School Psychologist

Qualifications

• Holds a Pupil Personnel Services Certificate with a School Psychologist Endorsement (K-12)
• Knowledge of federal and state law, administrative rules, and Board policy governing special education, and demonstrated ability to effectively provide testing, psychological evaluation, and counseling services
• Experience in a classroom which may include professional teaching experience, student teaching, or special education practicum
• Broad knowledge of theories of individual and group guidance techniques, elementary and/or secondary school guidance program design, and career educational information and placement
• Strong background in the use of technology
• Relates extremely well to students
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and work effectively with students, parents, staff, and community groups and organizations
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and leadership skills
• Able to work under pressure and deadlines
• Maintain confidentiality of staff and students

Primary Responsibility To Director of Special Services and Principal

To enable pupils to derive the fullest benefits from school by promoting their sense of self and by evaluating and working to ameliorate psychological or mental health problems that may interfere with their adjustment to school and the education program offered to them. To meet the needs of exceptional children by providing services as required by state and federal guidelines.

Direct and Indirect Counseling Services

• Provide individual counseling to students experiencing school-related difficulties
• Provide psychological counseling to parents as needed
• Provide group counseling to students with similar school-related difficulties
• Provide consultation to parents regarding school-related student difficulties or crises impacting the school
• Maintain contact with service and community agencies to obtain and provide relevant information
• Assist in the comprehensive evaluation of students
• Administer, score, and evaluate standard psychological tests for the purpose of assessing the intellectual, educational, emotional, social, and behavioral characteristics of those students referred

Assisting Students with Special Education Needs

• Assist in the development and implementation of building-wide screening and referral processes
• Participate in the evaluation, classification, and placement of all pupils with special needs
• Interpret the results of psychological testing and assist in the development and coordination of an appropriate individualized education plan for each pupil requiring special education and/or related services
• Assist in the placement and programming decisions made by Child Study Teams Perform all duties required as a member of the Child Study Team by federal and state law, administrative rules, and Board policy
• Provide consultation to special education teachers regarding the instruction and management of students with disabilities
• Provide consultation to regular education teachers regarding the identification, instruction, management, and mainstreaming of students with disabilities
• Provide consultation regarding students without disabilities who are experiencing educational or behavioral difficulties
• Participate in the ongoing evaluation of the academic progress and educational placement of classified pupils
• Provide interpretation of federal and state law, administrative rules, and Board policy regarding the education of exceptional students
• Assist the Special Services Director in identifying special education needs within the district
• Assist the Director in devising plans for improving special services within the district and implementing changes deemed necessary

• Serve as a case manager as assigned and maintain appropriate case records
• Serve as a consultant to parents, school personnel, and community groups on child development and mental health topics
• Assist in the development and delivery of in-service programs and parent seminars
• Keep the staff and community informed of the schools' psychological services
• Observe pupils in classrooms and other school settings
• Cooperate with community health and social welfare agency personnel
• Assume…