School Psychologist

Lower Dauphin School District; Hummelstown (Dauphin County); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lower Dauphin School District seeks a School Psychologist to apply psychological methods within the educational process and to provide evaluative and consultative services to maximize student development. You will work with administrators, teachers, parents and outside agencies to support student needs.

You will assess abilities, perform evaluations, and collaborate on placement decisions for students in special education programs.

Responsibilities

• Assess students' abilities and limitations to help design educational programs tailored to individual needs.
• Conduct psychological evaluations to inform placement and services.
• Collaborate with Pupil Services and district staff to implement special education strategies.
• Consult with teachers regarding instructional needs of mainstreamed students.
• Assist in developing and interpreting state and federal laws relevant to special education.

Job description

I. BASIC FUNCTION

The Psychologist is a specialist in the application of psychological methods and techniques to the educational process. Through evaluative and consultative services, the Psychologist endeavors to help students derive as much benefit as possible from their educational experiences. To facilitate these functions, the Psychologist works cooperatively with other administrators, teachers, parents, additional pupil personnel service workers and outside agencies.

II. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

The Psychologist assesses the abilities and limitations of students as individuals and as members of peer groups so as to assist in the creation and implementation of an educational program best suited to individualized needs. The major goal is to understand and interpret psychological and social dynamics in an educational framework.

The Psychologist shall:

• Instructional Support Team
  • Be an active and contributing member of the Instructional Support Team. The major goal of the team is to provide suggestions to classroom teachers for those students who are experiencing academic or behavioral difficulties. Students may also be referred for additional services or assessments when needed.
• Psychological Evaluations
  • Be responsible for performing psychological evaluations.
• Evaluation, Identification, and Recommendation for Placement
  • Be responsible for psychological evaluation and provide information to be used in placement of pupils (from schools to which he/she is assigned) to special education programs maintained by the District, Intermediate Unit, and approved private schools.
• Special Education
  • Consult with the Director of Pupil Services to develop existing special education programs and to expand special education resources when needed.
  • Provide consultation to teachers regarding the instructional needs of mainstreamed students, as needed and in addition to that which is provided by special education teachers.
  • Assist in the development of the district-wide special education budget.
  • Develop a working understanding of state and federal law as they apply to special education, assist in the interpretation of such laws for district staff, and be responsible for the consistent implementation of such laws in areas of job responsibility.
• Liaison (Parents, Community, & Other Agencies)
  • At the direction of the Superintendent of Schools or the Director of Pupil Services, act as a direct liaison between parents, community resources and other agencies. These may include the development of functional relationships with the following resources:
  • Mental health centers
  • Children & Youth Services
  • Private schools for special education
  • Clinics and hospitals
  • Intermediate Unit #15 - Special Education Coordinators’ Meetings as directed
  • Preschool programs
  • Legal entities
• Educational Research
  • Conduct educational research upon personal initiative or as directed.
• Other Duties
  • Perform functions necessary to support a systematic program of psychological services. These functions may include the following areas:
  • Maintain and update data concerning area clinics, agencies, and programs for special pupil services.
  • Assist in the preparation of the annual budget for psychological services.
  • Maintain accurate and current records and files for pupils seen for psychological services.
  • Pursue professional growth and development.
  • Consult with the Student Assistance Teams in an effort to integrate services.
  • Contribute to district-wide policy development pertaining to psychological services.
  • Perform such other related duties as may be assigned.

III. PRIMARY RELATIONSHIPS

• Superintendent of Schools
  • The Psychologist is ultimately responsible to the Superintendent of Schools for the completion of those responsibilities directly related to the Superintendent’s area of supervision.
• Director of Pupil Services
  • The Psychologist is directly responsible to the Director of Pupil Services.
• Principals
  • The Psychologist provides consultation, advice, and recommendations to the principals concerning psychological services.
• District Staff
  • The Psychologist consults, advises, and recommends to other District personnel concerned with pupil services. Primary lines of communication include information flow and feedback between the Psychologist and:
  • Director of Pupil Services
  • Building level and District level administrators
  • Guidance Counselors
  • Nurses
  • Teachers, and
  • Parents
• Public
  • The Psychologist shall strive at all times to maintain a working relationship with the public and community that is conducive to the achievement of the goals of the District and which provides for a healthy and positive working relationship.