Corliss was named the 2018-19 Educator of the Year at the Sharon Elementary School in Robbinsville, New Jersey. This accolade influenced her decision to return to Rider to pursue school administration.
Claire Corliss always knew that her purpose in life was to make a significant impact on the lives of children and families. After a 10-year legal career representing children in the foster care systems, she became interested in intersecting her experience as a lawyer with further study to become a voice for students. That’s when she decided it was time to pursue her longtime goal of becoming a psychologist.
“I chose Rider when I was in my 30s, and I was very picky about how to spend time and money,” says Corliss. “I was switching careers and I interviewed people in mental health and school services to decide where to pursue graduate work, and Rider kept coming up.”
She continues, “As I began to explore Rider’s school psychology program, their small class sizes, low student-to-faculty ratio, National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) approval and placement record were major factors. I worked hard to be admitted and was thrilled to be accepted.”
Corliss began her graduate work in the school psychology program in the fall of 2008. While in the program, she took time off to have her second child and credits the University and her professors for their flexibility and support through the challenges of being an adult student.
Despite setbacks, Corliss experienced tremendous success. In February 2012, months before her Rider graduation, Corliss was offered a full-time tenure track position as a school psychologist. After starting her career in education, she returned to Rider for post-graduate studies and earned a principal and supervisor of instruction certificate.
Down the line, when she was ready to return to school to pursue an educational leadership degree, she says that Rider was her top and only choice.
“Rider educated most of the leaders I work with, and I knew I would get a rigorous and respected preparation for leadership,” she says.
She recently earned her master's degree in educational leadership and is still working with the Robbinsville Public Schools, a place she was introduced to as a Rider student.
Read the Q&A below to discover how Rider helped Corliss find her path to success:
What are you doing now?
I currently supervise special education teachers and paraprofessional instructional assistants. The goal of my job is to empower teachers and other staff to make decisions that forward student achievement for all, but especially for those served by special education.
In my role, I conduct teacher evaluations and coordinate and provide professional development and faculty meetings to teachers, the child study team and related services professionals. I also supervise programs to provide additional resources and training to teachers and students.
Additionally, I serve on several district and school-level committees to bring a student services voice to policy and decision-making.
Overall, I love being in classrooms and especially enjoy conversations with teachers that lead to improved instruction. In the future, I hope to expand my scope of influence by continuing to advocate for children and people with disabilities at the state level. State education policy has a profound impact on what these children experience in school and I want to shape and improve that experience for students, families and teachers.
Rider's smaller class sizes forced me to bring excellence to every class and to be well-prepared and active."
Assistant director of student services at Robbinsville Public Schools
What experiences did you have at Rider to help you prepare for where you are today?
My undergraduate work was at Cornell University, and I studied law at Fordham University in New York City, so my previous academic experiences were rigorous and excellent. I had high expectations when I started this academic journey, and Rider did not disappoint. My professors and classmates always focused on creating experiences that shape professionals dedicated to improving the student experience as psychologists, teachers or administrators. I am very proud of my Rider degrees.
I have had so many opportunities to grow and shine because of Rider. I worked as a graduate assistant in the last years of my school psychology program and was the NASP student representative. As a new graduate, a classmate and I presented at the NASP national convention, which was held in Philadelphia, regarding rights and services for transgender students in public schools. When these issues became part of the national debate, I provided leadership and expertise to my school district.
The graduate work I completed at Rider became projects I worked on in my career. Part of my leadership internship class involved developing a project called Parent Corner, a series of professional development lessons designed to foster relationships between child study team members and parents. This then transformed my work as a new leader in supporting parents and families.
How did Rider resources positively impact your success as a student?
As an older student who has studied for many years, I have found Rider always accommodating to the other obligations I have in my life for work and family. I took a semester off when I gave birth to my second daughter while in the school psychology program, and I completed the program in four years instead of the traditional three. My professors, Dr. Karen Gischlar and Dr. Stefan Dombrowski (professor and director of Rider’s school psychology program) were fantastic mentors and guides.
While studying for my certificates in leadership, I was not able to complete my internship in 2015-16 due to an unexpected family illness. I juggled the challenges of working full-time, parenting and caring for my sick relative. However, I continued with other classes in the fall of 2016 with support from professor Leonard Goduto (Ed.D. program director and associate professor at Rider), who always pushed me to improve.
I thought I had lost my opportunity to complete my studies and internship, but Rider allowed me the chance to restart in the fall of 2021. My professor, Dr. Bonnie Lehet (director of the teacher leadership/principal leadership program and assistant professor), welcomed me into the internship class and helped me regain the confidence that leadership was the right path for me.
I hope that I can provide my students and colleagues with the example that consistent and persistent effort can overcome many challenges. I am incredibly grateful that this May, my husband, two daughters and my parents, will be able to see me earn my master's degree in educational leadership.
Rider was instrumental in helping me to obtain my internship in school psychology with the Robbinsville Public Schools, where I have enjoyed my entire career in education.”
Assistant director of student services at Robbinsville Public Schools
What is the key takeaway from your Rider experience?
I have tried to take all the goodwill I have been favored with at Rider and use it to give back to my profession and the Rider community. I find great joy in having opportunities to present to prospective Rider students and families about what the University offers for mental health professionals and potential school leaders. I have also mentored several Rider graduates through their first year of work with the Robbinsville Public Schools, and our common Rider experience is a bond that lasts.
Advice to future Rider students:
By choosing Rider, you are not choosing the easy path; you are choosing to be trained by professors who know how to be practitioners and partnering with serious classmates who will hold you to a high standard. Also, I encourage you to take opportunities to serve children and families — go into a school and substitute, be a paraprofessional aide, or volunteer.
Rider’s College of Education and Human Services
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