Nicole Skaar

Nicole R. Skaar, Ph.D., NCSP

1126 Orchard Dr.Educational Psychology & Foundations

Cedar Falls, IA 50613University of Northern Iowa

Email: edar Falls, IA 50614

Telephone: 319-721-5969Telephone: 319-273-7649

EDUCATION

2005-2009University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN

Ph.D., Educational Psychology

  • Dissertation: Development of the Adolescent Exploratory and Risk Behavior Rating Scale

2003-2005University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, IA

M.A., Clinical Psychology

  • Thesis: Emotional Intelligence as a Protective Factor in Adolescent Risk Behavior
  • Psychological Assessment Coordinator
  • Member, Assessment Research Team

1993-1997Luther CollegeDecorah, IA

B.A., Biopsychology (Minor in Spanish)

  • Graduated Magna Cum Laude
  • Inducted member of Phi Beta Kappa

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

2011 - PresentUniversity of Northern IowaCedar Falls, IA

Assistant Professor

  • Teach undergraduate courses in the College of Education. I currently teach Classroom Assessment, Learning & Instruction in Classroom Contexts, and Learning and Behavioral Problems in Education
  • Member of the graduate faculty. I am core faculty for the School Psychology Ed.S. program. I currently teach Introduction to School Psychology, Systems Consultation, Behavior Interventions, and Practicum IV.
  • Member of the School Psychology Committee
  • Member of the Measurement and Research Committee
  • Alternate member of the Secondary Education Curriculum Committee

2010 – 2011Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA

Instructor

  • Developed educational psychology course for pre-service early childhood and elementary teachers.
  • The content is psychological theory as applied to education with an emphasis on assessment practices, including formative assessment, problem solving and data based decision-making.

2008 – 2011Heartland Area Education AgencyJohnston, IA

School Psychologist

  • Develop and provide professional development for school staff
  • Consultation with general and special education teachers
  • Use of curriculum based evaluation for assessment of student academic difficulties
  • Use of functional behavioral assessment for behavioral assessments
  • Create academic and behavioral interventions for students
  • Direct service to students with mental health and behavioral difficulties
  • Follow federal and state special education laws and regulation

2005-2008University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN

Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant

  • Develop and teach a career intervention for high school students at-risk for dropout
  • Grant writing
  • Statistical analysis using SPSS and Excel
  • Data collection and data entry
  • Supervision of research and teaching assistants
  • Classroom observations to check for implementation integrity
  • Write articles for peer review

2004-2005University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, IA

Graduate Research Assistant

  • Helped write NIH grant applications
  • Aided in the development of longitudinal woman’s health research projects
  • Conducted telephone interviews for state funded research projects
  • Statistical analysis using SPSS

2000-2005University of Iowa HealthcareIowa City, IA

Sleep Technician (2003-2005)

  • Performed overnight PSG, split-night, and CPAP/BiPAP sleep studies

Research Assistant II (2000-2003)

  • Supervised three research assistants in a neuroergonomics research lab that conducted neuropsychological, vision, and driving research in neurological patient populations
  • Gained experience with many neuropsychological tests
  • Managed and organized participant data
  • Created and executed cognitive experiments using neuropsychological assessments, an instrumented vehicle, and a driving simulator
  • Collaborated with others from the University and various academic institutions across the United States
  • Helped write abstracts and journal publications
  • Presented research at various conferences

PUBLICATIONS

Skaar, N. R., & Williams, J. E. (submitted for review). Emotional intelligence as a predictor of adolescent risk behavior participation and perception.Journal on Educational Psychology.

Skaar, N. R. & Iverson, S., (2011).A model of effective assessment in residential academic programs.Communique, 40, 18-20.

Grier, T. L., & Skaar, N. R. (2010).An Outcome Study of Career Decision Self-Efficacy and Quarterly. 59, 42-53.

Grier, T. L., Skaar, N. R., & Parson, L. B. (2009).A study of constructivist career development, empowerment, indecision, and certainty.Career and Technical Education Research, 34, 3-20.

Grier, T. L., Skaar, N. R., & Conkel, J. L. (2009).Constructivist career development as a paradigm of empowerment for at-risk and multicultural college students.Journal of Career Development.35, 290-305.

Christ, T. J. & Skaar, N. (2008). Aptitude assessment.Encyclopedia of educational psychology. (pp. 50-55). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Skaar, N. R. (2007). Test review: Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test. Assessment for Effective Instruction, 33, 47-50.

Burns, M. K., Hall-Lande, J., Lyman, W., Rogers, C., Skaar, N. & Tan, C. (2006).Tier II interventions within response-to-intervention: Components of an effective approach.Communique, 35, 40-42.

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

Skaar, N., & Petersman, K. (2012, February).Direct Behavior Ratings: A Practitioner Study of Acceptability and Validity.Paper presented at the National Association for School Psychologists Annual Convention, Philadelphia, PA.

Skaar, N. (2010, October). Mental Health Measurement in High Schools: Development of a New

Measure. Paper presented at the 15th Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health, Albuquerque, NM.

Skaar, N. (2010, March). Development of the Adolescent Exploratory and Risk Behavior Rating Scale. Poster presented at the National Association for School Psychologists Convention, Chicago, IL.

Skaar, N., Iverson, S., & Lawrence, J. (2008, September). Transition at SCEP: Linking Assessment with Instruction. Paper presented at the Risky Business Conference,

Des Moines, IA.

Skaar, N., Grier, T., & Conkel, J. (2008, February).Developing Pathways for Future Success: A High School Transition Program. Paper presented at the National Association for School Psychologists Convention

, New Orleans, LA.

Skaar, N. & Christ, T. (2007, March). An evaluation of CBM-Spelling: Generalizability and dependability. Poster presented at the National Association for School Psychologists Convention

, New York City, NY.

GRANTS/AWARDS

  • 2010University of Minnesota Department of Educational Psychology selection for University-wide Best Dissertation competition
  • 2010 Nominated by Educational Psychology faculty for APA Best Dissertation Award
  • 2009University of Minnesota Dissertation Research Grant ($1000)
  • 2005University of Northern Iowa Psychological Assessment Research Grant ($1500)
  • 2004University of Northern Iowa Graduate Research Grant ($500)

COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE

  • SPSS
  • PARSCALE Item Response Theory software
  • Microsoft FrontPage web development software
  • Microsoft Visual Basic.Net computer programming software
  • Microsoft Office Suite including Access, Excel, Word, and Power Point

AFFILIATIONS

  • 2005 – present National Association of School Psychologists
  • 2005 – presentAmerican Psychological Association Division 16

OTHER SERVICE ACTIVITIES

  • 2012 - presentInstructional Strategist I 5-12 Advisory Board Member
  • 2011Noyce Webinar Series Presenter
  • 2011 - presentSchool Psychology Committee Member
  • 2011Practicum student supervisor, Heartland AEA 11
  • 2010Practicum student supervisor, Heartland AEA 11
  • 2006Co-leader, Post-Katrina Book Drive for Live Oak Elementary School, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota

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