Certified School Psychologist

Position Title: School Psychologist

Location: District Wide

Reports To: Director of Student Services

Term: 12 months

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree and School Psychologist Certification required.
• Experience in the field of mental health, special education, psycho-educational evaluations.
• Every employee must submit an Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form as required under Pennsylvania Act 24 of 2011, Act 34 (Criminal Record Check), Act 151 (Child Abuse History Check), FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) Criminal History Check, and Act 126 Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Training. As per Act 15 of 2015, all clearances must be renewed every five (5) years.
• Also, as of December 22, 2014, Act 168 of 2014 requires all newly hired employees to provide the District with the Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release Form for all former employers in which they had direct contact with children and any current employer/s.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable

Goals:

Under the supervision of the Director of Student Services, the School Psychologist coordinates psychological services for special education students of the District. The School Psychologist also provides administrative support to the Director of Student Services with emphasis on procedural safeguards and technical assistance related to all aspects of special education and psychological services. Responsibilities include providing administrative support to the elementary and secondary principals and assistant superintendent with a strong emphasis on special education procedural safeguards and technical assistance related to all aspects of Chapters 14 (Special Education), Chapter 15 (Section 504), and Chapter 16 (Gifted) of the School Code.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Evaluations:

• Conducts psycho-educational diagnostic evaluations for individual students, classroom observations, and interpretation of data in preparation of Evaluation Reports including recommendations on need and eligibility for special education services.
• Monitors the Re-Evaluation Process including review and/or writing of Reevaluation Reports, which may include evaluations for out-of-District placement students.
• Conducts evaluations for the determination of eligibility for Giftedness
• Monitors and completes a formal screening of students one time each year for giftedness
• Conducts initial evaluations and monitors and assists teams with development and implementation of Chapter 15 Service Agreements.

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Administrative:

• Assists with the coordination of psychological services and is responsible for ensuring implementation of Office of Special Education (OSEP) Corrective Action Plan for Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) as needed.
• Consults with principals and the Director of Student Services regarding discipline procedures for special education students; establishes procedures and plans training for staff.
• Establishes procedures and monitors compliance for conducting Manifestation Determination Reviews for special education students.
• Assists in professional development activities of regular and special education teachers and support staff for improvement of instruction for special education students.
• Provides updates, training and ongoing consultation for building administrators regarding best practices in special education.
• Participates in Crisis Intervention Planning and serves on Crisis Team.
• Participates in Individual Education Program (IEP) meetings to generate academic and behavioral interventions in accordance with pupil needs. Assists in generating placement options.
• Provides direct feedback regarding the manner in which IEP’s and GIEP’s are developed in an effort to maintain compliance with state and local regulations regarding special education and gifted education. Provides training in IEP and GIEP development.
• Participates in IEP meetings as Local Education Agency (LEA) when designated, and represents District as LEA at interagency and Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) meetings; serves as the LEA representative for students placed in special education programs out-of-District (i.e. Approved Private Schools, Alternative Education, Partial Hospitalization Program) as needed.

Consultation:

• Consults with regular education teachers regarding appropriate academic and behavioral interventions.
• Consults with parents regarding individual students needs.
• Consults with Emotional Support Teachers regarding appropriate academic and behavioral interventions, social skills practices, counseling needs, IEP planning, and placement appropriateness
• Consults with guidance counselors, especially in the area of response to behavioral concerns and students in crisis, as well as academic interventions
• Consults and coordinates with outside agencies and services (ie. medical and other professional personnel or agencies) concerning children with educational, medical, and/or psychological concerns.
• Serves as a regular member for assigned Student Assistance Program (SAP) and school-based counselor teams.
• Assists in the facilitation of pre-referral intervention services to ensure least restrictive practices, quality interventions, and screening data.
• Assists with the development and evaluation of a multi-level approach to intervention. Evaluates assessments for intervention on an ongoing basis including Positive Behavioral Support Planning initiatives, including Positive Behavior Support Plan and Crisis Prevention/Intervention.
• Monitors procedures for the delivery of psychological services and assists in the development of effective processes for resolution of educational difficulties This incudes overseeing school based mental health services within designated schools.

Direct Services:

• Conducts individual counseling for students and conducts counseling groups with students as needed.
• Conducts or assists teachers with Functional Behavioral Assessments.
• Perform other guidance functions assigned by the Director of Student Services.

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.

Confidentiality:

Respect and maintain the highest degree of confidentiality with regard to personnel and student records, personal communication from members of the community, School Board and staff.

Language Skills:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedures manuals. Must have the ability to write routine reports, correspondence and to speak effectively before parents, staff and students.

Computer Skills:

Demonstrate proficiency with IBM-based or MAC based personal computers and programs such as Office and Google, spreadsheets, database, and presentation programs.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Must have the ability to compute rate, ratios, and percent.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with multiple problems.

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 stand, walk, and sit. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel or crouch. The employee occasionally is required to lift and/or push up to 25 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and depth vision perception. Good hearing abilities required.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. The individual currently holding this position performs additional duties and additional duties may be assigned.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $65,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

License/Certification:

• Certified School Psychologist (Required)
• Master's Degree (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $65,000 - $70,000