Maine District 207
Bilingual Bicultural school psychologists at Maine 207 work to remain ethical and follow best practices regarding bilingual evaluations and services. The best interest of the client (student) remains at the forefront. When possible, service and evaluation is delivered in the student’s preferred language. We are committed to providing a well rounded experience for interns that includes case conceptualization, team problem solving, counseling, assessment, and experience with working with diverse populations. In addition, we also incorporate an experience of fostering a bilingual and bicultural lens as bilingually endorsed school psychologists.
It is a goal to continue to support efforts in diversifying the field. Interns who are bilingual bicultural will be supported to learn how to navigate their language skill sets within a school setting. This includes service, assessment, consultation and the nuances of translation.
We are committed to providing a well rounded experience for interns that include case conceptualization, team problem solving, counseling, assessment, and experience with working with diverse populations. In addition, we also incorporate an experience of fostering a multilingual and multicultural lens as bilingually endorsed school psychologists.
Supervision
Trends over time demonstrate a growing student body that is increasingly ethnically and linguistically diverse. The internship experience can set a foundation for experiences to better understand various aspects of schooling and a multilingual student’s lived experience.
The domains of school psychology practice describe the comprehensive and integrated services that can be expected of school psychologists as presented in the NASP 2020 Model for Comprehensive and Integrated School Psychological Services (the NASP Practice Model). The 10 domains provide a general frame of reference for basic competencies that school psychologists should possess upon beginning practice and that are consistent with the professional competencies that result from graduate education in school psychology.
The descriptions below are considerations for exposure to bilingual considerations that can be offered at Maine 207 (specifically at Maine West, which houses a bilingual school psychologist and EL endorsed school psychologist).
Domain 1: Data-Based Decision Making
The school psychologist intern will have an opportunity to observe and collaborate with a bilingual school psychologist in order to better understand: assessment methods for identifying strengths and needs that are culturally and linguistically appropriate; developing effective interventions, services, and programs; and measuring progress and outcomes within a multitiered system of supports for multilingual students.
Domain 2: Consultation and Collaboration
The school psychologist intern will have an opportunity to observe and collaborate with a bilingual school psychologist in order to better understand: varied models and strategies of consultation and collaboration applicable to students, families, and systems.
Domain 3: Academic Interventions and Instructional Supports
The school psychologist intern will have an opportunity to observe and collaborate with a bilingual school psychologist in order to better understand: the community, school culture and social influences on academic skills and evidence-based curricula and instructional
Strategies through the ML problem solving team(s).
Domain 4: Mental and Behavioral Health Services and Interventions
The school psychologist intern will have an opportunity to observe and collaborate with a bilingual school psychologist in order to better understand: the community, school culture and social influences on mental and behavioral health and evidence-based strategies for ML populations to promote social–emotional functioning.
Domain 5: School-Wide Practices to Promote Learning
The school psychologist intern will have an opportunity to observe and collaborate with a bilingual school psychologist in order to better understand: discrepancies for ML students within general and special education programming and evidence-based, school-wide practices that promote learning, positive behavior, and mental health for ML students through cross collaboration with the WL/ML department.
Domain 6: Services to Promote Safe and Supportive Schools
The school psychologist intern will have an opportunity to observe and collaborate with a bilingual school psychologist in order to better understand: understanding principles and research related to social–emotional well-being, resilience and risk factors in learning for ML students.
Domain 7: Family, School, and Community Collaboration
The school psychologist intern will have an opportunity to observe and collaborate with a bilingual school psychologist in order to better understand: evidence-based strategies to support positive family influences on children’s learning and mental health and strategies to develop collaboration between families and schools in collaboration with the district B-PAC.
Domain 8: Equitable Practices for Diverse Student Populations
The school psychologist intern will have an opportunity to observe and collaborate with a bilingual school psychologist in order to better understand: planning and implementation of evidence-based strategies to enhance services in both general and special education and address potential influences related to linguistic and cultural diversity.
Domain 9: Research and Evidence-Based Practice
The school psychologist intern will have an opportunity to observe and collaborate with a bilingual school psychologist in order to better understand: research design, statistics, measurement, and varied data collection and analysis techniques sufficient for understanding research, interpreting data, and evaluating programs related to multilingual students.
Domain 10: Legal, Ethical, and Professional Practice
The school psychologist intern will have an opportunity to observe and collaborate with a bilingual school psychologist in order to better understand: the history and foundations of school psychology and implications for linguistically and ethnically diverse student populations; the ethical, legal, and professional standards and the implications for diverse populations; and other factors related to professional identity and effective practice as school psychologists that include race, ethnicity, and language.
ASSESSMENT
Tools that the bilingual school psychologist will use include ecological frameworks that are recommended for work with multilingual students. These practices are supplemented as needed through evaluation that include, but not limited to, the following assessments:
PVAT- Ortiz Picture Vocabulary Acquisition Test
Bateria IV- Academic and Cognitive
WMLS- Woodcock Munoz Language Survey
BASC 3 Spanish
Vineland Spanish
TRANSLATION
Bilingual Bicultural school psychologists at Maine 207 work to remain ethical and follow best practices regarding bilingual evaluations and services. The best interest of the client (student) remains at the forefront. HWen possible, service and evaluation is delivered in the student’s preferred language.
It is a goal to continue to support efforts in diversifying the field. Interns who are bilingual bicultural will be supported to learn how to navigate their language skill sets within a school setting. This includes service, assessment, consultation and the nuances of translation.
Supervisor Biographies
Yahaira “Yari” Diaz, PhD joined district 207 as a school psychologist at Maine West in 2022. She is a bilingual endorsed school psychologist and is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Previously she was a school psychologist at a high school in DuPage County. Additionally, Dr. Diaz was a bilingual endorsed high school teacher at York High School with District 205 in Elmhurst. Dr. Diaz has served as a sponsor for Urban Arts, The Spanish Club, The International Club, and Raices (Roots) Club throughout her time as an educator. Dr. Diaz has also served to initiate new clubs, events, and initiatives rooted in student needs. As a school psychologist, Dr. Diaz has served as a lead for the Responsive PLT as well as promoting interdisciplinary collaboration with the Newcomer Intake Process. Dr. Diaz has received the Illinois Those Who Excel award for Excellence in 2024, NIU Woman’s Award, was named a DEI Fellow, serves as a manuscript reviewer for an academic journal and has served as a CoChair of the Latinx committee and as an SJC committee member of the National Association of School Psychologists.
Dr. Diaz holds her bachelor’s in Spanish Language and Literature, a master of Education and Instructional Leadership from University of Illinois at Chicago, a master of Educational Psychology from Loyola University Chicago, and doctor of philosophy in School Psychology at Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Diaz completed her ISPIC Internship with District 207 and obtained bilingual psychology supervision during that time.
Sandy Flores-Rodriguez, PhD, joined District 207 as a school psychologist at Maine West High School in 2019. Dr. Flores holds a bilingual endorsement and dual credentials as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. She previously worked as a school psychologist in the Chicago Public Schools. Dr. Flores has experience working with a variety of age groups ranging from early childhood through young adulthood across school, therapeutic, and clinic settings. She enjoys training future school psychologists and is an adjunct professor at The Chicago School. Dr. Flores teaches courses in the areas of affective and social bases of behavior, systems theory, and practicum within the school psychology department. She received the Illinois Those Who Excel award for Meritorious Service in 2023, LUC Civic Engagement Award in 2016, and was named a DEI fellow.
Dr. Flores earned a bachelor’s in Psychology from Bradley University, a master of Educational Psychology from Loyola University Chicago, and a doctor of philosophy in School Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. She is an ISPIC alumna and completed her internship in District 207.
Please Note:
Maine District 207 interns are required to be fingerprinted and have a criminal background check. Our policy states: The District retains the right to discharge any employee whose criminal background investigation reveals a conviction for committing or attempting to commit any of the offenses outlined in Section 5/21B-80 of the School Code or who falsifies, or omits facts from, his or her employment application or other employment documents.
Updated 9/16/25
