, November). CPS Update: News Brief #3.
Lawrence, KS.
Lowe, P. A., & *Unruh, S. M. (2001, October). CPS Update: News Brief #2.
Lawrence, KS. 11
Lowe, P. A., & *Unruh, S. M. (2001, October). CPS Update: News Brief #1.
Lawrence, KS.
Presentations
Unruh, S.M. & Lowe, P.A. (2008). Examination of Grade-level Trends in
Test Anxiety Among Hispanic Students on a Spanish Language Version of
the TAICA. Presentation at the American Psychological Association Kansas
Conference on Clinical, Child, and Adolescent Psychology, Kansas City,
Missouri.
Unruh, S.M. & Lowe, P.A. (2007). Development and Validation of a Spanish
Language Version of the Test Anxiety Inventory for Children and
Adolescents. Presentation at the American Psychological Association
Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA.
Professional Service
2004-present Member, Wichita State University School Psychology Advisory
Council.
2006-present Wichita Public Schools High School Psychologist Quadrant
Facilitator.
2007-2008
Member, Task Force to research and recommend interventions and
programs for students with chronic behavioral problems for USD
259.
2004-2006
Student Editorial Reviewer, School Psychology Quarterly, American
Psychological Association (APA).
2003-2004
Psychologist at a pilot school for a response-to-intervention model
program first implemented during this academic year for USD 259.
2000-2001
Psychologist at a pilot school for Student Intervention Team
Problem-Solving Model first implemented during this year for
USD259.
Professional Service continued
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1996
Psychological Services Ad Hoc Work Team member. Helped
develop a best practices document on the issue of differential
diagnosis of severe emotional disturbance versus social
maladjustment
1992-1998
QPA Site Team Member for Geary County Schools QPA Phase 1 in
1992-1993 and Phase 2 in 1997-1998.
1994-1995
Member, Children’s Service Committee, Kansas Association of
School Psychologists (KASP).
Professional
Organizations:
American Psychological Association (APA): Division 16
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
Kansas Association of School Psychologists (KASP).
Wichita School Psychologist Association (WSPA).
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