School Psychologist

REPORTS TO:                  Director of Student Services

JOB GOAL:                     To provide services to school personnel to enhance their ability to attain educational goals in the school environment and to enable students to derive the fullest possible educational experience. The School Psychologist shall improve the school educational experience of those students with major emotional and learning disabilities through program or psychological diagnosis and therapy.

POSITION PURPOSE:  Under the general supervision of the Director of Student Services, to assist students, teachers and parents in enabling students to derive the fullest potential educational experience from school by promoting positive self-esteem and resilience, and providing suggested methods and plans for overcoming psychological or mental health problems, to provide services to school personnel to enhance their ability to attain educational goals in the school environment and to enable students to derive the fullest possible educational experience. The School Psychologist shall improve the school educational experience of those students with major emotional and learning disabilities through program or psychological diagnosis and therapy.

EDUCATION:

• Minimally, a Master’s degree in Educational or School Psychology

• Completion of a (ten-month) supervised internship, which encompassed diagnosis, consultation and intervention techniques with individuals and groups

CERTIFICATION/LICENSE:

• Illinois State Board of Education Professional Educator’s License (PEL)

Lansing District 158 • 18300 Greenbay Avenue • Lansing, Illinois 60438

• Minimally, a Master’s degree in Educational or School Psychology

  • Completion of a (ten-month) supervised internship, which encompassed diagnosis, consultation and intervention techniques with individuals and groups

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Regularly required to stand.

  • Regularly required to sit, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.

  • Occasionally required to run.

  • Required to report to school buildings or locations where school activities/functions take place.

  • Ability to lift and carry at least twenty pounds.

  • Ability to travel with students from place to place within a classroom, a building and outside on school grounds, or at school activities/functions at various locations.

  • Ability to move around the classroom or other locations.

  • Ability to see, hear and comprehend directions provided in the English language.

  • Ability to    speak   and   write in the English language, to communicate to students and others in the school community.

  • Ability to sit with students on the floor, in small chairs, or next to tables and desks.

  • Ability to travel on student transportation.

TERM OF EMPLOYMENT: 180 days

EVALUATION:                 Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with the provisions of the Board’s policy on evaluation, the Performance Evaluation Reform Act of 2010 (PERA), Senate Bill 7, and Article 24A of the Illinois School Code.

ESSENTIAL PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Assists with the identification and placement of all types of exceptional students.
2. Evaluates the unique educational needs of students referred for case study implementing appropriate interview, observational, consultative, and testing procedures.
3. Conducts psychological assessments, testing and diagnostic examinations of students for the purpose of recommending courses of action or corrective procedures to maximize learning and overcoming psychological issues.
4. Provides consultative assistance in identifying exceptional children by serving as a member of building Pupil Personnel Services Teams.

1. Serves as ready resource to students to provide counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.
2. Design treatment goals and carries out short-term individual or group counseling sessions for identified students whose educational needs can best be served by such an approach.
3. Provides consultative assistance to teaching staff and administrative personnel in designing, implementing, and maintaining appropriate special educational instructional and resource programs.
4. Provides consultative and technical assistance to teachers in classroom management for students identified as exhibiting behavior problems.
5. Provides consultative assistance, in conjunction with the School Nurse, Social Worker, on mental health topics for instructors in the school health programs.
6. Provides emergency support services to staff and students in dealing with emotional crises at school.
7. Participates in district-wide preschool screening.
8. Coordinates with administrators and other teaching staff members to ascertain individual student's abilities and needs, including students with special needs, and to familiarize stakeholders with psychological services.
9. Serves as a resource and consultant on mental health and child psychology, conducts in-service programs as requested.
10. Assists with the school district's dropout prevention efforts.
11. Continues to acquire professional knowledge and learn of current developments in the educational field by attending seminars, workshops or professional meetings, or by conducting research, and by maintaining professional relationships.
12. Organizes and maintains a system for accurate and complete record-keeping and providing student information to prospective colleges and employers, as required by district procedures and applicable laws.
13. Encourages parental involvement in students' education and ensures effective communication with students and parents.
14. Assists the Director of Pupil Personnel Services in providing staff development and inservice training to special services personnel.
15. Assists the Director of Pupil Personnel Services in needs assessment of special programs, policies, and procedures.
16. Ensure all students are on the path to college and career readiness.
17. Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Principal, Director of Pupil Personnel Services and other central office administrators as designated by the Superintendent.

Lansing School District 158 is a regular school district located in Cook County with 5 schools, 165 teachers and 2,477 students. Total Revenue is $50,946,000 and is trending up. Lansing School District 158 spends $13,332 per student per year on instruction.