School Psychologist

School Psychologist

The position of School Psychologist is to improve the academic achievement, social skills, and emotional well-being of all students through either direct contact with students, or evaluation and consultation with other professionals. The School Psychologist functions as a member of the Evaluation Team, Crisis Intervention Team, and MTSS Team.

Consultation:

• Displays strong and deep knowledge of subject matter content.
• Attends and actively contributes to 504, RTI/MTSS, and special education meetings.
• Promotes deep understanding of content by addressing unique learning styles and assists teams and teachers in adapting instruction to meet the needs of all students.
• Assists teams in designing and implementing Individual Educational plans to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities.
• Develops, with colleagues, appropriate academic, behavioral, and social/emotional goals for students.
• Actively supports and assists RTI/MTSS teams in adhering to a problem-solving model during meetings, assists in the selection of evidence-based interventions, and helps teams design a plan to monitor student progress.
• Collaborates and consults with staff, parents, administration and the school community in providing information about the developmental stages of children and adolescents, linking this knowledge to how various social-emotional, environmental, biological, cultural, and experiential variables can impact student achievement.
• Serves as a resource to building-level staff and administrators regarding the behavioral and social/emotional well-being of students.
• Ability to work on a multi-disciplinary team using a collaborative decision making process to reach consensus.

Evaluation:

• Administers a variety of assessments (e.g., cognitive, adaptive, behavioral rating scales, FBAs, etc.), shares findings with key stakeholders, and interprets assessment data in order to understand the academic, biological, and developmental issues that impact student performance.
• Uses student data in treatment/intervention design and adjusts service delivery based on results of ongoing progress monitoring.

Intervention:

• Applies current research-based best instructional practices and strategies to help students access the curriculum.
• Collaborates with outside providers and agencies to coordinate supports to students and families.
• Provides direct student service including, but not limited to, individual counseling, group skills instruction, behavioral intervention support, and crisis intervention.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates prevention and intervention programs based on the recognized factors that are precursors to learning and behavioral difficulties.
• Communicates high and clear expectations for students.
• Promotes and utilizes positive behavioral supports.
• Documents teaching and student progress/activities, outcomes.
• Integrates technology to more effectively deliver school psychology services.
• Communicates regularly with students and parents regarding the student's academic, behavioral, social, and emotional status; communicates immediately with both when there are concerns.

Other:

• Adheres to the policies of the Middletown School Department.
• Adheres to special education policies and completes relevant paperwork.
• Promotes the attainment of the District's mission, vision, and strategic plan.
• Takes responsibility for personal professional growth.
• Other duties as assigned by the Building Administrator or Director of Student Services.

Requirements:

• Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory in specific field.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, and the community.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form.
• Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and school committee policies.