POSITION SUMMARY:
The School
Psychologist works within the school system, utilizing their specialized
knowledge in education law, instruction, mental health and cognitive
functioning and working with educators, parents and other mental health
professionals to ensure that every child learns in a safe, healthy, and
supportive environment. The services provided by school psychologists assure
positive interaction between instructional programming and the individual
student’s unique development and learning style. School Psychologists tailor
their services to the particular needs of each child and situation.
DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
Administers
psychological tests and interprets assessment results for the purpose of
diagnosis and placement;
Provides
individual and group counseling and other mental health services as
appropriate;
Participates
in interdisciplinary team and individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings;
Assists
in planning programs that meet the special needs of the students;
Works
with children and youth who have a variety of disabilities;
Assists
with developing IEP’s for special education students;
Acts
as a liaison with community agencies that provide services to children;
Attends
departmental meetings and continues professional development programs;
Serves
on office, departmental and/or system committees;
Provides
consultation to teachers, parents and school staff;
Develops
programs and workshops;
Assists
to develop Functional Behavioral Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans;
Assists
students, families and schools deal with crisis;
Assists
to develop school-wide initiatives to make schools safer and create a more
supportive learning environment; and
Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Meets
educational and certification requirements and qualifying scores on the
State-approved test for school psychologist;
Excellent
human relation skills;
Excellent
oral and written communications skills; and
Excellent
organizational skills.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
Master’s or higher degree in school psychology from a
State-approved program; or a master’s or higher degree and complete a
State-approved program in school psychology, culminating a minimum of a
1,200-hour internship in school psychology; and meet qualifying scores on the
State-approved test for school psychologist.
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Possession of or eligible for a
Maryland School Psychologist’s Certificate; or possession of or eligible for
Certification as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), issued by the
National School Psychology Certification Board; or a valid professional
certificate in school psychology from another state and verification of at
least 27 months of satisfactory performance as a school psychologist during the
past 7 years on the basis of which application is being made for a comparable
Maryland certificate.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
No direct supervisory responsibilities.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, talk, hear, walk, sit, and use fingers, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, the ability to adjust focus, and depth perception. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 25 lbs.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
None.