School Psychologist at The Autism Center

The Villages Charter School Autism Center is dedicated to meeting the educational needs of students on the autism spectrum.

The center supports students’ academic, social, and emotional development through a combination of individualized instruction, specialized programs, and targeted therapies provided by our highly trained staff.

Through incorporating principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), students will receive the support they need in a nurturing educational environment focused on individualized learning and growth.

The Villages Charter School Autism Center, LLC (TVCS AC) is a subsidiary of The Villages Charter School, Inc., which operates by a charter agreement approved by the Sumter County Board of Education and the Florida State Department of Education.

Both The Villages Charter School (“VCS”) and The Villages Charter School Autism Center, LLC (TVCS AC) are Charter in the Workplace schools (see also School of Choice) founded primarily for the benefit of the children of employees of The Villages of Lake-Sumter, Inc. and those Business Partners who have in the past and continue to participate in the development of The Villages.

Unlike traditional county schools, our enrollment criteria is based upon the place of employment of one of the parents/guardians rather than the geographic address of their home.

The Autism Center is located on the Buffalo Ridge campus, serving PreK-8th-grade students, offering a comprehensive support system tailored to each child’s unique needs through a collaborative approach involving passionate educators, therapists, behavioral specialists, and families.

Description

The Villages Charter School Autism Center is accepting applications for a School Psychologist for the 2026-2027 School year. Applicants must have a current Florida Teaching Certificate in the appropriate area and at the appropriate instructional level.

Applicants must complete The Villages Charter School Autism Center online application. In order for the application to be complete, you must also include copies of all transcripts, a copy of the Florida Professional Certificate or “Statement of Eligibility” from the Florida Department of Education, resume and letters of recommendation.

Scope of Responsibilities

The School Psychologist collaborates with staff, families, and community agencies to enhance students' academic achievement, behavioral/social skills, and emotional well-being through direct support, individualized testing, and consultations.

They apply expertise in mental health, pedagogy, and behavior to provide assessment, support, and intervention services. Responsibilities include partnering with stakeholders to foster safe, healthy learning environments, improving school-wide policies, and coordinating community services.

Essential Functions

The expectations include the following and other duties as assigned:

• Select, administer, score and interpret individual tests of intelligence, academic achievement, psychological processing, and personality and attitudes of referred students.
• Analyze evaluation data and formulate hypotheses and conclusions relating to learning and behavioral issues.
• Develop appropriate interventions and strategies to assist individual students in academic growth and school adjustment.
• Conduct informal and formal observations of students as part of the evaluation process.
• Participate in school educational planning and staffing teams to develop assistance plans for at-risk students.
• Review student records and analyze information pertinent to student learning and school adjustment needs.
• Maintain accurate documentation and comply with all relevant state regulations and confidentiality standards.
• Communicate evaluation findings to parents, teachers and others through written reports and oral presentations.
• Assist in the development of meaningful, objective, and measurable Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and support personnel in the progress monitoring of these goals.
• Participate in IEP meetings and contribute psychological expertise.
• Participate in the periodic re-evaluation of students with disabilities.
• Actively support school teams in conducting, implementing, and data collection for Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA) and implementing Behavioral Intervention Plans (BIP).
• Provide staff development for school personnel on various topics pertinent to meeting the instructional needs of all students, including, but not limited to, academic assessment and intervention, progress monitoring, behavioral assessment, classroom management, positive behavioral support, data collection, graphing, and data analysis.
• Participate in student manifestation of disability meetings.
• Serve as expert witness in due process hearings related to students with disabilities.
• Interpret state and federal rules, laws and policies as they relate to identification, placement and service provisions for students with disabilities or gifted ability and maintain current knowledge of same.
• Provide mental health and counseling services to students in one-to-one and small group settings.
• Counsel individual students with acute emotional distress as referred by school personnel.
• Engage in risk/threat assessment screenings
• Utilize technology as an organization tool to keep track of, but not limited to student consents, testing dates, timelines.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

• Specialist’s or higher degree with a major in school psychology; or
• Master’s Degree in Psychology or School Psychology with sixty (60) semester hours of graduate credit in school psychology.
• Certification as School Psychologist or eligible for certification.
• Successful experience as a school psychologist preferred.
• Such additional or alternative qualifications to the above as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to manipulate objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear. The employee may be required to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

Terms of Employment

221 days – Exempt. Salary is based on experience. Benefits shall be paid consistent with the TVCS AC policy. Length of the work year and hours of employment are those established by the Board.

All prospective employees will be required to be fingerprinted through the Clearinghouse, instructions provided when hired. If you have questions regarding the Clearinghouse, please see info.flclearinghouse.com.

Evaluation

Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with the provisions of the TVCS AC policy on evaluations of personnel.