CAPISTRANO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
San Juan Capistrano

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST

DEFINITION

Under direction, evaluate the needs of average, gifted, handicapped, and disturbed children in an educational setting; perform psychoeducational assessments to determine appropriate programs and instructional processes to enable students to achieve maximum achievement and adjustment; assist students in understanding and seeking solutions to social, emotional, or academic problems and issues; serve as a resource pertaining to student behavior management and learning strategies, and welfare and attendance problems and concerns; perform other related functions as directed.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Perform a variety of individual and group psychoeducational assessment and diagnosis of specific learning, emotional, and behavioral disabilities.
• Prepares recommendations pertaining to student remediation, placement in special programs, and psychoeducational interventions.
• Consult and confer with instructional and administrative personnel in the development and implementation of instructional methods and procedures designed to facilitate learning and to overcome learning and behavioral disorders.
• Participate in parent conferences, pupil evaluation reviews and provide pupil profiles indicating learning strengths and weaknesses.
• Serve as a member of student study teams and collaborate with other team members in planning special programs, and in the use of remedial instructional materials for students with special needs.
• Consult with parents to further their understanding of the learning and emotional adjustment processes pertaining to their child.
• Counsel pupils individually and in small groups using a variety of data gathering and therapy techniques.
• Serve as a resource to site and District personnel and members of the school community concerning youth services.
• Serve as a liaison between the schools and mental health and juvenile agencies in pursuing referral follow-ups.
• Assist in the development and monitoring of individual education plans for students with exceptional needs.
• May pursue evaluation and research activities to determine the effectiveness of the school psychological service program.
• Assist in identifying school psychological service needs.
• Plan and present, as requested, a variety of management related reports pertaining to school psychological service functions and activities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:
Principles, methods, techniques, strategies, and trends in educational, social, and emotional adjustment assessment functions; applicable and appropriate psychological and achievement appraisal instruments, techniques, and procedures; social service and youth service agencies in the local and greater metropolitan area; social, emotional, and behavioral characteristics of pre-school and school age students; evaluation and research techniques, strategies, and procedures; curriculum and instruction programs proven to be beneficial to pupils with special learning needs.

Ability to:
Effectively and efficiently assess students and aid them in analyzing and developing alternative solutions to behavioral, educational, social, and emotional problems and concerns; conduct, analyze, and effectively utilize a variety of individual and group counseling techniques applicable to the student with severe learning, behavioral, and emotional needs; effectively deal with site and District personnel, parents, social service, and youth service agencies in resolving student problems and concerns; effectively participate in the planning and implementation of individual educational and learning plans; communicate effectively in oral and written form; understand and carry out oral and written directions with minimal accountability controls; establish and maintain effective organizational, public, and community relationships; comply with the District’s customer service standards, as outlined in Board Policy.

Experience:
Two years of successful school psychologist experience; classroom teaching or counseling at the elementary or secondary school level is desirable.

Education:
Equivalent to the completion of an earned master of arts or higher degree in psychology, counseling, and guidance, or closely related field.

Certificate Requirement:
Possession of a valid California credential authorizing service as a School Psychologist.












7/96
Revised 9/03; 3/04