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Site Name: Avondale Elementary School District

Department: Psychology

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Department : Psychology

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 2316
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Avondale Elementary School District
Department: Psychology
Address: 295 West Western Avenue
Avondale, Arizona 85323
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ
Distance from Major City: 26 miles west of downtown Phoenix, AZ
Phone: 602-763-1452
Fax:
Training Director Email: sway@chooseaesd.org
Co-Training Director Email:
Web Address: http://www.chooseaesd.org
Brochure Website's Address: http://www.chooseaesd.org/psychologyinternship
Primary Agency Type: School District
Additional Agency Types:
Member of APPIC since:
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Samara Way
Chief Psychologist: Samara Way
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 6
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 0
Position Information
Start Date: 07/13/2026
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 13
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 35000
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Dissertation Release Time, Dental Insurance, Disability Insurance, Health Insurance, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above):
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Interns work Monday - Friday from approximately 7:30 am to 4 pm with the exception of interns at the Saddle Mountain Site who work four ten hour days in the district . The work day is arranged around the school schedule to maximize the amount of time spent with students. The intern will participate in evaluation and IEP meetings, which can occur before, during or after school. They will spend their day observing, assessing, providing intervention to students, or consulting with parents and staff about students. Interns also spend part of each day completing required paperwork.
Does this site have practicum psychology students on site? Yes
Doctoral Psychology Practicum StudentsNo
Masters Psychology Practicum StudentsYes
Do Psychology Interns/Postdocs Have the Opportunity to Supervise Practicum Students?Yes
Is this program fully affiliated with one or more doctoral programs? No
Is this program partially affiliated with one or more doctoral programs? No
Internship Application Process
Accepting Applicants: Yes
Application Due Date: 12/01/2025 11:59 PM EST
A Virtual Interview are: Required
Interview notification date: 12/19/2025
Tentative interview date: Interviews will be held in January 2026.
Interview process description:

We will only offer virtual interviews per the National Matching Services portal.  The interviews typically last 1 hour, they are indiividual interviews, and are conducted with staff members from AESD, DVUSD, PUHSD, and/or SMUSD. Interviewees are also given the opportunity to participate in a virtual open house to speak with current interns. Applicants will interview with the entire team even if they are only  applied to one of the specific district tracks. The interview notifications will e sent via the NMS portal.
How to obtain application info: Email the Program
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: Texas A&M, University of Arizona, Argosy University-Phoenix, University of Northern Colorado, University of South Dakota, University of Central Arkansas, Indiana State University, Mississippi State University, University of Iowa, Oklahoma State University, Tulane University, California Lutheran University, Midwestern University, Texas Women's University, University of Wisconsin, University of Kentucky, Alliant University, Duquesne University, Fielding University; Immaculata University; Loyola University Chicago; Baylor University; University of Georgia; University of LaVerne; Northern Arizona University; Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Internship Applicant Requirements
US Citizenship Required: No
If NOT a U.S. Citizen, Authorization to Work or to Engage in Practical Training (CPT or OPT) in the US is Required: Yes
Canadian Citizenship Required: No
If NOT a Canadian Citizen, Authorization to Work in Canada or to Engage in Practical Training (CPT or OPT) in Canada is Required: No
Masters Degree Required: No
Comprehensive Exams Passed: Yes, by ranking deadline
Dissertation Proposal Approved: No
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable): 25
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable): 100
Minimum Number of Combined Intervention and Assessment Hours (if applicable):
Does your program require applicants to submit supplemental materials (i.e., an assessment report and/or a case/treatment summary): No
Minimum Number of Years of Grad Training Required (if applicable): 3
Accepted / Not-Accepted Program Types
Clinical Psychology Accepted
Counseling Psychology Accepted
School Psychology Accepted
APA-Accredited Accepted
CPA-Accredited Accepted
PCSAS-Accredited Accepted
Non-Accredited Accepted
Ph.D Degree Accepted
Psy.D. Degree Accepted
Ed.D. Degree Accepted
This institution, department, internship, or postdoctoral program requires trainees to sign a statement about personal behavior and/or religious beliefs as a condition of admission and/or retention in the program: No
How to obtain text of statement:
Other Requirements: The trainee must have a valid Arizona Fingerprint Clearance card obtained through the AZ Department of Public Safety prior to starting the internship. The program will assist those matched to obtain the clearance card if they do not already have one. The matched trainee must also complete an employment application for Human Resources paperwork purposes prior to the start of the internship.
Program Description

AESD provides a planned, programmed sequence of training experiences with the primary focus being on assuring breadth and quality of training. The program offers four different training locations. The training is the same in each location. An applicant can apply to any combination of the four. The four locations are all within the greater Phoenix area. The first location is in Avondale a southwest suburb of Phoenix. This is an elementary school district with 5 internship positions. The second location is in Tonopah, a far west suburb of Phoenix. It is a more rural area. The district serves Preschool through 12th grade. There are 2 internship positions at this location. The third location is in Peoria, a northwest suburb of Phoneix. It is a more urban area. The district serves Preschool through 12th grade. There are 2 internship positions at this location. The final location is a high school district in Phoenix that serves students in 9th through 12th grades. There are 2 internship positions at this location.

The internship is structured to meet Arizona’s requirements to become a licensed psychologist and a certified school psychologist. The program consists of 2000 hours of training over a 12-month period with at least 25% in direct service. The program is designed for a school psychology experience. Students from school psychology doctoral programs are preferred, but students from other programs will be considered. Experience in a school setting is strongly preferred. 

Interns are exposed to both Special Education and General Education programs. Under supervision of licensed psychologists, interns provide psychoeducational and psychological evaluations, consultation, training, counseling, behavior management, and crisis intervention services. Training assignments are made to assure that each intern has the opportunity to provide assessment and intervention to students with various needs and diagnoses and to serve various age, cultural, socioeconomic, and minority groups. The wide range of diversity among students and staff in the program allows the internship to offer considerable multicultural experiences to interns. Special efforts are also made to provide experience with low incidence disorders.

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children: Yes
Adolescents: Yes
Adults:
Family:
Older Adults:
Inpatients:
Outpatients:
LGBTQ+:
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking: Yes
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired:
Students: Yes
International Students:
Rural:
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
People without housing:
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Individual Therapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Couples Therapy:
Family Therapy:
Group Therapy:
Community Intervention:
Consultation/Liaison: Experience (21% to 30%)
Crisis Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Brief Psychotherapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Long-term Psychotherapy:
Cognitive Rehabilitation:
Primary Care:
Evidenced Based Practice: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research:
Supervision of Practicum students :
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology:
Women's Health:
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders:
Sexual Disorders:
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology:
Physical Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Learning Disabilities: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Developmental Disabilities: Experience (21% to 30%)
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Neuropsychology-Adult:
Neuropsychology-Child: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Serious Mental Illness: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Anxiety Disorders: Experience (21% to 30%)
Trauma/PTSD: Experience (21% to 30%)
Sexual Abuse: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Substance Use Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Forensics/Corrections:
Sexual Offenders:
Geropsychology:
Pediatrics: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
School: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Counseling: Experience (21% to 30%)
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy:
Feminist Therapy:
Religion/Spirituality:
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Public Policy/Advocacy:
Program Development/Evaluation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision: Experience (21% to 30%)
Research:
Administration: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - primary:
Integrated health care - specialty:
Other:

Additional information about training opportunities: Not all rotations or training experiences may be available as described in the APPIC Directory. Please consult the program's application materials or their website at: www.chooseaesd.org  for a complete description of the training opportunities available at this training site. IF the site has not updated their information by August 1, feel free to contact the Training Director for additional information.

Summary of the Characteristics of the Specified Internship Class
2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025 2025-2026
Number of Completed Applications: 43 54 77 62 102 80 79 77
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 22 18 30 36 45 33 55 43
Total number of interns: 4 5 7 8 9 11 11 12
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 2 5 7 8 9 11 11 12
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 2 3 6 5 5 8 4 4
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 2 2 1 3 4 4 8 8
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 0 2 1 2 1 2 10 8
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 4 3 6 6 8 9 2 4
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 0 0 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 62 300 150 150 75 100
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)
2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025
Academic teaching:
Community mental health center: 1 0 0
Consortium: 0 0 0
University Counseling Center: 0 0 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 1 0 0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 0 0 0
Psychiatric facility: 0 0 0
Correctional facility: 0 0 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0 0 0
School district/system: 5 0 0
Independent practice setting: 2 0 0
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 2 0 0
Link to Program's Trainee Admissions, Support, and Outcome Data:
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