Under the Direction of the Director of Student Support Services, the School Psychologist, works to support the success of students academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. Collaborates with educators, parents, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community for all students. Identifies and assesses the learning, development, and adjustment characteristics and needs of individuals and groups, as well as, the environmental factors that affect learning and adjustment. Provides interventions to students to support the teaching process and to maximize learning and adjustment. 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.

Duties are performed in accordance with standards of professional practice, school board of education policies and procedures and state law regarding psychology practice.

Part II: Supervision and Controls over the Work:

The employee works with a high level of independence and professional discretion under the general supervision of the Director of Student Support Services. The employee’s work is governed, controlled, and evaluated by acceptable professional practice, school and district policies and regulations, provisions of the CDE, Title 5 Ed. Code, the Director of Student Support Services, and performance standards.

Part III: Major Duties and Responsibilities listed may include, but are not limited to the following:

1. As a school psychologist:
   1. Provide counseling, instruction, and mentoring for those struggling with social, emotional, and behavioral problems.
   2. Increase achievement by assessing barriers to learning and determining the best instructional strategies to improve learning
   3. Promote wellness and resilience by reinforcing communication and social skills, problem solving, anger management, self-regulation, self-determination, and optimism.
   4. Work with students and their families to:

                                               i.     Identify and address learning and behavior problems that interfere with school success

                                             ii.     Evaluate eligibility for special education services (within a multidisciplinary team)

                                            iii.     Support students' social, emotional, and behavioral health

                                            iv.     Teach parenting skills and enhance home–school collaboration

1. Work with teachers to:

                                               i.     Identify and resolve academic barriers to learning

                                             ii.     Design and implement student progress monitoring systems

                                            iii.     Design and implement academic and behavioral interventions

                                            iv.     Support effective individualized instruction

                                             v.     Create positive classroom environments

                                            vi.     Motivate all students to engage in learning

1. Work with Administrators to:

                                               i.     Collect and analyze data related to school improvement, student outcomes, and accountability requirements

                                             ii.     Implement school-wide prevention programs that help maintain positive school climates conducive to learning

                                            iii.     Promote school policies and practices that ensure the safety of all students by reducing school violence, bullying, and harassment

                                            iv.     Respond to crises by providing leadership, direct services, and coordination with needed community services

                                             v.     Within a collaborative model, implement, and garner support for comprehensive school mental health programming

1. Work with Community Providers to

                                               i.     Coordinate the delivery of services to students and their families in and outside of school

                                             ii.     Help students transition to and from school and community learning environments, such as residential treatment or juvenile justice programs

1. Participates as crisis team member and provides crisis intervention for students and staff in the advent of sudden illness or injury.
2. Makes appropriate assessments and referrals for suspected abuse/neglect as a mandated reporter.
3. Maintains communication with administrators, teachers, other school personnel, and parents/guardians to enhance cooperative action, which will meet the health and safety needs of students.
4. Initiates contact with and acts as a liaison between the home, school, community health agencies, and the private medical sector, through collaboration with the school nurse, to enhance the health and wellness of the school community.
5. Maintains confidentiality regarding all school and health-related issues.
6. Participates as a member of the multidisciplinary team in the identification, evaluation, and placement of students into special education programs. Develops behavior support plan in collaboration with the IEP team.
7. Recommends modifications of the school program for students who require accommodations