School Psychologist Jobs
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Certified School Psychologist. 21921 Elkton MD
Certified School Psychologist. 19801 Wilmington DE
Certified School Psychologist. 19801 Wilmington DE
Certified School Psychologist. 19801 Wilmington DE
Certified School Psychologist. 15201 Pittsburgh PA
Apply now!
Enter your zipcode and commute range below to find positions near you!
Certified School Psychologist. 21921 Elkton MD
Certified School Psychologist. 19801 Wilmington DE
Certified School Psychologist. 19801 Wilmington DE
Certified School Psychologist. 19801 Wilmington DE
Certified School Psychologist. 15201 Pittsburgh PA
Find Full and Part-Time School Psychologist Jobs Near You
Schools in the United States urgently need clinicians qualified to fill school psychologist jobs.
That’s because as many as one in six school-aged children (6-17 years old) lives with a treatable mental disorder—such as depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—but almost half don’t get the professional mental help they need.
Students spend at least six hours a day at school, making it an ideal setting for counseling and treatment, as the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) points out, as well as for “prevention, intervention, positive development, and regular communication between school and families.”
But school psychologists are in short supply.
The NASP recommends a ratio of “no more than 1,000 students per school psychologist in general,” and fewer—500 to 700—“when more comprehensive and preventive services are being provided.” But the ratio was 1,381 to 1 as recently as the 2014-15 academic year.
As diagnoses of mental disorders in America’s children increase, your training and skills make you a valuable resource for special education programs and the students they serve.
At Pediatric Therapeutic Services (PTS), we’re committed to helping you find and thrive in a position where you can do the most good for the most students possible, accelerate your professional growth, and make contributions to the wider therapeutic community.
Check out our currently open full- and part-time school psychologist jobs near you and discover where you can make a difference by promoting students’ mental health.
Who Are School Psychologists?
(from the National Association of School Psychologists)
School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students’ ability to learn and teachers’ ability to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community.
What Training Do School Psychologists Receive?
(from the National Association of School Psychologists)
School psychologists receive specialized advanced graduate preparation that includes coursework and practical experiences relevant to both psychology and education. School psychologists typically complete either a specialist-level degree program (at least 60 graduate semester hours) or a doctoral degree (at least 90 graduate semester hours), both of which include a year-long 1200 hour supervised internship. Graduate preparation develops knowledge and skills in:
- Data collection and analysis
- Assessment
- Progress monitoring
- School-wide practices to promote learning
- Resilience and risk factors
- Consultation and collaboration
- Academic/learning interventions
- Mental health interventions
- Behavioral interventions
- Instructional support
- Prevention and intervention services
- Special education services
- Crisis preparedness, response, and recovery
- Family-school-community collaboration
- Diversity in development and learning
- Research and program evaluation
- Professional ethics, school law, and systems
School psychologists must be credentialed by the state in which they work. They also may be nationally certified by the National School Psychology Certification Board (NSPCB). The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) sets standards for graduate preparation, credentialing, professional practice and ethics. The NASP Practice Model (2010) outlines the comprehensive services that school psychologists are encouraged to provide.
Where Do School Psychologists Work?
(from the National Association of School Psychologists)
The vast majority of school psychologists work in K-12 public schools. They also provide services in a variety of other settings, including:
- Private schools
- Preschools
- School district administration offices
- Universities
- School-based health and mental health centers
- Community-based day treatment or residential clinics and hospitals
- Juvenile justice programs
- Independent private practice
What Do School Psychologists Do?
(from the National Association of School Psychologists)
School psychologists provide direct support and interventions to students, consult with teachers, families, and other school-employed mental health professionals (i.e., school counselors, school social workers) to improve support strategies, work with school administrators to improve school-wide practices and policies, and collaborate with community providers to coordinate needed services. They help schools successfully:
Improve Academic Achievement
- Promote student motivation and engagement
- Conduct psychological and academic assessments
- Individualize instruction and interventions
- Help manage student and classroom behavior
- Monitor student progress
- Collect and interpret student and classroom data
- Reduce inappropriate referrals to special education
Promote Positive Behavior and Mental Health
- Improve students communication and social skills
- Assess student emotional and behavioral needs
- Provide individual and group counseling
- Promote problem-solving, anger management and conflict resolution
- Reinforce positive coping skills and resilience
- Promote positive peer relationships and social problem solving
- Make referrals to and help coordinate community services provided in schools
Support Diverse Learners
- Assess diverse learning needs
- Provide culturally responsive services to students and families from diverse backgrounds
- Plan appropriate Individualized Education Programs for students with disabilities
- Modify and adapt curricula and instruction
- Adjust classroom facilities and routines to improve student engagement and learning
- Monitor and effectively communicate with parents about student progress
Create Safe, Positive School Climates
- Prevent bullying and other forms of violence
- Support social-emotional learning
- Assess school climate and improve school connectedness
- Implement and promote positive discipline and restorative justice
- Implement school-wide positive behavioral supports
- Identify at-risk students and school vulnerabilities
- Provide crisis prevention and intervention services
Strengthen Family-School Partnerships
- Help families understand their child’s learning and mental health needs
- Assist in navigating special education processes
- Connect families with community service providers when necessary
- Help effectively engage families with teachers and other school staff
- Enhance staff understanding and responsiveness to diverse cultures and backgrounds
- Help students transition between school and community learning environments, such as residential treatment or juvenile justice programs
Improve School-Wide Assessment and Accountability
- Monitor individual student progress in academics and behavior
- Generate and interpret useful student and school outcome data
- Collect and analyze data on risk and protective factors related to student outcomes
- Plan services at the district, building, classroom, and individual levels
To find out more about working in your next school psychologist job with PTS, call us at 610-941-7020 or contact us online.