Job Title:  School Psychologist                                                                                                                                                                                                          Supervisor:  Director of Special Education

Job Classification:  Exempt

 Contract Length:  200 Days 

Job Summary

This position is Student Support Programs and Services

The School Psychologist provides mental health and behavioral services to students in the school setting. The psychologist is responsible for assessing, diagnosing, and treating students with emotional, behavioral, and learning disabilities.

Member of district-wide Triage and Training Team to assist schools with problem-solving from a multi-pronged approach. The School Psychologist in this role should have expertise in behavioral best practices, classroom management, behavior intervention implementation, best practices in culturally sensitive psycho-educational assessment, ESE Compliance, Disability Awareness and Berea Independent Schools’ Processes and Procedures. Specific skills should include recognizing disabilities, implementing behavioral processes and problem-solving, modeling, and coaching interventions, understanding discipline, discussing family issues and need for wrap around services, building relationships with families, making community connections for the family, understanding the MTSS process and considering the need for evaluations.  Responsibilities would include collaborating with the school-based team on problem solving, planning, assigning roles and responsibilities for intervention implementation and facilitating discussions around next steps to build capacity school wide. 

• Conduct individual and group assessments, using various assessment tools, to determine the need for psychological services.
• Provide individual and group therapy to students with emotional and behavioral issues.
• Collaborate with teachers, parents, and other professionals to develop and implement individualized education plans (IEPs) for students with special needs.
• Provide crisis intervention services to students and their families.
• Consult with teachers and other school personnel to improve school-wide behavior management programs.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary teams to evaluate students for special education services.
• Develop and deliver training programs for teachers, staff, and parents on topics related to mental health and behavior.
• Maintain confidential and accurate records of all services provided.
• Effective communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effectively with students, families, and school personnel.
• The psychologist works in a school setting and may be required to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Knowledge of federal and state laws related to special education and the provision of psychological services.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Strictly adheres to the Kentucky Certified Code of Ethics (704 KAR 20:680)
• Work is performed while standing, sitting and/or walking.
• Requires the ability to communicate effectively using speech, vision, written language, and hearing.
• Requires the use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations.
• Requires the ability to lift, carry, push, or pull light objects and students up to 25 lbs.

Certification Requirement

A specialist degree is required from an accredited institution in the field of School Psychology or related field, which includes 300 hours or more of field placement in a K-12 school setting or with diverse individuals in a community setting.

• Kentucky Educator Certificate in School Psychology or Valid and current Kentucky license as a Licensed Psychologist.

DISCLAIMERS AND OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION • The work environment described is 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. • The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned. • This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise

FOR THIS TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT, STATE LAW REQUIRES A NATIONAL AND STATE CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECK AND A LETTER, PROVIDED BY THE INDIVIDUAL, FROM THE CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES STATING THE APPLICANT HAS NO ADMINISTRATIVE FINDINGS OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT FOUND THROUGH A BACKGROUND CHECK OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT RECORDS MAINTAINED BY THE CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES.

• Certification Requirement

Possession of certification as required by Kentucky law.

• Condition of Employment

Insurability by the District's liability insurance carrier.