School Psychologist

ALBANY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE

Laramie, Wyoming

JOB DESCRIPTION

School Psychologist

POSITION SUMMARY

The School Psychologist is responsible for identifying students with emotional disabilities through formal evaluation procedures; to assist students in managing emotional and behavioral problems through counseling and consulting; and to work with teachers, parents, and administrators in implementing appropriate interventions for students.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The School Psychologist:

Provides principals, school interventions teams, and individual teachers with guidance and training in working with students with emotional and behavioral problems.

• Assists in the diagnosis of emotional disabilities and disturbances.
• Provides teachers and other staff with constructive interventions strategies based on observation and assessment results and assist in the evaluation of the strategies' effectiveness.
• Administers and interprets assessments and evaluations of students to determine the presence of emotional problems.
• Provides counseling for students with emotional disabilities or disturbances regarding school, personal, and social adjustment.
• Provides consultation to parents, teachers, administrators, and other community agencies for the management of students with behavioral and/or emotional disabilities or disturbances.
• Provides the chairperson of the MDAT with specific written findings and recommendations relative to programming and contributes to the Multi-disciplinary Team and IEP process.
• Evaluates the appropriateness of assessment systems used for discriminating classifications of educational handicaps, especially ED.
• Follows the policies and procedures of the school(s) and the
• Maintains accurate and complete records, including testing and other relevant records.
• Ensures that confidentiality is maintained for sensitive records and other information.
• Responds appropriately to student behavior in the total school environment by enforcing school rules in hallways, on the grounds, and other areas of the school.
• Participates in professional growth (such as professional organizations, coursework, workshops, and conferences) and other professional activities (such as school and/or District committees, taskforces, in-depth studies, or councils).
• Demonstrates a sense of professional responsibility, such as demonstrating ethical behavior; providing accurate data and reports when needed; meeting deadlines; maintaining confidentiality; caring for the equipment and materials; and dressing appropriately; exhibiting sensitivity to those with special needs; maintaining good professional relationships with parents and community members; and presenting a good role model.

• Other duties as assigned.
• Denotes essential functions (The tasks listed under the heading of Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities are examples of the variety and general nature of duties performed by employees in positions allocated to the classification.

This specification should not be interpreted to describe all the duties which may be assigned to an employee at this level.)

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

Ability to develop and maintain a positive relationship with students and to provide a climate conducive to testing and counseling; ability to use effective communication skills; knowledge of special education law and regulations; ability to use time effectively; good organizational skills; ability to maintain a positive relationship with other staff by collaborating and working cooperatively with them (including supervisors); knowledge of physiological, psychological, emotional and educational behavioral development of children and/or adolescents; ability to lead meetings; ability to help groups achieve consensus; and knowledge of the various categories of disabilities and educational programs appropriate for students with those conditions.

ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Master's Degree (doctorate preferred); certification from Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board with an endorsement as a school psychologist or licensure from the Wyoming Board of Mental Health Professionals.

Work Experience:

Experience as an educator or related-service provider is preferred.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• The Physical Abilities and Working Conditions listed in this section are representative of but are not intended to provide an exhaustive list of Physical Abilities and Working Conditions which may be required for this position.

Albany County School District #1 encourages persons with disabilities who are interested in employment for this position and need reasonable accommodation of those disabilities to contact the Chief Human Resources Officer for further information.

• Vision:

  (which may be corrected) to read small print; view a computer screen for prolonged periods.

• Hearing:

  (which may be corrected) to answer telephones and tolerate exposure to noisy conditions.

• Speech:

  to be understood in face-to-face communications; to speak with a level of proficiency and volume to be understood over a telephone.

• Upper Body Mobility:

  use hands and fingers to feel, grasp, and manipulate small objects; manipulate fingers, twist and bend at the wrist and elbow; extend arms to reach outward and upward; use hands and arms to lift objects; turn, raise, and lower the head.

• Strength:

  to lift, push, pull and/or carry objects which weigh as much as 15 or more pounds on a frequent basis.

• Environmental Requirements:

  encounter constant work interruptions; work cooperatively with others; work independently; work indoors and outdoors.

•

Mental Requirements:

read, write, understand, interpret, and apply information at a moderately complex level essential for successful job performance; math skills at a high school proficiency level; judgement and the ability to process information quickly; learn quickly and follow verbal procedures and standards; give verbal instruction; rank tasks in order of importance; copy, compare, compile, and coordinate information and records.•

Additional Work Conditions and Physical Abilities:

May require travel to multiple sites.

EVALUATION

• Evaluation of this position shall be by the Chief Student Advocacy Officer/Principal.