School Psychologist

Position Title:  School Psychologist (K-12)

Department: Professional

Reports To: Superintendent

Prepared By: Superintendent

Approved By: Board of Education

Summary: The school psychologist provides consultation, support, and direct assessment of academic achievement and behavioral health within the school environment.  A school psychologist is responsible for conducting psychological, academic and behavioral assessments in the diagnosis and identification of diverse learners and their needs according to PA Code.  The school psychologist serves as a member of the school team to support a safe and positive school climate, promote, and provide behavioral and mental health services and coordinate care with private agencies.

Terms of Employment:  As outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, plus 20 additional workdays as an extended contract.

Working Conditions:  Most work is performed in a school setting, balanced between an office environment and the larger school setting, with some travel outside of the district.  Work involves direct communication with individual students and families.

Qualification Requirements: 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.

 Ability to work independently, solve problems and make work-related decisions

• Ability to provide leadership in the development, implementation and evaluation of school programs and services as they pertain to student needs
• Ability to collect, analyze and interpret data related to educational programs and services
• Ability to work cooperatively with district employees
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing, for various purposes
• Current Act 34, 114 and 151 clearances

 Education and/or Experience: 

• PA School Psychologist certification 

SPECIFIC POSTION RESPONSIBILITIES:

School Psychologists work with school district personnel at all levels, under the direction of the Superintendent to: 

1. Improve academic achievement by conducting psychological and academic assessments that inform interventions which improve student outcomes. 

1. Promote and facilitate effective management of student and classroom behavior. 

1. Assist school teams in monitoring student progress through the collection and interpretation of student and classroom data. 

1. Promote positive behavior and mental health practices in resolving individual, group, and system level challenges in school behavior and mental health related areas. 

1. Assess student emotional and behavioral needs and design appropriate supports. 

1. Provide individual and group counseling as a related service as needed to address student needs. 

1. Promote understanding of developmental expectations of children with diverse characteristics, cultures, linguistic, and economic backgrounds. 

1. Support diverse learners by assessing diverse learning needs and implementing appropriate supports and/or services. 

1. Conduct appropriate educationally relevant identifications within a time sensitive period as a part of the multidisciplinary team process for diagnostic information of recommendations for the purposes of determining the classification/identification of a student for special education including the Chapters 14, 15, and 16 Pennsylvania Code Eligibility Disability Categories. 

1. Create safe, positive school climates by providing crisis prevention, intervention, and post-vention services as needed along with consultation and direct services to promote social-emotional functioning and learning for students with or without disabilities from diverse backgrounds. 

1. Strengthen family-school partnerships through support to families in understanding their child’s learning and mental health needs taking into account their diverse characteristics, cultures, and linguistic backgrounds as well as providing connections for families with community service providers. 

1. Participate in school-wide assessment and accountability by generating and interpreting useful student and school outcome data and conducting student and group progress monitoring in academics and behavior. 

1. Coordinate the provision of special services and assessments through providers such as, but not limited to, the intermediate unit, consortium, neighboring districts, and/or other providers along with referrals and liaison services to mental health agencies, medical specialists, and private providers. 

1. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Superintendent.