School Psychologist

School Psychologist

Program: Special Education

Classification: Certificated

Salary: Certificated Salary Schedule (Appendix B, GTA negotiated agreement)

Work Year: 10 additional days beyond the designated teacher work year

Evaluator: Director, Student Services or Designee

• Consult with parents, teachers, administrators and appropriate agencies in the planning of educational, therapeutic, and behavioral programs; agency personnel may include private physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, probation officers, mental health professionals, and others as appropriate.
• Recommend appropriate educational and psychological remediation through the use of psychological tests.
• Interpret and analyze the assessment results with regard to the intellectual, academic, social, emotional, and behavioral development of pupils, and the implications of results for the instructional program.
• Prepare written assessment reports for each student evaluated.
• Prepare Functional Analysis Assessments or Functional Behavior Assessments as needed to prepare behavior intervention plans.
• Participate on Individual Educational Plan team reviews.

Job Description – School Psychologist

• Conduct required re-evaluations on Special Education students.
• Make classroom observations.
• Provide parent education and support.
• Assist in establishing guidelines as mandated by federal and state programs, including IEP process and 504 accommodation plans.
• Attend/assist in coordination of schools site specific special education department meetings to review student and staff issues.
• Provide staff and program development to teachers and administrators regarding application of state and federal guidelines, classroom management, and instructional planning, to meet the specific needs of the pupil.
• Participate in the development of school services promoting positive mental health and effective environment for learning.
• Initiate referrals to Mental Health Services when needed.
• Assist in the evaluation of the effectiveness of specific phases of educational programs.
• Serve as a resource person in such areas as guidance, curriculum, child development, and tests and measurements.
• Serve as a member of the Student Study Team.
• Attend staff and committee meetings and conferences when appropriate.
• Review current research and literature in psychology.
• Assist in planning research projects for the improvement of educational programs for children.
• Prepare and deliver oral and written reports, recommendations, and presentations to committees, parents, and others.
• Is a member of the Crisis Intervention Team that provides services for sudden illness, injury and emotional disturbances.

OTHER RELATED DUTIES:

• Attend appropriate conferences, workshops, and meetings to keep informed of current practices and trends in education.
• Participate in community as liaison by speaking to parent and civic groups.
• Performs other related duties as may be assigned by the Director – Student Services or Designee.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of proper management and supervisory techniques and procedures.
• Knowledge of program planning, development and evaluation methods.
• Knowledge of behavior management and strategies.
• Knowledge of appropriate teaching pedagogy
• Ability to maintain, interpret and analyze data
• Ability to direct, supervise and evaluate the work of others
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form
• Ability to work effectively with diverse groups
• Ability to identify problems, define causes and develop solutions

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Physical, mental, and emotional stamina to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Mental acuity to collect and interpret data, evaluate, reason, define problems, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, make valid judgments and decisions.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to write, use the telephone, computer, calculator, and office machines at required speed and accuracy.
• Vision sufficient to read handwritten and printed materials and the display screen of various office equipment including computer equipment.
• Hearing sufficient to communicate in person and hold telephone conversations in normal range (approximately 60 decibels)
• Speaking ability in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in normal conversational distances on the telephone and addressing groups.
• Physical agility to sit, stand, kneel, walk, push/pull, squat, twist, turn, bend, stoop, and to reach overhead.
• Physical stamina sufficient to sustain light physical labor of up to 8 hours, sit and/or walk for prolonged periods of time.
• Physical mobility sufficient to move about the work environment (office, district, school site to site) for sustained periods of time on hard flooring, climbing slopes, stairs, ramps, and to respond to emergency situations.
• Physical strength sufficient to periodically lift and/or carry 40 pounds of materials of supplies; occasionally lift 80 or more pounds with assistance.
• Typical indoor work environment

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Successful experience as a school psychologist or in other area of psychology.
• Successful experience as a classroom teacher.
• Successful experience with developing behavior plans and modeling behavior strategies for others.
• Previous experience working effectively with culturally and linguistically diverse groups.
• Ability to speak a language in addition to English
• Successful experience in areas of conflict resolution.
• Ability to use a consultative approach to resolving work related issues.
• Knowledge or organization, operations, policies, and objectives of public education.
• Visibility and involvement in education and the community.
• Previous experience in leadership, coaching, and teambuilding skills to strengthen and cultivate relationships.
• Strategic and analytical thinking skills and the ability to apply deductive reasoning and draw conclusions in order to solve problems and facilitate decision-making processes.
• Ability to continuously seek quality service and process improvements in order to support a mission and strategic vision.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Pupil Personnel Services Credential – School Psychology
• Master’s degree
• Previous experience performing psychological services in a school environment.
• State and federal laws, regulations and guidelines governing special education services.
• Technology and computer software applications relative to requirements of position.