Job Abstract

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST

JOB SUMMARY
Under the direction of the Director of Human Resources, to evaluate the needs of average, gifted, handicapped and disturbed children in an educational setting; to perform psycho educational assessments to determine appropriate programs and instructional processes to enable students to achieve maximum achievement and adjustment; to assist students in understanding and seeking solutions to social, emotional, or academic problems and issues; to serve as a resource pertaining to student behavior management and learning strategies, and welfare and attendance problems and concerns; and to do other related functions as directed.


ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Perform a variety of individual and group psychoeducational assessment and diagnosis of specific learning, emotional and behavioral disabilities;
• Prepare recommendations pertaining to student remediation, placement in special programs, and psychoeducational interventions;
• Consult and confer with instructional and administrative personnel in the development and implementation of instructional methods and procedures designed to facilitate learning and to overcome learning and behavioral disorders;
• Participate in parent conferences, pupil evaluation reviews and provide pupil profiles indicating learning strengths and weaknesses;
• Serve as a member of student study teams and collaborate with other team members in planning special programs, and in the use of remedial instructional materials for students with special needs;
• Consult with parents to further their understanding of the learning and emotional adjustment processes pertaining to their child;
• Counsel pupils individually and in small groups using a variety of data gathering and therapy techniques;
• Serve as a resource to site and District personnel and members of the school community concerning youth services;
• Serve as a liaison between the schools and mental health and juvenile agencies in pursuing referral follow-ups;
• Assist in the development and monitoring of individual education plans for students with exceptional needs;
• May pursue evaluation and research activities to determine the effectiveness of the school psychological service program;
• Assist in identifying school psychological service needs;
• Plan and present, as requested, a variety of management related reports pertaining to school psychological service functions and activi¬ties.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
KNOWLEDGE OF

• Principles, methods, techniques, strategies, and trends in educational, social, and emotional adjustment assessment functions;
• Applicable and appropriate psychological and achievement appraisal instruments, techniques, and procedures;
• Social service and youth service agencies in the local and greater metropolitan area;
• Social, emotional, and behavioral characteristics of pre-school and school age students;
• Evaluation and research techniques, strategies, and procedures;
• Curriculum and instruction programs proven to be beneficial to pupils with special learning needs.

ABILITY TO
Effectively and efficiently assess students and aid them in analyzing and developing alternative solutions to behavioral, educational, social, and emotional problems and concerns;
Conduct, analyze, and effectively utilize a variety of individual and group counseling techniques applicable to the student with severe learning, behavioral and emotional needs;

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
ABILITY TO

• Effectively deal with site and District personnel, parents, social service, and youth service agencies in resolving student problems and concerns;
• Effectively participate in the planning and implementation of individual educational and learning plans;
• Communicate effectively in oral and written form;
• Organize tasks, set priorities, maintain work pace;
• Perform repetitive tasks;
• Complete work assignments on schedule;
• Respond appropriately to directions and changes in working assignments;
• Work with minimal supervision;
• Manage multiple tasks;
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions with minimal accountability controls;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to assess severely handicapped students.

EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree and Masters degree, including all courses needed to meet credential requirements.

EXPERIENCE
Two years of successful school psychologist experience; classroom teaching or counseling at the elementary or secondary school level is desirable.

CREDENTIAL
General Pupil Personnel Services with the authorization to serve as a Psychologist Standard Pupil Personnel Designated Services with the Psychologist authorization: or Personnel Services Basic Pupil Personnel Services School Psychologist.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical requirements indicated below are examples of the physical aspects that this position must perform in carrying out the essential functions listed above.

Physical Demands - Sitting (up to continuously); stand, walk, bend, stoop, look up/ down (occasionally); push, pull, twist, squat, climb stairs (infrequently); repetitive hand activities within close reach, such as keyboard, mouse, handwriting, files & phone (continuously); lift/ carry office supplies, up to 10 pounds (frequently), to 30 pounds (occasionally); use seeing, hearing and speaking.

Working Conditions – Indoor office setting; exposure to usual office sounds and student noise, traffic and school bells; seasonal temperatures; office dust & (possible) odor of perfume or room deodorizer.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.