TITLE: SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST

QUALIFICATIONS:  

1.  Education:

• Master's degree in Psychology, Education, or a related field.
• Post-Master’s Certifications in Psychometry and School Psychology.
• Valid School Psychology Certificate issued by the State Department of Education.

2.  Skills, Knowledge, Abilities

• Graduate level courses in the following areas: special education; educational psychology; child and adolescent psychology; social psychology; research, statistics, and research design, psycho-educational diagnostic procedures; interventional strategies; special problems in the practice of school psychology.
• Proficiencies in interview techniques, counseling techniques, individual test interpretation, group testing procedures, and in-service and workshop presentation.
• Knowledge of special education policy ad procedures, Federal and State laws concerning school psychological services; supportive services available to patrons in the community, county, and state.   

REPORTS TO: Executive Director of Special Services, Assistant Director of Special Services                    

SUPERVISES: Approved psychometrist, practicum students, and psychologist interns as authorized by the Executive Director of Special Services.        

JOB GOAL: To enable students to derive an appropriate educational experience from school by administering proper psychological evaluations and other activities as described below.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

CONSULTATION:

• Give healthy and effective alternatives to teachers, parents, and administrators about
  problems in learning and behavior.
• Help others understand child development and how it affects learning and behavior.
• Strengthen working relationships between educators, parents, and community services.

PREVENTION:

• Identify potential learning difficulties.
• Design programs for at-risk children.
• Provide parents and teachers with information and the skills to cope with 
  disruptive behavior.
• Help foster tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of diversity in the 
  school community.
• Develop school-wide initiatives to make schools safer and more effective.

INTERVENTION:

• Work face-to-face with children and families.
• Help solve conflicts and problems in learning and adjustment.
• Provide psychological counseling for children and families.
• Provide social skills training, behavior management/analysis, and 
  other strategies.
• Help families and schools deal with crises, such as separation and loss.

ASSESSMENT:

• Use a wide variety of techniques at an individual, group, and systems level 
  to evaluate:
1. Academic skills
2. Learning aptitudes
3. Personality and emotional development
4. Social skills
5. Childhood disorders, i.e., attention, hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, etc.
6. Behavior
7. Learning environment and school climate
8. Eligibility for special services 

• Maintains punctual schedule, as assigned, and keeps written daily log of activities.
• Presents weekly schedule to Director of Special education and informs when this 
  schedule is changed.
• Performs such other tasks and assumes such other responsibilities as the Director of 
  Special Education may determine.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• 10-month contract
• 192 days 
• Yearly stipend $7,500

EVALUATION: Performance of this job will be evaluated annually by the Director of Special Education.  This evaluation will be in accordance with provisions of the Board's policy on Evaluation of Professional Personnel.