School Psychologist

Dedham Middle School

Job Title: School Psychologist

Responsible to:  Building Principal, Director of Counseling Services

Primary Functions:  

The role of the school psychologist is to provide effective services to help children and adolescents succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. It is expected that the School Psychologist will provide direct educational and mental health services for students, respond to crises, and improve family-school collaboration. In addition, the school psychologist plays a critical role in decision making using a foundation of data collection, formal assessment, and participation in the special education regulatory process.  

Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in School Psychology required; Doctorate in Psychology preferred.
• General knowledge of regulations and procedures stipulated in the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• General knowledge of regulations and procedures stipulated in the American Disabilities Act (ADA) with emphasis on Section 504.
• Demonstrated knowledge and completion of a variety of formal assessment techniques.
• Successful completion of QBS/SafetyCare training preferred.

• Effective organizational and interpersonal skills; strong ability to work collaboratively with administrators, colleagues, parents/guardians, and others in the delivery of effective services.
• Familiar with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) model, Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs), and Muli-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).

Major Responsibilities:

1.0 Direct Service

2.0 Assessment/Pre-referral

3.0 Referral and Consultation

4.0 Professional Expectations

5.0 Other

Details:

1.0 Direct Service

• Conduct individual counseling sessions with students, individually and in small groups.
• Lead or co-lead group counseling sessions, lunch and/or friendship groups as needed, with a focus on social skill building.
• Assist students with processing personal problems, plan goals and action; promote positive behaviors.
• In formal and informal settings, meet with parents and teachers to discuss learning, behavioral, familial and social problems.
• Conduct classroom observations of students using time-sampling and event recording procedures.  
• Develop, implement, and collect data to evaluate individual behavioral interventions.
• Promote family-school collaboration by creating behavior communication systems between teachers and parents, and facilitate implementation.
• Participate in special education and 504 meetings with parents/guardians and staff members.
• Participate in the development of IEPs for identified students, and adhere  to IEP regulations regarding family communication and progress reporting.

2.0 Assessment/Pre-referral

• Participate in building-based Student Assistant Team (SATs).  
• Support pre-referral activities by completing academic and behavioral health screenings and applying multi-tiered systems of supports and interventions.
• Complete comprehensive initial evaluations and three-year re-evaluations comprised of standardized testing, social, emotional, and behavioral assessments, classroom observations, and student interviews. Maintain and manage assessment materials.
• Score, interpret, and report cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional assessments.

3.0 Referral and Consultation

• Evaluate, support and advise school disciplinary practices for troubled students.
• Meet regularly with the mental and behavioral health team, and other professional staff, regarding issues and concerns around student needs.
• Routinely participate in programmatic staff meetings.
• Research, create, and implement behavioral management techniques.
• Consult and collaborate with teachers, staff members, and administrators to create individual and class-wide interventions.
• Counsel parents/guardians on topics such as bullying prevention, substance abuse, child abuse and neglect, and mental health issues as requested.
• Refer students and families to appropriate outside agencies for support.

4.0 Professional Expectations

• Attend faculty meetings/in-services/professional development activities as requested.

• Support and participate in all mandated DESE monitoring activities as requested; complete educational forms and reports as directed by the school, and/or local educational agency.

5.0 Other

• Carries out any other appropriate responsibilities assigned.