School Psychologist

Position Title:                        School Psychologist
Reports To:                            Exceptional Children’s Director or Designee
Supervises:                            None
Term of Employment:           11 months
 
Knowledge & Skills Required:

•  Knowledge of the delivery of psychological services consistent with the ethical principles and professional standards set forth by the North Carolina Professional School Psychology Standards, based upon the ethical principles and professional standards of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), and the American Psychological Association (APA).
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local policies and regulations in the delivery of school psychological services, specifically as it relates to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and North Carolina Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities.
• Ability to apply sound principles of data-based decision-making to all aspects of school psychology (e.g., designing interventions, monitoring student progress, consulting with school personnel, and disseminating intervention research findings within the school setting).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills are needed to work collaboratively with all school staff to create a positive and safe learning environment for all students.

Responsibilities:

• Provides assistance to Problem Solving Teams (PST), classroom teachers, and others working with students in the school environment in developing academic and behavioral interventions for students.
• Utilize assessment, consultation, counseling, and collaboration skills to develop and provide developmentally appropriate and targeted interventions to meet the identified needs of students.
• Assisting Individual Education Program (IEP) teams with referral concerns for students suspected of having a disability to help determine the need for evaluation.
• Conducts assessments appropriate to the focus of concern and according to professional standards.
• Integrates data from obtained from assessments and evaluations, observations, and consultations, in making recommendations to school staff and teams relative to instructional and educational programming for students.
• Interprets results of written psychological evaluations to teachers, parents, and school teams, clearly and concisely.
• Assists in identifying environmental factors, assessing their impact, and developing effective direct and indirect behavioral and educational interventions to address student needs.
• Provides consultation to teachers, other school staff, and parents regarding strategies to facilitate learning and adjustment for individuals or groups of students.
• Plans and implements in-service training programs for school staff and/or parents based upon assessment of the needs of a school or the school district.
• Assists schools and system administration in developing and updating crisis intervention, school improvement, and other program plans.
• Maintains collaborative relationships with school personnel, community agency representatives, and parents.
• Engages in continuing professional development by participating in appropriate training conferences and individual staff development activities.
• Delivers services consistent with the National Association of School Psychologists and the American Psychological Association's ethical principles and professional standards of practice.

Duties:

• Providing psychological services including psychological assessments, functional behavior assessments, and other assessment procedures such as observations, interviews, to assist in identifying educational, social, emotional, behavioral, and  developmental needs of students.
• Interpretation of assessment results and reporting assessment findings for teachers, parents and school teams including Individual Education Plan (IEP) teams.
• Obtaining, integrating, and interpreting information about a child’s behavior and environmental conditions related to learning and development.
• Consulting with parents, teachers and other school personnel in planning school programs and services to meet the identified needs of children.
• Referring children and families to community agencies and services, when appropriate.
• Providing counseling to individuals or groups of students as appropriate.
• Developing strategies for the prevention of learning and behavior problems.
• Assisting in developing positive behavioral strategies.
• Establish and maintaining expertise in using technology for data management, data analysis, using spreadsheets or other software programs to organize and graphically display data and monitor progress when appropriate for use at the system, building, and individual student level.
• Assists in monitoring accountability procedures to insure compliance of special education records.
• Attends staff meetings for psychological services.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Education and/or Training Required:

• Completion of an approved program in school psychology leading to M.A.  ED.S, CAS, or PH.D specifically in School Psychology.
• A valid North Carolina license as a School Psychologist II or III.