About the School Psychologist Role: The School Psychologist ensures KIPP Colorado schools have adequate and timely supports for the mental health of students and staff, provide the social-emotional supports of students with disabilities across a continuum of services, and broker resources and collaborate with Denver Public Schools and community mental health agencies. The school psychologist will provide support to a portfolio of KIPP Colorado Schools students. 

About KIPP: Together with families and communities, KIPP creates joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. KIPP is a national network of tuition-free, public charter schools open to all students. There are 255 college-preparatory KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia, serving more than 100,000 students. Nationally, KIPP students are graduating four-year colleges at three times the national average for low-income students. 

Who we are:KIPP Colorado Public Schools is a network of six free college-preparatory public charter schools open to all students. Our 350-person staff educates 2,600 students from ECE to 12th grade. At KIPP Colorado, we partner with our KIPPsters, educators, families and communities to ensure that we are all united around the goal of a choice-filled future for our KIPPsters. Our KIPP Forward Team supports our 1,000 high school Alumni as they create their own paths. Our core values of excellence, belonging, belief, advocacy and courage are central to who we are and how we operate at all levels of our organization.

What we do: We believe in the unique gifts and brilliance of every student. We believe in setting a high bar for joy and academic excellence to ensure the infinite possibilities our students have before them become a reality. We aspire to create and reinforce a culture of achievement, belonging and support. We know that every student is different and we personalize learning based on a student's needs, skills, and interests.

Role Responsibilities and More About How You’ll Spend Your Time in this Role

KIPP Colorado Mental Health Programming Support

• Special Education and Section 504: Participation in the development of IEPs and 504s, provision of direct and indirect service minutes, progress monitor student goal attainment consultation with appropriate stakeholders, administer and analyze Social/Emotional/Behavioral/Adaptive, Cognitive, and FBAassessments required by Denver Public Schools and the State of Colorado, and analyze data for all students with disabilities who require psychological supports.
• General Education: Responsible to support Multi –Tiered Intervention teams with targeted and identified social emotional or replacement behavior supports in MTSS school site meetings and regional data meetings, including administration and interpretation of universal social/emotional screeners and developing Mental Health Plans.
• Crisis and De-escalation Network Responses: Responsible for training and supporting school site system implementation by leveraging Denver Public School protocols (i.e., NCI, threat, and suicide assessments) as well as being a first responder with special education and general education students that may require crisis response or de-escalation.
• Capacity Building: Provide professional development training and consult to staff and parents to enhance school community knowledge of social emotional and behavioral supports for students, parents, and staff across the continuum of special education services.
• Fostering Agency for Students and Staff: Collaborate and leverage professional relationships with Denver Public Schools, local mental health agencies, and mental health advocacy groups for students and staff.

Student Support 

• Collaborate with IEP team, social worker, and other related service providers on a weekly basis to lean in to who will administer assessments (pending on bandwidth and expertise) on behalf of the IEP team and students with IEP’s.
• Complete initialand triennial cognitive, social emotional (as needed), behavioral (as needed) and/or adaptive assessment (as needed) to identify or confirm eligibility for special education or Section 504 services 
• Analyze and interpret assessment data to make data based decisions and make recommendations to support access to instruction and reduce barriers to learning
• Complete and input necessary IEP documentation in Enrich (impact of disability, present levels of performance, evaluation reports, goals, service minutes, progress reports)
• Consultation and assistance in the completion of Functional Behavior Assessments and development and implementation of effective Behavior Intervention Plans for general education and special education students to reduce barriers to learning. Facilitate coaching for school social workers on developing and implementing FBAs and BIPs, as needed.
• Provide mental health service minutes for students with Psychologist minutes in IEPs or 504s, complete required documentation of session notes in EzEdMed, and participate in annual IEP meetings for students on caseload
• Provide individual and group counseling through implementation of evidence based, developmentally appropriate interventions to promote social emotional well-being for students in general and special education. Create, organize, and maintain case notes for students on caseload to document services. Collect progress monitoring data to evaluate intervention effectiveness
• Address various crisis situations through conducting Suicide Risk Reviews, Self Injury Assessments, Threat Assessments, and other crisis counseling services (responsibility of the Psychologist when Social Worker is out of the building). Provide school wide crisis support as needed.
• Provide in-the-moment behavior support using de-escalation techniques when in the building, when available, or when student is on Psychologist caseload
• Develop and strengthen school and home connections through phone contacts and home visits with families
• Consult and collaborate with school staff, teachers, administration, and parents in daily practice, IEP meetings, and MTSS meetings in order to support student achievement and address behavioral, mental health, and attendance challenges. This includes attending IEp and 504 meetings, including pre-meetings, evaluation and eligibility meetings, and annual meetings. 
• Provide or coordinate professional development training to staff and parents to enhance school community knowledge of social emotional and behavioral supports for students across settings
• Build capacity of staff to support with behavior management, differentiated instruction, accommodations, understanding special education, following the IEP, meeting the needs of students with mental health concerns, as well as implement interventions, accommodations, and supports with fidelity, as needed
• Participate and support the implementation of the MTSS process. Provide consultation regarding school wide logistical support, interventions, and student specific concerns. In addition, provide interventions as necessary

Participate in Manifestation Determination Reviews for students with 504s and IEPs who have school psychology services.

Professional Responsibilities

• Believe deeply in the mission, values, and Race, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (RIDE) commitments of KIPP Colorado Schools and that all children can and will learn.
• Providing an active presence, strategic supervision, and intentional monitoring to ensure student safety and engagement in rigorous learning (regardless of my role and its proximity to students)
• Take ownership for the development of your craft (meet 1x/1-2 weeks with a manager, implement feedback, engage in active practice, etc.)
• Meet professional obligations including and not limited to meeting deadlines and honoring schedules.
• Collaborate with colleagues and seek feedback in the spirit of continuous improvement.
• Reflect on professional practices to meet individual professional development goals. 
• Assume personal responsibility for student achievement. 
• Actively participate in professional development, grade level, and department meetings.
• Actively engage in all school-wide professional development.
• Serve as a positive, contributing member of a grade team, collaborating with colleagues to tackle common challenges and implement grade-wide initiatives.
• Share candid, solutions-oriented feedback with peers and leadership on a regular basis.
• Maintain strong attendance each day and be on time to all responsibilities
• Assist with both student and staff recruitment.
• Other duties as assigned

Psychologist Role Level Specifics, Scope of Work, and Level of Responsibility For more about how you’ll lead at the Psychologist level, please visit the KIPP Colorado Role Levels Matrix (this is an internal document, only).

About Your Skills and Qualifications at the Psychologist Level:

• Master’s degree or higher from an approved specialist-level program (required)

• Spanish bilingual (preferred)
• Experience as a School Psychologist (preferred)
• Current Colorado Department of Education licensure as a School Psychologist (required)
• Experience in a charter management organization or public school district (preferred)
• A full understanding and Commitment to an Exceptional Student Experience (more about that HERE) (required) 
• A strong commitment to anti-racist hiring practices and a commitment to racial equity
• Ability to use data to drive decision making
• Demonstrates the ability to understand and navigate issues of identity, power, and privilege
• Outstanding organizational skills and high attention to detail; outstanding written and oral communication skills
• Ability to manage the ambiguity and multiple priorities inherent in an entrepreneurial environment
• Proactive problem solver who demonstrates initiative and teamwork
• Strong work ethic coupled with an enthusiastic and passionate approach to one’s work

• Multi-faceted, multi-skilled, resourceful and willing to do whatever it takes to help the school reach a level of academic excellence
• High level of detail orientation and sound excellent organizational skills
• Strong communication, feedback and facilitation skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Articulate, professional demeanor with strong self-confidence and initiative.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, with the creativity and versatility to work productively in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, high-energy environment with a proven ability to meet and complete multiple deadlines and tasks with meticulous attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop productive working relationships with stakeholders across functional and organizational lines
• Passionate commitment to KIPP Colorado mission and to high standards of excellence

Compensation and Benefits: 

Staff retention and satisfaction is imperative for KIPP Colorado. We seek to provide competitive compensation and benefits including the following:

• Competitive Market Salary: Starting salary for this role begins at $69,164
  • Please submit a comprehensive resume to assure all your experience is accounted for! (Tip: We don't care if your resume is more than one page, we are eager to see and compensate you for all of your experience and accomplishments.) 
• Excellent Healthcare Plan: 100% of employee-only monthly premium paid by KIPP Colorado and options for family enrollment and coverage, through United Healthcare.

• Time Off !!!: More than 6 weeks of annual vacation and Paid Time Off (PTO) 

• Based on hire date, employees are eligible for up to 8 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) 

• All employees receive summer break through an Org closure, based on work location and position
• Access to Parental and medical leave: Includes 6 weeks paid and 6 weeks unpaid for a total of 12 weeks (after your first year).

• Career Trajectory: Access to opportunity to to move up, across schools, and grow your career and weekly coaching session to refine your craft. 

• Mental Health Care: Immediate and ongoing access to mental health support through our Employee Assistance Program. 

• Technology & Access: Equipment provided: laptop & phone 

• Retirement Planning: Participation in the Colorado PERA retirement program, including a PERA 401k option.
• Move to Join Us: Relocation reimbursement (when applicable)
• Additional Pay: Most school offer various stipend opportunities
• All the Insurance Options: 
  • Wellness reimbursement
  • Voluntary employee, spousal, and child life insurance
  • Voluntary long term disability insurance
  • Voluntary short term disability insurance
  • Optional Basic Life and AD&D Insurance

• All the Info: For more information, you can view our benefits FAQ here . 

KIPP Colorado Schools is dedicated to equal employment opportunities and fair labor practices. KIPP Colorado Schools, KIPP Denver Collegiate High School, KIPP Northeast Denver Middle School, KIPP Northeast Elementary, KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy, KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy and KIPP Sunshine Peak Elementary provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals based on job-related qualifications, and the ability to perform a job without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religious creed, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, legally protected medical condition, veteran status, sexual orientation, or on any other basis made unlawful by federal, state or local laws. It is our policy to maintain a non-discriminatory environment free from intimidation, harassment or bias based upon these grounds.