School Psychologist

Position Purpose:  The School Psychologist will support students, teachers, staff, and parents in a variety of ways and in multiple settings to help students succeed. The psychologist will provide assessments and interpret assessment findings; collaborate and communicate with other building supports such as counselors and school social workers to meet the needs of students and staff; and serve as a student advocate in determining educational support.

Essential Performance Responsibilities

• Provide system-wide support for academic and behavior needs through Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) and Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) frameworks.
• Provides assessments of educational and behavioral strengths and needs of students.
• Interprets findings to assist school staff, parents, and referral agencies.
• Integrates evaluation data into comprehensive psycho-educational reports and maintenance of confidential student information.
• Facilitates Multidisciplinary Team meetings.
• Interprets individual student data for student programming and services.
• Identifies specific skill deficits, develop interventions, track and analyze baseline and intervention data for Student Assistance Team (SAT) meetings.
• Collaborate with other building support staff such as counselors and social workers to meet the needs of the students, families and building which may include participation on team meetings (MTSS-B, SAT, 504, MDT, IEP, Crisis Response Team, etc).
• Serves as a student advocate in determining educational support.
• Utilizes interactive skills necessary to be a positive contributor as a disciplinary team leader, counsel individuals with regard to problems to be resolved and responds promptly to conflict and crisis situations.
• Understand and promote use of data for accountability and decision making.
• Makes observations of children in various school settings, identifies and interprets significant behavioral patterns to appropriate staff members, and suggests procedures to be followed in dealing with these children.
• Shares evidence based interventions to be utilized in the problem solving process.
• Coordinates and participates as a member of the Student Assistance Team referral process.
• Participates in the screening, pre-assessment, identification, follow-up for students involved in the referral process.
• Administers individual psychological tests and other assessment instruments as needed for comprehensive individual student evaluations to determine special education eligibility.
• Interprets test results and observations of individual students to staff members, parents, and referral agencies concerned and relates these to classroom activities and procedures.
• Collaborates with staff, parents and other professionals to create supportive learning environments for all learners.
• Consults with the administration and school staff in the improvement of educational programs and school-wide initiatives.
• Participates in the referral of children to other appropriate agencies for further study and/or assistance when appropriate, and acts as a liaison between the school and community professionals providing psychiatric and psychological services.
• Counsels individuals with regard to problems to be resolved and responds promptly to conflict and crisis situations.
• Works with and understands the needs of a diverse student population.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Minimum completion of Educational Specialist Degree program from an accredited college or university.
• Satisfactory completion of a one-year internship program.
• Valid Nebraska Department of Education Teaching Certificate with endorsement in School Psychology, or ability to obtain one.
• Ability and patience to work interactively with students.
• Skill in organization, time management, communication, and positive interpersonal skills.
• Excellent skills in verbal and written communication.
• Ability to effectively use Microsoft Outlook and the student information system.
• Excellent attendance record.
• Displays a significant degree of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Ability to conform to proper standards of professional dress and appearance.
• Evidence of the willingness and ability to comply with standards for ethical and professional performance established by the State Board of Education.
• Exhibit strong standards of professional ethics.
• Exhibit skills pertinent to foster positive human relationships and the ability to work effectively with students, staff, parents and the community.
• Knowledge of OPS’s mission, purpose, goals and the role of every employee in achieving each of them.