School Psychologist

Purpose: The School Psychologist is to serve in the capacity of a consultant and co-worker with all teachers and educational service personnel in the public school system. The psychologist’s major interest is the mental health and educational success of all children enrolled in the public school.

Responsible to: Director of Rice County Special Services

Supervises: Classified personnel as assigned by the administration

Qualifications:

• Kansas State Teaching Certificate/Licenses in assigned area(s) of instruction.
• Highly qualified as defined in the No Child Left Behind Legislation.
• Ability to convey information to students in a variety of methods to induce learning.
• Ability to use technology as an instructional tool.
• Ability to use appropriate classroom management skills that insure a positive learning environment.
• Keep active in understanding the current trends in the discipline.

Essential Functions:

• Ability to communicate effectively with students, parents, colleagues, and the community.
• Ability to effectively manage the classroom.
• Ability to perform assigned tasks.
• Ability to establish goals and objectives.
• Ability to design effective strategies to achieve goals.
• Ability to make the subject matter relevant to the students.
• Ability to supervise students in non-classroom settings.
• Ability to promote education throughout the community.
• Ability to insure classroom activities conform to District policies, rules, and regulations.

Physical Requirements /

Environmental Conditions:

• Must occasionally work in noisy and crowded environments with numerous interruptions.
• Requires stooping, kneeling, bending, turning, and reaching.
• Ability to move equipment within the building as required.
• Requires prolonged sitting and standing; and use of equipment causing eye fatigue.

General responsibilities:

• The school psychologist shall deal with psychological problems of children by becoming involved in the diagnosis and remediation of school-related problems through the use of a variety of techniques. These may include psycho educational assessment, consultation, counseling, and classroom intervention.
• The school psychologist shall serve as a child advocate to insure that educational placement is within the due process guidelines as dictated by Kansas law and school policy.
• The school psychologist shall conduct psycho educational evaluations and interpret results to school personnel and parents.
• The school psychologist shall participate in staffings for special education eligibility and keep appropriate staffing records.
• The school psychologist shall serve as a consultant to all school staff for the prevention of learning and behavior problems.
• The psychologist shall collaborate with parents and school personnel in planning programs to meet the needs of students unable to function in the regular educational program.
• The school psychologist must be able to work effectively with students ages preschool to twenty-one.
• The school psychologist makes recommendations on ways to assist a student referred to him/her for examination.
• The school psychologist conducts individual, group, or facilitative therapy for students whose diagnosed problem would benefit from behavior modification.
• The school psychologist participates in inservice training programs.
• The school psychologist keeps abreast of new developments in the field.
• The school psychologist helps identify within the school all types of exceptional children.
• The school psychologist maintains case records on all referred students.
• The school psychologist serves as a consultant on mental health topics for instructors in the school environment.
• The school psychologist interprets school psychological services to teachers and parents.
• The school psychologist cooperates with personnel of community health and social welfare agencies.
• The school psychologist acts as a liaison between the school, juvenile court, and other outside agencies serving children and youth.
• The school psychologist attends staff, professional, and interagency meetings.
• The school psychologist conducts appropriate research.
• The school psychologist provides community education as a resource speaker as needed.

Term of Employment: As per negotiated teacher contract plus 10 days.

Payment Rate: According to Certified Salary Schedule

Evaluation: Performance effectiveness will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board of Education Policy of Certified Personnel.