School Psychologist, Gengras Center School

This position supports the Gengras Center by providing psycho-educational assessment services, as appropriate. The School Psychologist must provide consultation, assistance, and resources pertinent to behavior management to staff and parents. This position must collaborate with staff including the behavior consultant, and serve as a member of the Gengras transdisciplinary team.

Assessment

• Develop an annual schedule for triennial evaluations.
• Develop an appropriate assessment protocol according to the individual student’s needs.
• Conduct a review of records, teacher/staff consultation, parent consultation, observations, and tests (cognitive/intellectual, perceptual/motor, social behavioral, personality/projective) as planned by the PPT.
• Score and interpret assessment tools, consolidate all relevant data, and develop a written report.
• Present the above at the Planning and Placement Team meeting.

Behavioral Consultation Services and Social Emotional Support and Resources

• Provide behavior management consultation to staff and parents.
• Provide training and resources in the area of social emotional learning for all levels of students.
• Train staff to incorporate basic SEL into daily instruction.
• Research SEL and social skills instruction/ curriculum and assessments.
• Assist in the development of Individual Behavior Intervention Plans.
• Provide instruction and facilitation of appropriate behavioral data collecting techniques for classroom use.
• Assist in crisis intervention and perform risk assessments.
• Participate on the emergency response code team.

Collaboration/Teamwork with Gengras Staff

• Participate in transdisciplinary Child Study Team meetings.
• Coordinate and help faciliateate meetings among staff, parents, and outside consultants and agencies.
• Serve as a member of the Planning and Placement Team as appropriate.
• Participate actively on school committees.

Other Responsibilities

• Provide parent and family education and training opportunities.
• Provide staff and faculty education and training in-services.
• Facilitate cooperative relationships with the University of Saint Joseph, including the availability for consultation with students and guest lecturing.
• Facilitate and participate actively on a school committee.
• Continue to grow professionally by participating in pertinent in-service and professional development workshops.
• Participate in USJ Performance Evaluation system and/or CT State Educator Evaluation Systems as appropriate.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Director or Assistant Directors as indicated within the Center’s program development plan.

Education & Experience

• Certified by the Connecticut State Department of Education.
• Master’s Degree in school psychology. Minimum training requirements include completion of a planned program of study in school psychology at an accredited institution with at least sixty graduate credits, as well as completion of a full year supervised school psychology internship.
• Experience with cognitive, social/emotional, and behavioral assessment and treatment of children with developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and severe psychopathology.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local mandates regarding special education policies, procedures, law, and IDEA.
• Knowledge and use of information technology to enhance service.

Other Qualifications

• Physical ability to perform essential functions of the position, as noted below, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements and description of the work environment are representative of what 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.

Physical Activity

Approximate Percentage of Time Spent in This Activity

(Minimal, Some, Substantial)

1. BENDING

Minimal*

2. CLIMBING (E.G. STAIRS)

Minimal*

3. KEYBOARDING

Substantial

4. KNEELING

Minimal*

5. LIFTING (INDICATE MAXIMUM WEIGHT)

Occasional transfer weight of young adult.

6. REACHING

Minimal*

7. SITTING

Substantial

8. STANDING

Some*

9. USING TELEPHONE

Some

10. WALKING

Some*

11. OTHER (PLEASE EXPLAIN): STUDENT TRANSFER/LIFT/ESCORT.

*substantial for Adventure Education Facilitation

Some. Gengras to provide training on transfer/lift/escort of students; weight up to young adult.

12. OTHER (PLEASE EXPLAIN): DEFENDING ONESELF FROM STUDENT AGGRESSION.

Minimal. Gengras Center to provide training.

Work Environment (a brief description)

Private Special Education School, community settings, campus of University of Saint Joseph.