School Psychologist

Title: School Psychologist

Reports to: Building Principal

Classification: Collective Bargaining Agreement

Essential Functions: The school psychologist is trained to provide health and psycho-educational services to children, staff and the school community.

The school psychologist is trained to deal with a wide range of problems that confront children, parents, teachers, and administrators. The school psychologist is committed to the development of the full potential of each child, which requires an understanding of:

Health Issues
Academic Difficulties
Behavioral Problems
Social Skills
Family Stresses
School System Concerns
Community Pressures
Qualifications:

Master's degree or higher. National Certification requires 60 semester credits (90 quarter credits) beyond the baccalaureate degree.

In addition, at least one full year (1200 hours) of supervised internship / practicum experience is also required. In total, school psychologists need three years of graduate study and successful scores on a national examination to attain national certification. Many school psychologists further their level of expertise by obtaining the doctoral degree or licensure as an educational psychologist or psychologist.

Responsibilities:

Program Management

The School Psychologist manages time effectively and provides services and/or follow-up on interventions in a timely manner:

Demonstrates effective time management of administrative duties, program implementation, and direct consultation services with students, families, and staff.

Uses time to best advantage, manages scheduling effectively, and follows tasks to completion.

Prepares required reports and assessment results in a timely manner.

Maintains and adheres to daily/weekly/quarterly/yearly schedule of counseling services and programs.

Documents counseling appointments, referrals, incidents, interventions, and results.

Counseling
The school psychologist uses training and experience in a variety of counseling techniques which are appropriate for the age and background of students and the needs of the particular school system. The school psychologist:

provides group or individual counseling in response to specific adjustment issues such as divorce, grief, and substance abuse.
conducts focus groups on the importance of establishing healthy thinking and living habits to help prevent problems, such as those associated with substance abuse, eating disorders and sexual conduct.
engages in group or individual counseling with "at risk" students.
provides social skills training to students for the purpose of establishing healthy thinking and living.

Assessment / Evaluation
The school psychologist examines the cognitive, social/emotional, environmental, and cultural factors affecting a child's learning progress through a wide variety of techniques. The school psychologist integrates relevant information from individual assessments of the child, the child's educational, social, and medical history, family information, and an understanding of the context of the classroom where the child is expected to learn. The school psychologist brings to this task a strong background in diverse learning styles and factors that could facilitate and impede the learning process. The school psychologist:

engages in assessment activities with individual children to gain a understanding of their intellectual, academic, and emotional functioning at a particular point in time.
develops an understanding of a child's functioning within a classroom setting by means of observation and teacher reports.
meets with parents, teachers, and administrators to integrate school and home information, to formulate recommendations for appropriate program decisions, and to help all involved understand how the child can learn best.
helps the child understand and cope with information about his/her learning style and any changes in his/her educational program.

Collaboration

The School Psychologist consults with students, families, and school staff to assist in meeting needs of students:
Serves as a resource for families regarding counseling/psychological issues for students.
Provides assistance to teacher/teams in planning educational strategies for students.
Serves on school-based committees and attends meetings/conferences when required/requested.
Instructional Support Team Chair
504 Program Coordinator
CBM Data Team
Establishes/maintains collaborative relationships with other service providers to facilitate program/service integration.
Provides information and support to teachers about the inclusion in the regular classroom of students with specific disabilities such as Tourette's Syndrome and ADHD.

Crisis Intervention
The school psychologist supports students and school staff members cope with a wide range of crises that may occur in the course of a school day, week, or year. The school psychologist:

guides the process of coping with major school-wide crises such as the death or serious illness of a teacher or fellow student.
provides support and guidance during community-wide disasters.
helps to resolve conflicts between students in a peaceful manner.
facilitates the students' ability to solve problems by helping students develop personal responsibility for conflict resolution.
Draws on all his/her skills to:

reassure shocked and frightened students and staff,
listen to and facilitating individuals' expressions of grief,
convey accurate information to reduce the agitation produced by harmful rumors, and
mobilize additional community personnel to provide therapeutic interventions when necessary.
provide support and coping strategies to students in personal crises (e.g. a parent's serious illness or death).
As an integral member of the school community, the school psychologist maintains a daily, reassuring presence in the school environment during times of crisis.