School Psychologist - Tacoma, WA

Thrive Therapies

School psychologists are increasingly stretched thin — evaluating at breakneck speed, writing reports that disappear into file cabinets, and struggling to deliver the consultation and mental health services that actually change outcomes.

Thrive partners with forward-thinking school districts that prioritize evaluation quality and timeliness over throughput. You'll work in environments where your psycho educational assessments are used strategically, your intervention plans are implemented with fidelity, and your mental health consultation is built into the school's prevention and response framework. Many of our school psychology partnerships include reduced evaluation ratios and time protected for data-informed case conceptualization.

As a School Psychologist, you conduct comprehensive psycho educational and developmental evaluations; provide crisis intervention and mental health consultation; contribute to school safety and threat assessment; support special education and RTI initiatives; and partner with families and educators to promote student resilience, academic achievement, and social-emotional well-being.

• Conduct comprehensive psycho educational evaluations including cognitive, academic, behavioral, and social-emotional assessment using standardized and informal tools
• Interpret assessment data, synthesize findings, and generate clear, actionable diagnostic reports and recommendations for educators and families
• Provide counseling and crisis intervention to students experiencing mental health emergencies, trauma, suicidality, or behavioral escalation
• Collaborate on special education evaluations, IEP development, and eligibility determination under IDEA and Section 504
• Provide consultation to teachers and administrators on evidence-based classroom management, positive behavioral support, and learning environment design
• Participate in threat assessment, crisis team planning, and school safety initiatives
• Support RTI/MTSS implementation and contribute to school-wide assessment and progress monitoring systems

• Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in School Psychology from a NASP-approved program, or Doctoral degree (Ph.D./Psy.D.) in School Psychology or Clinical Psychology
• National Certification in School Psychology (NCSP) or eligible to obtain
• Valid, unrestricted state licensure/certification as a School Psychologist
• Current CPR certification
• Proof of immunization status and background check clearance per school district requirements

• 2+ years of school-based school psychology experience
• Experience with advanced cognitive and academic assessment tools (Woodcock-Johnson, Stanford-Binet, WISC, CELF, KTEA)
• Training in suicide risk assessment and crisis intervention
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and cultural competency in assessment
• Experience with RTI/MTSS and data-driven decision-making

Compensation is paid over 10 months, aligned to the school-year calendar. All figures below reflect the Greater Tacoma, WA market. Base Compensation W-2 Base Salary $95,000 – $109,800, based on experience. W-2 employment means full benefits, paid time off, retirement match, disability coverage, and malpractice insurance — all on us. Your total compensation is built to reflect what this work is worth.

1099 Contractor Rate $71-$87/hr if flexibility is what fits your life, we built that in. Our 1099 option puts you in control of how you work — with a competitive hourly rate, full professional supports, and your career mobility fully intact. Additional Earning Potential! Sign-On Bonus $6,000 — paid 25% at 30 days, 25% at 90 days, 50% at 6 months.

Our sign-on bonus is a signal: we're committed to you from the moment you say yes, and we want you to feel that. Longevity Structure Up to $2,000 — paid after completing your first full school year. We're building Thrive around the people who commit to this work and to each other over the long haul — because that's who our kids and schools depend on.

Every year you come back, we reward it. And it grows with you. CEU Stipend $750 your first year → growing up to $2,000 after…