School Psychologist (Anticipated for 2025 -2026 SY)

Job Summary
To assess the abilities, aptitudes, interests, academic achievement, personality, and adjustment of individual students with learning and/or emotional needs and to interpret this information to appropriate school personnel and parents.
Essential Functions

• Conducts diagnostic study and/or psychological evaluations of the individual child to include: consults with parents to gain background information for evaluation purposes, an evaluation of current academic and intellectual functioning of the child (private schools included), identification of strengths and needs in learning potential, and assessment (including gifted) of personality and social factors that affect the child’s learning and personal and school adjustment. Tracks and meets all legally required timelines for completion of individual evaluations.
• Interprets diagnostic findings and consults with the individual, appropriate school personnel, parents, and agencies and makes recommendations relevant to these findings; recommends appropriate referrals for further diagnostic evaluations, e.g., to speech therapists, reading specialists, psychiatrists, and neurologists; and assists parents and teachers to understand typical and atypical behavior in children. Participates in IEP, GIEP meetings or Section 504 service agreement meetings, as requested.
• Assesses school readiness for children whose parents request early entrance to kindergarten or first grade and assists with coordination and planning for transition of Early Intervention students to school age programming.
• Recommends placement of children in special education programs; facilitates the placement and systematic re-evaluation of exceptional children in special education programs; and assists professional staff to provide appropriate modifications for exceptional students in the general education environment.
• Consults with school principals and department members to develop, implement, and evaluate programs for students in special education and general education programs as well as the administrative staff concerning matters relating to the delivery of psychological services.
• Keeps appropriate records concerning psychological evaluations and recommendations; prepares Evaluation reports for distribution to referring teacher, principal, parent, and outside agencies when appropriate; and interprets psychological and education reports received from other agencies on students.
• Abides by federal, state and local school laws and regulations, mandated programs, District policies and administrative regulations.
• Researches and applies current developments in psychological testing and evaluation; provides periodic updates of legal issues in delivery of psychological services as appropriate; and assures the maintenance of an ethical approach in psychological activities in the schools, protecting the rights of individuals involved, to the adherence to N.A.S.P. ethical standards.
• Consults with appropriate administrators to revise and formulate procedures and programs pertaining to activities such as screening, placement, education, and training of exceptional children.
• Consults with other staff members about individuals with learning or behavioral needs; provides relevant information; prepares and implements, in cooperation with local school personnel, systematic positive behavioral support programs; helps develop appropriate remedial procedures; and promotes the establishment of programs designed to prevent the development of psychological problems in school students.
• Serves as a member of the district-wide Crisis Response Team. Provides short-term adjustment counseling or crisis intervention counseling to the individual child.
• Assists school personnel with in-service training on issues related to psychological services, improving their skills and identifying students who need referral to internal student support services or outside agencies and, participates in and contributes to District-level curricular and administrative meetings as needed. Serves as the District representative at professional meetings on national, state, and local levels in the areas related to psychological services; participates in professional conferences, conventions, and workshops so as to keep abreast of professional changes and developments; and establishes good working relationships with the various agencies and offices within the community that offer special help to pupils and their parents.
• Develops or assists in development of interpretive and informational materials, handbooks and manuals, regarding psychological services and related pupil needs as they are used by pupil services staff, the Superintendent, other members of the school, the school board, and the public.
• Provides supervision and support to special education paraprofessionals (scheduling, provides clarification regarding duties, and provides professional development).

Licenses and Certifications
Valid certificate to practice as a school psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania required.