School Psychologist - Lower/Middle School (Full-Time)

Come be a founding member of the Gillen Brewer School Middle School Team!

The Gillen Brewer School is a special education school serving students from PreK to 8th grade with educational teams consisting of teachers and therapists across three domains (Psychology, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology). If you are looking to work collaboratively in an integrated classroom and small school setting and be a part of building the foundation of a brand new division, we’d like to talk to you! Be a part of a dedicated community of learners invested in supporting students’ academic, social, and emotional development. We are interviewing and looking to hire a full-time School Psychologist to join our Psychology Department. Learn more about the position and application process below.

Job Title: Lower/Middle School Psychologist

Program: Lower School/Middle School

Supervisor: Head of Psychology Department

Hours: Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Calendar to Follow: 12-month Academic

Annualized Salary Range: $84,000 - $96,000

Starting: July 1, 2024

Summary

The Lower/Middle School Psychologist at Gillen Brewer is a critical part of the students’ learning experience and provides a range of direct and indirect services. The applicant for this position should be highly experienced in classroom management techniques and have strong behavioral therapy skills in addition to being experienced in individual play therapy, group therapy, social skills training, consultation/collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, and participating in classroom activities to promote generalization of skills. We work closely with our parents/caregivers and provide parent/caregiver workshops. The Lower/Middle School Psychologist also provides staff training throughout the year.

The Lower/Middle School Psychologist reports to the Head of the Psychology Department, who reports to the Assistant Head of School. The Lower/Middle School Psychologist will work as part of an integrated team with the Director of Middle School, Teachers, Occupational Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologists in a therapeutic school setting. Gillen Brewer expects School Psychologists will conduct themselves in a professional manner with regard to attitude, participation, communication, and interactions with staff, children, and parents. As a part of the school community, School Psychologists are encouraged to participate in school community events, join committees, and be a part of a positive working environment for children, families, and colleagues. The Lower/Middle School Psychologist will support and promote the school’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) practices within the program and throughout the community. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide weekly individual and group therapy for a direct caseload of students through both in-office and push-in sessions
• Create well-thought-out therapy sessions, demonstrating an understanding of the child's needs
• Create, implement, and model behavioral plans and interventions recommending visuals and necessary support when warranted. Collect and analyze data on effectiveness
• Conduct informal/formal assessment of children as well as implement, update, and create progress reports
• Respond to crises as needed, following CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention protocols
• Participate actively in team meetings
• Co-treat with other therapists purposefully
• Coordinate and communicate with outside therapists as needed
• Support the children's physical, social, emotional, sensory, academic, and language needs
• Recommend and implement therapeutic programs into the classroom and assist/train teachers and other staff in how to use them
• Collaborate with teachers to plan and co-lead group activities in the classroom when within your domain
• Maintain parent communication as needed
• Support teachers with visuals and classroom arrangement and upkeep
• Follow appropriate procedures for handling issues with other staff members
• When schedule allows, provide classroom support as needed
• Maintain an open and honest line of communication with the Department Head and the Head of the School. Take an active role in supervision, learning, and training. Actively seek out information and resources appropriate to the school
• Participate in arrival/dismissal duties as needed
• Provide staff and parent in-services as needed
• Contribute to schoolwide website as needed
• Maintain office upkeep and housekeeping

Middle School Curriculum Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Teachers and School Nurse to create and teach a health curriculum
• Collaborate with Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists and Teachers to create and deliver weekly classroom lessons based on Social Thinking and Zones of Regulation concepts, which can be incorporated into an advisory program

Required Skills/Abilities

• Strong understanding of/experience using behavioral modification techniques (BCBA preferred)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Thorough understanding of therapy procedures and management
• Ability to relate to children and reinforce therapy sessions
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to collaborate with the classroom therapy team members
• Team-oriented approach with a positive work attitude

Planning and Recordkeeping

• Take daily anecdotal notes in regard to each student’s progress and/or behavioral data as needed
• Informal/Formal assessment of children
• Write Mid-year and End-of-Year Integrative Reports collaboratively with team

Professional Requirements

• Advanced degree in psychology or school psychology;
• 3-5 years of previous counseling experience in a school preferred
• Appropriate New York State licenses and/or certifications
• Strong understanding of/experience using behavioral modification techniques (BCBA preferred)

Physical Requirements

Employees must have the physical capacity to navigate the classroom and school environments in order to effectively meet the needs of our students. Such physical requirements include but are not limited to: walking, standing, sitting, climbing up and down stairs, kneeling, stooping, crawling, bending, pushing, pulling, and lifting. Employees must be able to sit at a desk and work on a computer for long periods of time to complete necessary paperwork. Vision, with or without lenses, must be sufficient to read in both paper and digital formats. Employees must have the ability to hear, read, write, and speak in English.

Professional Development

The school is a community of learners. In addition to staff development and training at Gillen Brewer, employees are encouraged to pursue educational goals through conferences and various workshops. School Psychologists are required to attend all staff development workshops, staff, team, and supervision meetings. Staff is also encouraged to attend all school functions listed on the school calendar.

Supervision & Support

The Head of the Psychology Department will oversee and analyze all aspects of the department through the use of observation cycles, in-office sessions, team meetings, conversations with staff, lesson planning, curriculum development, student progress, and report writing. Staff development and support through modeling and coaching will be provided which will include in-house and outside professional opportunities. Frequency of observations and feedback sessions will be determined by the Department Head, Assistant Head of School, and Head of School. The Head of the Psychology Department will conduct two formal evaluations a year using this job description and the Psychology Evaluation checklist as a guide. Evidence of effectiveness will be collected through observations, discussions, and products.

Other Requirements

You must be authorized to work in the United States and be willing to undergo a number of clearances, including NYC DOE fingerprinting, a medical health form, and other background checks.

To Apply

All applicants will be required to submit a resume, cover letter, and two reference letters.

No telephone inquiries or recruiters please. Replies will only be sent to qualified applicants.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $84,000.00 - $96,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Grade levels:

• Elementary school
• Middle school

Physical setting:

• Private school

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Master's (Required)

License/Certification:

• NYS School Psychologist license (Required)

Work Location: In person