School Psychologist

Houston County Board of Education

Job Description

Certified Positions

Job Title    School Psychologist                                       Job Code __405________

Department/Location _Student Services                      FLSA Status   Exempt

Reports To    Coordinator for Student Services

                      Assist. Supt. Student Services                  Date      March 13, 2007

Summary and relationship to the curriculum:  This position provides consultation, assessment, prevention/intervention, and professional learning service to staff and families to ensure the educational success of all children in accordance with the system’s mission. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Demonstrates appropriate consultative skills in parent, teacher and student conferences.

1. Serves as a liaison in providing for the unique needs of a child by maintaining good working relationships with school personnel, community agencies, public organizations, etc.

1. Helps others understand child development and how it affects learning and behavior.

1. Recommends appropriate remedial and intervention strategies for students.

1. Uses a variety of techniques to evaluate academic skills, learning aptitudes, personality  and emotional development, social skills, learning environments, and eligibility for     Special Services.

1. Responds appropriately and within federal and state guidelines to referrals for initial  psychological assessments and for re-evaluations of children in special education           

1. Participates in eligibility and program decisions in meeting the needs of students with

1. Demonstrates a competent and current understanding of the psychometric     characteristics of a variety of assessment tools.

1. Communicates psychological assessment results and recommendations both verbally and through written reports.

1. Helps solve conflicts and problems in learning and in adjustment.

1. Provides counseling to individual students or groups of students as a part of the              educational program designed to meet the individual needs of students.

1. Helps individuals, families, and schools deal with crises such as separation and loss.

1. Provides parents and teachers with skills to cope with disruptive behaviors.

1. Helps foster tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of diversity in the school   

1. Provides in-service training as needed to administration, faculties, special education staff, parents, etc. in the evaluation-assessment process and the application of the results to the child's development.

1. Participates in training programs to increase skills and proficiency related to the job assignments.

1. Reviews current developments, literature, and technical source information related to job responsibilities.

1. Develops programs on topics such as teaching and learning strategies, classroom               management techniques or crisis management to meet the needs of individual schools.

1. Complies with federal and state laws, as well as District rules, regulations, and policies.

1. Assumes any other duties as assigned by the Assistant Superintendent for Student Services or Lead Psychologist.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

1. Education and/or Experience: Specialist Degree in School Psychology required. 
2. Certificate or License Required: Valid Georgia Professional Certificate in School Psychology as issued by the Professional Standards Commission.  National Certification in School Psychology (NCSP) is also desirable. 
3. Language Skills: Ability to read and comprehend memos, correspondence and instructions.  Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one, small and large group situations to students, faculty, parents, community and administrators.  Ability to complete/type/write comprehensive Psycho-educational Evaluation Reports to be entered into a student’s educational record.  
4. Mathematical Skills: Must have a working familiarity with statistical and psychometric terms and properties, to include but not be limited to, mean, median, mode, standard deviation, standard error of measure and measures of statistical significance. Must also be able to compute rate, ratio, percentages, and, to draw and interpret bar graphs.  
5. Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common-sense understanding to carry out detailed but written or oral instructions. Ability to deal effectively with complex problems involving many variables in non-standardized situations is essential.
6. Technical Ability: Must have considerable knowledge of Microsoft Office Products. Must demonstrate a competent understanding of the psychometric characteristics of a variety of assessment instruments. These can include, but not limited to, measures of reliability, measures of validity, theoretical and empirical constructs for given instruments.       
7. Customer Service Skills: Must be able to interact effectively with colleagues, administrators, teachers, staff members, students using tactful yet effective skills.

Professional Requirements:  Must serve as a role model to students.  Desirable personal characteristics are required. Appropriate dress and grooming consistent with established standards required.  Must be at work on time.  Must meet attendance standards.  Must conduct activities safely. 

Physical Demands:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, and lift.  Occasionally, the employee must crouch or kneel.  The employee must be able to exert or lift up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Frequent travel involves exposure to traffic and outdoor elements.

Confidential Data Exposure:   The nature of this position entails exposure to confidential data.  Confidentiality must be held regarding financial and personal information. 

Additional Requirement:  Must be at work on time.  Must meet attendance standards.  Must conduct activities safely. 

Prepared By  _Dr. Ruth O’Dell                                Date  __November 5, 2006______

Approved By Board of Education ____________ Date  March 13, 2007___________

                                                                            Revision Dates:  03-13-07, 3-15-11