Dr. Erica Kaurudar Named PA School Psychologist of the Year

The Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania (ASPP) is proud to announce this year’s School Psychologist of the Year, Dr. Erica Kaurudar, NCSP. This award recognizes Dr. Kaurudar’s outstanding commitment to the field of school psychology and the students of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

Dr. Kaurudar is an Educational Consultant for the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) in PaTTAN’s central region office in Harrisburg. She supports the School Psychology, Mathematics/Multi-Tiered System of Supports, Learning Environment and Engagement, and Attract-Prepare-Retain initiatives. She also serves as a PaTTAN point of contact for schools in the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11 area. Dr. Kaurudar completed her certification in school psychology at Millersville University, and her doctorate in school psychology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She began her career as a school psychologist for the Hollidaysburg Area School District, and then served as a training and consultation member of the Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 prior to joining the PaTTAN team in 2019. 

A Champion of MTSS Frameworks

Dr. Kaurudar’s passion for applying best practices in school psychology began early in her doctoral program. During her training and early career, Dr. Kaurudar was a champion of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) frameworks. MTSS provides schools with the systems and practices to prevent behavioral and academic challenges, and the structure for gathering and evaluating data to know when and how to intervene appropriately. Currently, Dr. Kaurudar supports local education agencies across the central region of the Commonwealth engaging with school and district leadership teams to initiate or enhance their implementation of MTSS. Applying her expertise in academic assessment and intervention, and social-emotional behavioral competencies, Dr. Kaurudar delivers training and technical assistance to schools for them to implement evidence-based practices at the district, building, classroom, and individual student levels. Through all of this work, Dr. Kaurudar exemplifies what the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) recommends as the comprehensive role of the school psychologist.

An Innovative and Outstanding Leader

Described as an innovative, dedicated, outstanding leader and mentor by her colleagues, Dr. Kaurudar has championed school psychology advocacy as the lead of the state-wide initiative at the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) to enhance awareness of and increase training support for school psychologists’ roles. In doing so, Dr. Kaurudar has emphasized school psychologist responsibilities that extend well beyond the traditional expectation for testing and special education placement. Further, Dr. Kaurudar supports PaTTAN’s Attract-Prepare-Retain initiative for school psychologists in Pennsylvania. Dr. Kaurudar has also led initiatives to provide uniquely meaningful professional development and networking opportunities for school psychologists across the Commonwealth.

In addition to her leadership roles at PaTTAN, Dr. Kaurudar is committed to growing the field of school psychology in providing training and mentoring to graduate and undergraduate students. Dr. Kaurudar serves as an part-time faculty at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and she has guest lectured at Millersville University. Her colleagues and students describe her as an outstanding educator dedicated to the learning and growth of her students. Dr. Kaurudar works on PaTTAN’s School Psychology Apprenticeship program, which provides paid opportunities for pre-internship school psychology graduate students to learn more about the field of school psychology. Her vision is to offer high quality professional learning to pre-service and in-service school psychologists alike, to improve the recruitment and retention of school psychologists in the field.

Dr. Kaurudar embodies the core of school psychology and is an ambassador to the field. She is an exemplar of the incredible impact that school psychologists can have on school communities, and her exceptional leadership has a profound impact on school psychologists across Pennsylvania.