BRADLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT #61

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position:          Psychologist    

Location:         EAST

Reports To:     Special Services Director, Building Principal

FLSA Class:    Exempt

Revised Date: July 1, 2018

SUMMARY

The school psychologist is specially trained in psychology and education interventions that facilitate student academic, behavioral and social success in the school environment. The psychologist collaborates with students, teachers, and parents to uncover barriers to learning and to help design individualized solutions for identified needs. Test may include intelligence, achievement, personality, and perceptual motor skills.

DUTIES

General Responsibilities

• Facilitate an understanding of child development and emotional health, among school professionals and family members.
• Administer and interpret individual assessments to help determine specific academic and behavioral needs of students.
• Participate in developing programming designed to meet individual needs of students.
• Assists in development of goals and strategies for educational improvement.
• Ensure that all activities conform to district guidelines.
• Ensure that all activities adhere to the professional standards and an ethical code for the school psychologist.
• Communicate effectively with all members of the school district and community.
• Work effectively with community organizations and outside agencies.
• React to change productively and handle other tasks as assigned.
• Support the value of an education.
• Support the mission and philosophy of BESD #61.
• Comply with all district policies, rules and regulations.
• Provide individual diagnostic testing services to children which include intellectual testing, personality assessment, perceptual motor assessment, academic assessment and assessment through interviewing techniques.
• Provides counseling services and other psychological remedial measures (e.g., contingency contracting, crises interventions, etc.) to students and, on a consulting basis, to teachers and administrators.
• Monitors current special education programs for operational effectiveness and make changes and recommendations for improvement.
• Participates in staff conferences on student relative to determining eligibility for placement in special education programs and in determining eligibility for placement in special education programs.
• Conducts parent conferences to keep parents informed of the results of diagnostic testing on their child.
• Works with teachers in the development of programs relating to child behavior and development.
• Interprets psychological services to the public.
• Interprets psychological assessment to relevant school personnel. This includes noting the particular child's strengths and weaknesses and making recommendations regarding these strengths and weaknesses.
• Writes appropriate reports, including reports of pupil evaluation, staff conferences and parent conferences.
• Attends and participates in department, teacher and interdisciplinary meetings.
• Submits proposals for new programs and assists in program development.
• Ensure that Illinois State Board of Education guidelines for Special Education are met.
• Support psychological growth of students through individual and/or group counseling, use of positive behavioral support strategies, and parent counseling.
• Provide appropriate information for students and families regarding community agencies and services available to them.
• Provide appropriate direction, supervision and evaluate feedback to any assigned paraprofessional.
• Assist teachers in the development and implementation of curriculum modifications/ accommodations and appropriate classroom strategies based on identified student needs.
• Maintain an inventory of materials, tests and supplies.
• Maintain appropriate, confidential records and provide timely reports.
• Obtain prior approval for all special activities and expenditures.
• Adhere to all district health and safety policies.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Special Education and the Principal, which are consistent with the general requirements and qualifications for the position.

Physical Requirements/Environmental Conditions:

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 essential functions.

• Requires the ability to sit and/or stand for prolonged periods.
• Occasionally requires move, lift, carry, pull or push heavy objects or materials.
• Occasionally requires the ability to stoop, bend and reach.
• Must be able to work in noisy and crowded environments.
• Must be able to work indoors and outdoors year-round.
• Requires regular attendance and/or physical presence at the job.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics 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.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Educational Specialist degree/Master’s degree from an accredited college/university.
• Current Illinois State Teaching License with School Psychologist endorsement on file in the Central Office (Type 73 with one or more special education endorsements).

Demonstrates a commitment to career development and life-long learning. Master's degree in school psychology or equivalent.  Must have completed no less than 500 clock hours supervised internship with school age students. Meet competency requirements as set forth in R 340.1156 Special Education.