School Psychologist (Applicant Pool

School Psychologist - Applicant Pool

The School Psychologist will support students, teachers, staff, and parents in a variety of ways and in multiple settings to help students succeed. The psychologist will provide assessments and interpret assessment findings; collaborate and communicate with other building supports such as counselors and school social workers to meet the needs of students and staff; and serve as a student advocate in determining educational support.

Essential performance responsibilities include:

• Provide system-wide support for academic and behavior needs through Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) and Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) frameworks.
• Provides assessments of educational and behavioral strengths and needs of students.
• Interprets findings to assist school staff, parents, and referral agencies.
• Integrates evaluation data into comprehensive psycho-educational reports and maintenance of confidential student information.
• Facilitates Multidisciplinary Team meetings.
• Interprets individual student data for student programming and services.
• Identifies specific skill deficits, develop interventions, track and analyze baseline and intervention data for Student Assistance Team (SAT) meetings.
• Collaborate with other building support staff such as counselors and social workers to meet the needs of the students, families and building which may include participation on team meetings (MTSS-B, SAT, 504, MDT, IEP, Crisis Response Team, etc).
• Serves as a student advocate in determining educational support.
• Utilizes interactive skills necessary to be a positive contributor as a disciplinary team leader, counsel individuals with regard to problems to be resolved and responds promptly to conflict and crisis situations.
• Understand and promote use of data for accountability and decision making.
• Makes observations of children in various school settings, identifies and interprets significant behavioral patterns to appropriate staff members, and suggests procedures to be followed in dealing with these children.
• Shares evidence based interventions to be utilized in the problem solving process.
• Coordinates and participates as a member of the Student Assistance Team referral process.
• Participates in the screening, pre-assessment, identification, follow-up for students involved in the referral process.
• Administers individual psychological tests and other assessment instruments as needed for comprehensive individual student evaluations to determine special education eligibility.
• Interprets test results and observations of individual students to staff members, parents, and referral agencies concerned and relates these to classroom activities and procedures.
• Collaborates with staff, parents and other professionals to create supportive learning environments for all learners.
• Consults with the administration and school staff in the improvement of educational programs and school-wide initiatives.
• Participates in the referral of children to other appropriate agencies for further study and/or assistance when appropriate, and acts as a liaison between the school and community professionals providing psychiatric and psychological services.
• Counsels individuals with regard to problems to be resolved and responds promptly to conflict and crisis situations.
• Works with and understands the needs of a diverse student population.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities include:

• Minimum completion of Educational Specialist Degree program from an accredited college or university.
• Satisfactory completion of a one-year internship program.
• Valid Nebraska Department of Education Teaching Certificate with endorsement in School Psychology, or ability to obtain one.
• Ability and patience to work interactively with students.
• Skill in organization, time management, communication, and positive interpersonal skills.
• Excellent skills in verbal and written communication.
• Ability to effectively use Microsoft Outlook and the student information system.
• Excellent attendance record.
• Displays a significant degree of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Ability to conform to proper standards of professional dress and appearance.
• Evidence of the willingness and ability to comply with standards for ethical and professional performance established by the State Board of Education.
• Exhibit strong standards of professional ethics.
• Exhibit skills pertinent to foster positive human relationships and the ability to work effectively with students, staff, parents and the community.
• Knowledge of OPS's mission, purpose, goals and the role of every employee in achieving each of them.

Additional duties may include performing other related tasks as assigned by supervisor and other central office administrators as designated by the Superintendent.

This position may require the ability to use basic office equipment such as computers, copiers, scanners, and fax machine. Must always comply with OPS's guidelines for equipment use.

Limited travel may be required.

Employee punctuality and…