SNOWLINE JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

                                CERTIFICATED MANAGEMENT JOB DESCRIPTION

                                                         PSYCHOLOGIST

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

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Performs a variety of individual and group psycho-educational assessment and diagnosis of specific learning, emotional and behavioral disabilities; prepares recommendations pertaining to student remediation, placement in special programs, and psycho-educational interventions; consults and confers 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; participates in parent conferences, pupil evaluation reviews and provides pupil profiles indicating learning strengths and weaknesses; serves as a member of student study teams and collaborates with other team members in planning special programs, and in the use of remedial instructional materials for students with special needs; consults with parents to further their understanding of the learning and emotional adjustment processes pertaining to their children; counsels pupils individually and in small groups using a variety of data gathering and therapy techniques; serves as a resource to site and District personnel and members of the school community concerning youth services; serves as a liaison between the schools and mental health and juvenile agencies in pursuing referral follow-ups; assists in the development and monitoring of individual education plans for students with exceptional needs may pursue evaluation and research psychological service program; assists in identifying school psychological service needs; plans and presents, 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 area; Social, emotional and behavioral characteristics of pre-school and elementary school age students;

Evaluation and research techniques, strategies, and procedures; Curriculum and instruction programs 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.

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

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

Certification Requirement:
Possession of a valid California credential authorizing service as a school psychologist.

License Requirement:
Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s License.

Condition of Employment:
Insurability by the District’s liability insurance carrier.

Physical demands:
The physical demands described here 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 essentials functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to sit and reach with hands and arms.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:
The work environment characteristic described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing 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 occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.