Saratoga News

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Dr. Alice Ruzicka, school psychologist for the Saratoga Union School District, was honored at the county's 27th Annual Teacher Recognition Day.

Saratoga school psychologist named 'Teacher of the Year'

By Cecily Barnes

Last Monday night, Dr. Alice Ruzicka, school psychologist for the Saratoga Union School District, was honored at the county's 27th Annual Teacher Recognition Day as the district's Teacher of the Year. Ruzicka was recognized for her role as president of the Saratoga Teacher's Association. The district has made a practice of nominating the association's president.

"Psychologists are teachers, too, even though they don't teach in the classroom," Ruzicka said. "I'm pleased to accept the award on behalf of psychologists."

Ruzicka got her master's degree at San Francisco State University and her Ph.D. at the Fieldings Institute. She has been Saratoga's school psychologist since 1980.

"I do special-education assessments for children who might have learning disabilities," Ruzicka explained. "I do some counseling if the parent requests it, and sometimes I speak with whole classrooms about issues that have to do with that classroom."

Recently Ruzicka has been talking with kids about the children in their classroom who have special needs. This year, Saratoga schools have been working hard to include special-needs kids into the regular classroom, and Ruzicka has been working overtime to make sure these kids will be comfortable and accepted.

"If the kids know what the problem is and can comprehend it themselves, then they are less likely to tease," Ruzicka explained.

Ruzicka lives in her Los Altos Hills home with her husband and four long-tailed parrots. Her 27-year-old son Ron is completing his second master's degree in film at the American Film Institute, and her daughter Roxanne, 24, is a genetics counselor in Pasadena.

On the side, Ruzicka runs a part-time private practice as a clinical psychologist. She is also studying Vedanta, an Indian study of human nature, and learning the Sanskrit language.

"It's very complex, but it's really interesting," Ruzicka said. "It's learning to understand your place in the whole scheme of things--in nature, in the universe--and how it all works."

Ruzicka finds her job most rewarding when she is able to come up with a working solution to assist a child that has been having educational difficulties.

"I enjoy it because it's challenging," she said.

Ruzicka intends to stay on with the district indefinitely, a plan that should please her coworkers.

"She is highly respected in our community and school and county for her constant learning about kids and her organization and work with kids and families," said Superintendent Mary Gardner.