School Psychologist

KEPPEL UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT DISTRICT PSYCHOLOGIST Brief Description of Position The District Psychologist assumes the role of the Keppel Union School District representative assigned to accept, coordinate, and in-process pupils from school, parent, and/or self-referral basis for screening and evaluation of possible special education placements. He/she makes recommendations for educational programs and psychological/counseling services or assistance, and confers with parents, teachers, pupils, administrators, etc., regarding possible program alternatives. He/she attends evaluation and placement team (Individualized Educational Placement Team, IEPT) meetings for special programs. He/she provides psychological services to schools including educational consulting, school climate evaluations, and special education/regular education inservices, and assists in developing and serves as a member of a District "Crisis Intervention Team." The District Psychologist provides recommendations for special education curriculum content. He/she also serves as coordinator of District special education teachers' meetings. Major Duties and Responsibilities 1) Assesses and evaluates individual students and prepares psychological diagnosis utilizing a variety of standardized intelligence, achievement, personality, perceptual and motor tests, and professional judgment. 2) Assesses a student's intelligence, emotional adjustment adaptive behavior, language development, school achievement, learning potential, and social needs; aids in the diagnostic evaluation of a student's learning styles and makes recommendations for school and class placements as appropriate. 3) Interprets test findings to parents and counsels them regarding the student's potential, achievement level and personality adjustment; assists parents in understanding the student's needs, growth, and development; makes appropriate referrals to County and/or State special education programs. 4) Conducts initial evaluation and tri-annual evaluation of individual special-ed students and asists with the annual review of their academic and social progress. 5) Confers with teachers, administrators, and other professional staff on findings of individual tests and assists them in their efforts to better understand and place each student in an appropriate and least restrictive educational setting. 6) Observes students in the school settings, and may make home visits to confer with parents; analyzes observed behavior, provides professional personnel with psychological evaluation, and recommendations to remediate learning, emotional, and behavior problems. 7) Reviews and processes student information gained from tests, observations, and other appropriate sources; is responsible for the collection of accurate psychological test information and other data and writes psych-ed reports, including case studies on individual students. 8) Provides assistance to professional staff and parents in determining, writing, and revising I.E.P. goals and objectives; serves as curriculum consultant for students with special learning needs; assists school site principals by monitoring special education classroom locations, class sizes, and teacher selections. 9) Consults with other agencies, both public and private, other psychologists, and physicians for the purpose of correlating all available information regarding individual students in order to recommend the most appropriate and least restrictive educational environment. 10) Conducts inservice training programs for professional and paraprofessional staff and parents to upgrade skills and knowledge of special education programs, parent education, and methods of serving students with special needs; provides consultation with staff and parents on implementation of programs for students. 11) Serves as a liaison with other districts regarding requests for special class placements of individual students. 12) Makes recommendations in cases of pupil exemptions, accelerations, and other cases as requested. 13) Performs other duties as assigned. Additional Duties and Responsibilities 1) Provides individual and group student counseling services; assists in the development of District counseling programs. 2) Seeks, writes, and attains federal, state, and local grants to aid in the establishment of District programs to provide support to the schools in the areas of: a. Reducing the drop-out rate; b. Drug abuse and alcohol abuse; c. Teen pregnancy prevention; d. Gang affiliation problems; e. Child abuse and parent education. 3) Assists in the development of a District "Teacher Morale and Retention Team." 4) Conducts annual Child Study Team screenings and keeps school staff informed of progress. 5) Participates in faculty meetings, parent/teacher meetings, and other community groups as a representative of the District's psychological/counseling services. 6) Attends various professional meetings and inservice workshops as a representative of the District's psychological/counseling services. Supervision Exercised and Received 1) Works under the direction of the Director of Support Services. 2) Supervises the final preparation of student reports and case studies, and other reports as developed. 3) Supervises "Helping Hands Program" instructional aides; assists in the program development and direction; sets schedules and provides inservice. Minimum Position Qualifications 1) Credential

• General Pupil Personnel Services Credential with school psychologist authorization. 2) Education

• Master's Degree, with all required training and intern experience completed from an accredited institution (M. A., plus PPS Credential with school psychologist authorization.) 3) Experience

• Successful completion of an internship leading to the PPS Credential with school psychologist authorization. 4) Must provide own transportation between schools, to be reimbursed at current District mileage rate. May utilize District vehicles as available.
  
  Salary and Work Year 1. Salary commensurate with current Keppel Union School District psychologist schedule at appropriate step and column. 2) 195 working days per contract year. Adopted: June 26, 2003

Requirements / Qualifications

Requirements / Qualifications