School Psychologist

Tacoma Public Schools

Expected Start Date: September 1, 2024

FTE:  1.0

Hours per day:  7.5

Salary Level: Based on preparation level and experience per TEA Collective Bargaining Agreement - Range is $65,583 - $139,768 per year

Union/Days per year:  Teacher, 182 work days, 10 month

Benefits: This job has the full range of benefits offered by Tacoma Public Schools.

This position helps students with their psycho-educational development, their abilities and potentials, and their social-emotional needs; helps students adjust to cultural and environmental factors which influence the learning and adjustment processes.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

1.Administers appropriate assessments to students, on referral, interprets results, summarizes findings for parents, and reports findings via approved District procedures; writes intervention plans; ensures that assessments and plans are implemented within stipulated time frames and according to guidelines; processes appropriate referral documentation.

2.Consults and collaborates with parents, school staff, and outside agency personnel regarding mental health, behavioral, social-emotional, and educational concerns, and their implications and means of intervention; supervises students in lunchroom, in hallways, on school grounds, and in any program held at the school under school district sanction; meets with parents/guardians on a regular or as-needed basis.

3.Designs and develops procedures for preventing and improving mental health disorders; promotes student mental health and learning, and educational systems improvement.

4.Provides training and other skill-enhancement activities to students, parents, school personnel, and others within the community regarding issues of human development, learning, and behavior, as well as parenting skills, instructional methods, and behavior management.

5.Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with various parent support groups, and governmental and community family service agencies; involves these groups in assessment, intervention, and program evaluation procedures; develops network of social referral sources; provides referrals to outside agencies for crisis intervention and grief counseling.

6.Provides short-term crisis intervention for students referred for psychological and psycho-educational assessments; coordinates and assists in the referral of students and their families to appropriate school and community resources as necessary.

7.Participates with student response team (SRT) in establishing and planning respective roles in modifying a student's behavior; develops individualized student behavior management programs; makes recommendations; provides feedback to SRT members and parents.

8.Maintains current knowledge of state and federal legislation related to disabilities; enhances personal knowledge through participation in case conferences, in-service training, professional organizations, meetings, and ongoing program and theoretical research in the field of school psychology; may serve on related committees.

9.Maintains appropriate reports, records, and files; documents psychological and/or developmental histories for each student in caseload; provides summary progress reports and notes within pre-established time frames.

10. Serves as a consultant to the Board of Education, district and school administrators, teachers, and other staff regarding psychological matters and services within the district.

OTHER JOB DUTIES

1.Maintains and updates knowledge and skills required for success in the position by participating in professional development activities and needed or as assigned.

2.Manages special projects and performs related duties as assigned, on a temporary basis.

3.Regular, reliable, predictable attendance or physical presence is an essential job requirement and critical to the performance of the work.

CONDITIONS

Experiences frequent interruptions; required to attend meetings beyond regular work hours; occasionally required to work an extended work day; required to travel to District and community sites; occasionally required to travel outside of the community; may be required to deal with, and defuse, if appropriate, difficult and/or sensitive situations and/or people; may be exposed to childhood diseases; may be required to lift and carry up to 20 pounds, bend, squat, stoop, kneel, crouch, walk, twist, climb, and/or be mobile.

Education and Experience

Master's degree from an approved school psychology program and successful completion of all assigned practicum and internship requirements; or any combination of experience and training which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and ability required to perform the work.

Licenses/Special Requirements

Must maintain all licenses and certifications as a condition of continued employment.

Valid Washington State ESA certification in school psychology.

Valid Washington State driver's license and access to personal transportation.

Fingerprints and successful WSP and FBI background clearance/sexual misconduct clearance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of state and federal regulations regarding the identification and placement of students in special education.

Knowledge of current theories and methodologies of effective family instructional intervention and behavior modification.

Knowledge of community support resources and family service agencies.

Skill in obtaining, clarifying, and exchanging information.

Skill in providing instruction to parents related to the use of behavior modification techniques.

Ability to communicate effective instructional strategies and interventions, based on synthesis of academic, cognitive, and/or behavioral assessment data.

Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Ability to act as a liaison with community family service agencies and other support resources.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of people in a multi-cultural, diverse socio-economic setting.

Ability to demonstrate reasonable, reliable and regular attendance.

Ability to participate as part of a team.

This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. District administration has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the primary functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise balance the workload.

Tacoma Public Schools does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

• Civil Rights Coordinator: Renee Trueblood, 25-57-252, civilrights@tacoma.k2.wa.us

• Title IX Coordinator, Elementary: Christa Erolin, 25-57-8, cerolin@tacoma.k2.wa.us

• Title IX Coordinator, Secondary: Wayne Greer, 25-57-9, wgreer@tacoma.k2.wa.us 

• 504 Coordinator, Elementary: Jennifer Herbold, 25-57-096, jherbol@tacoma.k2.wa.us 

• 504 Coordinator, Secondary: Megan Nelson, 25-57-00, mnelson@tacoma.k2.wa.us

Mailing address: P.O. Box 57, Tacoma, WA 9840-57.