School Psychologist

Job Description

To provide comprehensive psychological services across the district, encompassing assessment, consultation, and counseling. The School Psychologist plays a pivotal role in IEP team decision-making, ensuring accurate identification of student needs and recommendations for services.

Key Responsibilities:

• Participate in regular Child Study, MTSS, and SAP meetings.
• Administer tests, evaluate results, and write Evaluation Reports and Re-Evaluation Reports for parents, administrators, and teachers.
• Interpret results to provide meaningful recommendations to IEP Teams.
• Identify psychoeducational needs of referred students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12.
• Provide researched-based strategies for teachers to implement with tier 2 and 3 students, evaluating their impact and making additional recommendations.
• Conduct student observations, collect data, and analyze it for report writing.
• Supply IEP teams with solid baseline data, presenting educational levels and recommended strategies for student success.
• Communicate effectively with teachers, administrators, parents, students, mental health providers, Intermediate Unit, related services, and private schools.
• Work independently to maintain necessary timelines and requirements of psychological evaluation protocols.
• Initiate requests for parent approval for evaluations and re-evaluations, adhering to timelines.
• Guide staff through fundamental behavioral assessments and the development of positive behavior plans.
• Assist teachers, parents, and students in developing effective strategies for students with behavior, medical, and academic needs.
• Support transition of secondary students who demonstrate transition needs and provide consultation services.
• Complete Access billing for testing and counseling services.
• Provide counseling services to special education or tier 3 students.
• Consult with teachers and provide training in best practice interventions.

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations

• PDE Certification
• Act 34/151/114/126/168 Clearances/Certifications required

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to fulfill each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge and Abilities

The School Psychologist should possess knowledge of school psychology, special education laws and regulations, and testing protocols. They should also have the ability to think critically and problem-solve, complete functional behavioral assessments, and understand school education curriculum as it relates to individual student needs.

Academic Skills

The ideal candidate should have knowledge of K-12 Education and be able to understand, manage, and organize student data to diagnose and develop reports that enhance learning opportunities for students and support instructional staff.

Language Skills

The School Psychologist must possess the ability to use language in both oral and written form, communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand, and communicate effectively and clearly with parents in a supportive and constructive manner.

Math Skills

The ideal candidate should have knowledge of statistics as it relates to testing norms, averages, and individual reports, and be able to interpret individual and group test scores, develop reports, and provide information to educators.

Technology Skills

The School Psychologist should demonstrate competency with up-to-date computer software, including word processing, Excel, web page development, presentation, and graphics applications, and be familiar with Web 2.0 tools, online professional development, and K-12 web-based textbooks and instruction materials.

Other Skills and Abilities

• The employee must possess the ability to maintain high emotional energy and display enthusiasm for the special education teaching and learning environment.
• Must develop effective coping strategies for dealing with high expectations, frequent demands, and significant responsibility of educating large groups of students.
• Must be able to react quickly in volatile situations and maintain composure even under stressful conditions.
• Possess imagination, patience, creativity, sound judgment, logical reasoning, and analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to make equitable decisions with sound emotional judgment.
• Must be able to concentrate with numerous interruptions and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, staff, and the community.
• Ability to understand and facilitate needs of various personality types.