PSYCHOLOGIST

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST – PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES

Under limited supervision, facilitates learning, and promotes the cognitive, social and personal development of all students. May supervise professional, paraprofessional and clerical staff.

Reports to Supervisor and Executive Director of Exceptional Children.

Identifies and assesses the learning, development and adjustment characteristics and needs of individuals and groups, as well as the environment factors that affect learning and adjustment. Uses assessment data about the student and his/her environment(s) in developing appropriate interventions and programs.

Provides interventions to students to support the teaching process and to maximize learning and adjustment.

Provides consultation to parents, teachers, other school personnel, and community agencies to enhance the learning and adjustment of students.

Assists in the planning, development, and evaluation of programs to meet identified learning and adjustment needs.

Delivers a planned and coordinated program of psychological services.

Applies ethics and standards of professional practice in the delivery of school psychological services and observes relevant laws and policies that govern practice. Participates in professional organizations and continually seeks to improve professional knowledge and skill.

Communicates effectively with students, parents and school staff.

Performs other related work as required.

60 hour Master's degree in school psychology from an approved school psychology training program plus a one year internship providing psychological services; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Must be certified as a school psychologist by the State of North Carolina. Must possess a valid North Carolina driver's license.

Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment including computers, copiers, typewriters, overhead projectors, etc. Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert up to 80 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, and pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree.

Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or composite characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments or directions to assistants or subordinates.

Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondences, reports, forms, requisitions, referrals, manuals, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, records, proposals, appraisals, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak to people with poise, voice control and confidence.

Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including psychological terminology.

Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; and to apply the theories of descriptive statistics and statistical theory.

Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office equipment.

Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations.

Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear.). Must be able to communicate via telephone.

Considerable knowledge of federal, state and local policies and procedures regarding psychological services.

Considerable knowledge of psychological services appropriate for school age children.

Considerable knowledge of appropriate actions to be taken in emergency situations.

Considerable knowledge of the current literature, trends, methods and developments in the area of school psychological services.

General knowledge of the ethical guidelines applicable to the position as outlined by professional organizations and/or federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.

General knowledge of the principles of supervision, organization and administration.

Ability to interpret student behavior, system policies and state procedures.

Ability to coordinate large programs.

Ability to develop, counsel and support staff.

Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and make recommendations for improvements.

Ability to use common office machines and popular computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs.

Ability to maintain complete and accurate records and to develop meaningful reports from them.

Ability to effectively express ideas orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.