SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST (10 MONTH AND 12 MONTH)

Definition

Under direction of a supervisor in a state department, is responsible for examining, classifying, and recommending special educational programs for pupils identified as having a handicap or disability according to mandated state rules/regulations for special education; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Confers with administrators, nurses, speech therapists, guidance counselors, direct care staff, and classroom teachers, and makes recommendations with regard to special educational programs.
• Administers psychological evaluations of student cognitive, social, adaptive, and emotional abilities and capabilities.
• Detects or diagnoses special learning difficulties in terms of mental, physical, environmental, and psychological difficulties.
• Compiles educational diagnosis of abilities and disabilities.
• Applies appropriate teaching techniques, learning procedures, and materials to the immediate situation.
• Contributes to the accurate understanding of problems and shares responsibility for solutions.
• Plans remedial programs for individual pupils and adopts specialized measures of guidance/instruction.
• Observes teachers in the classroom and evaluates the teaching-learning relationship.
• Represents the school at state/national conferences concerning psychological services.
• Speaks to local/statewide parent groups and colleges concerning psychological processes.
• Evaluates and completes a psychoeducational workup on all applicants.
• Organizes and conducts inservice workshops/seminars for teachers/houseparents concerning various psychological issues.
• Drafts correspondence in the course of official duties.
• Organizes and defines criteria to measure the prescribed educational program.
• Provides expertise in behavior management.
• Conducts individual and group therapy sessions.
• Shares findings with appropriate team and staff members including parents/teachers. Attends professional courses, seminars, workshops, conferences, and other activities to maintain maximum level of professional competence.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree.

Experience

One (1) year of experience working with exceptional children in a clinical hospital, public school system, or mental health or child guidance center.

License

Appointee will be required to possess certification as a School Psychologist issued by the NJ Department of Education. Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Knowledge of psychological services and processes. Knowledge of behavior management and special educational programs. Ability to administer psychological evaluations of student cognitive, social, adaptive, and emotional abilities and capabilities. Ability to detect and diagnose special learning abilities. Ability to apply appropriate teaching techniques, learning procedures, and materials. Ability to complete psychoeducational workup on all applicants. Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language and Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Ability to communicate in sign language and AMSLAN. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible. This job specification is applicable to the following title code(s) which are different work week or work month and/or variants of the job class title: Job Spec Code State, Local or Common Class of Service Work Week State Class Code Local Class Code Salary Range

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Clinical externship hours for state certification requirements may be applied in meeting the minimum experience. SPECIAL SKILL Appointees to the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf must be able to communicate effectively in the language of the deaf, particularly American Sign Language, sufficiently to perform duties of the position, and must successfully pass a screening process administered by the deaf and hard of hearing committee at the school. SUNL26N/AP28-SUNL26N/AP2310 Month This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 4/11/1998