School Psychologist

TITLE: School Psychologist

DEPARTMENT: Student & Family Services

REPORTS TO: Director of Student Services

RECEIVES GUIDANCE FROM: Executive Director of Student and Family Services

EVALUATES: N/A

POSITION INVENTORY: Bargained

POSTION TYPE: TCHR

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

FT/PT: Full Time

DAYS:  195 or 199 day contract      HOURS: 7.75 Hour Day

BASIC FUNCTION:

School psychologists emphasize a problem-solving approach to provide direct and indirect services to resolve identified student concerns. They function as part of the multi-disciplinary team to provide expertise of child development, the psychology of learning, progress monitoring, and program evaluation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Operate within a multi-disciplinary team serving students with disabilities.
2. Assess student characteristics including cognitive function, emotional adjustment, adaptive behavior, language development, learning potential, academic performance, and rate of progress using non-discriminatory tools to determine appropriate interventions, instructional recommendations, and services.
3. Consult with school personnel and parents regarding planning, implementing, and evaluating individual and group interventions within MTSS.
4. Provide leadership and professional development regarding appropriate utilization of
   standardized assessments and implications for instruction during the Child Find and Re-evaluation process.
5. Provide leadership and professional development regarding best practices for interventions within a MTSS model.
6. Conduct direct observations of students within the school setting.
7. Engage in professional development to remain informed of new development, legislation, contemporary research, and reading professional literature in the field of school psychology.
8. Conduct comprehensive psychological evaluations for the purpose of educational planning. 
9. Assist the multi-disciplinary team in conducting functional behavior assessments (FBA) and develop behavior intervention plans (BIP) in accordance with IDEA.
10. Collaborate and provide guidance regarding suspected disability.
11. Provide psychological consultation to parents, teachers, support staff, and administrators.
12. Work collaboratively with mental health professionals in the community to provide services to students with disabilities and their families.
13. Advocate for the human and civil rights of students utilizing non-discriminatory practices.
14. Support the implementation of school wide prevention programs that help maintain positive school climates conducive to learning.
15. Provide supervision and professional guidance for school psychologist interns, as needed.
16. Implement professional practices that are empirically supported, data driven, and culturally appropriate.
17. Help identify and resolve barriers to learning and provide effective services to help student success academically, socially, emotionally and behaviorally.
18. Promote wellness and resilience by reinforcing the need for safe, supportive, fair, and effective learning environments.

ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (for every DMPS position):

1. Attend work on a prompt and regular basis.
2. Maintain confidentiality.
3. Maintain satisfactory and harmonious working relationships with the public, students, and other employees.
4. Assist with other duties as may be assigned.

HIRING SPECIFICATIONS:

Required:

1. Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology from a NASP approved program or
   NCSP certification.
2. Valid IA Board of Educational Examiners certification.

Desired:

1. Experience working with school-aged population

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

1. Compentency working in a culturally diverse environment or willingness to acquire these skills.  

All of the above duties and responsibilities are essential job functions subject to reasonable accommodation. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or ability to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. Individuals may be required to perform any other job-related instructions as requested by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.

Approved By: Maureen Norris

Date: 07/03/2023

Salary : $50,093 - $76,474