therapist Kimberly Petz, Educational Diagnostician

Kimberly Petz, Educational Diagnostician

Who is Kimberly?

Kimberly Petz is an educational diagnostician who uses standardized testing to assess academic abilities.  She is able to identify learning styles, academic strengths and weaknesses, intellectual giftedness, and learning disorders.  Kimberly is serving students across elementary, middle, and high schools. Kimberly has 19 years of experience working in the Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS).  She is a National Board Certified Exceptional Needs Specialist and Educational Diagnostician. Finding Solutions Counseling Centers asked Kimberly to join the practice due to her expertise in the administration and interpretation of educational assessments and extensive experience in educational processes. Her recommendations have helped students learn strategies that personally work best for them, develop more confidence, and promote academic success.

What is her expertise?

Kimberly began her career as a cross-categorical teacher for LCPS. She taught at this capacity for nine years with core competencies including, but not limited to: instruction of core curriculum, observation/evaluation of student performance across academic, behavioral, and social domains, and development/implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Kimberly has served on leadership committees and mentored new teaching staff to LCPS.  Additionally, Kimberly serves on several Positive Interventions and Behavioral Supports (PBIS) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) teams in order to improve identification practices for struggling learners.

Kimberly is a Child Study Team member and makes recommendations to meet the educational and behavioral needs of general education students. In 2011, Kimberly became nationally certified as an Early Childhood through Young Adulthood, Exceptional Needs Specialist, using these skills to further hone her craft.
Early career experiences included teaching at an after-school program, volunteer teaching at Head Start, Rape Crisis counseling, and assistant coaching for a varsity basketball team. Additionally, her internships included several cross-categorical and general education teaching opportunities across elementary and middle school settings, instruction of students with severe disabilities at a high school setting, and adult education at Livingston ARC.

What else should we know about Kimberly?

Kimberly obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and Elementary and Special Education at the State University of New York College at Geneseo. She earned specific endorsements in Specific Learning, Emotional Disorders, and Intellectual Disabilities. Kimberly obtained her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with a Reading Specialist Certification from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Kimberly understands that all students develop differently.  Once an understanding of personal strengths and weakness is determined, however, students can begin to realize their true potential.

For more details about Kim’s assessments visit: www.findingsolutionsassessments.com

Academic achievement, learning styles, and classroom behaviors are important factors in helping students work to their potential and become successful adults. I am an educational diagnostician, who evaluates students in elementary, middle, and high schools. I have worked in the Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) system for over 19 years. I am a National Board Certified Exceptional Needs Specialist and Educational Diagnostician. I use educational assessments and my extensive experience in educational processes to make recommendations to help students learn strategies that personally work best for them, develop more confidence, and promote academic success.

I began my career as a cross-categorical teacher for LCPS. I have used and am highly familiar with core curriculum taught in Loudoun and Fairfax counties, have recommended and developed Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and other academic accommodations, and have evaluated hundreds of students.
I am a Child Study Team member and make recommendations to meet the educational and behavioral needs of students. I am nationally certified as an Early Childhood through Young Adulthood, Exceptional Needs Specialist.

To schedule a psycho-educational evaluation in Loudoun or Fairfax County, call (703) 636-2888.