School Psychologist

Position Type:Student Support Services/School PsychologistDate Posted:10/1/2025Location:To be determined - Hamden Public SchoolsDate Available:ASAPClosing Date:Until FilledHamden Public SchoolsHamden CT 06517Job Title:School PsychologistEmployee Qualifications:1. Connecticut teaching license with endorsement for school psychology.2. A minimum of three years' experience working with students.3. Ability and competence to provide services to needy students.4. A current, research- and experience-based understanding of student cognitive and affective development.5. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of situations where only limited standardization exists.6. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.7. Ability to deal effectively with associates and the public.8. Ability to organize and maintain diverse data, files and records.9. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.10. Such alternatives or additions to the above qualifications as the Board of Education may find appropriate and acceptable.Qualification Requirements: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed here are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Reports to:Director of Special Education or DesigneeJob Goal: To enable students to take the fullest possible advantage of the educational opportunities provided through identifying individual strengths and weaknesses in the cognitive and affective areas, and by helping students with personal concerns which interfere with the educational process.To maintain confidentiality of school and staff records and related information.To interact with the public, as necessary.Essential Performance Responsibilities:1. Attends regularly and is punctual.2. Interacts effectively with students.3. Demonstrates an understanding of the public school system as a whole, including special education laws, regulations and Planning and Placement Team (PPT) procedures.4. Has or seeks a knowledge of local curriculum and of instructional issues.5. Has an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of students, parents and staff.6. Demonstrates effective interpersonal and communication skills.7. Demonstrates an understanding of human growth and development as it relates to learning, emphasizing the psycho-social development of children in working with staff, students and/or families.8. Provides services and practices in full accordance with established principles of professional ethics and legal requirements.9. Recognizes and values the cultural, racial and religious diversity among students and works to ensure that all students fulfill their potential.Pupil Personnel Services1. Coordinates case conferences and Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meetings and participates with other related service staff, administrators, and teachers in collaborative decision-makingregarding diagnoses, services and modifications.2. Contributes to the understanding of human growth and development as it relates to the teaching-learning process.3. Assesses individual student needs and progress by evaluation of behavior on the basis of test results; clinical observations; interviews with students, teachers and other school personnel and parents;school records and reports of other professionals.4. Analyzes and integrates assessment data to facilitate an understanding of the "whole" child.5. Assists in making recommendations and designing individualized education programs (IEP) with modifications to enhance the cognitive, social and emotional development of students.6. Interprets and presents findings to parents and teachers in order to help them better understand and teach the children.7. Makes use of a variety of resources, materials and methods for effective intervention.8. Maintains a positive learning environment appropriate to the maturity and interests of the students.9. Evaluates/monitors student progress on a regular basis.10. Provides individual and group counseling and develops classroom programs for students identified as needing help to profit from their educational programs.School OperationsA. Selects and uses a variety of assessment techniques, appropriate to the referral.B. Demonstrates facility in test administration, scoring, and preparation of written reports in accordance with departmental procedures and standards.C. Organizes time, space and materials for effective delivery of psychological services.D. Develops and adheres to daily/weekly schedule of students in caseload.E. Develops and maintains systems for recording weekly progress notes of students receiving service.F. Assesses school climate, identifies areas of dysfunction, advocates for unmet student needs, and provides feedback to staff and administration to enhance school functioning.G. Consults with and assists with teachers in the development of effective management strategies for students manifesting significant educational problems.H. Consults with other related service staff to implement coordinated and comprehensive intervention/prevention programs.I. Consults with administrators to assist in resolving school issues and crises that have implications for the psychological well-being of students and staff.J. Participates in multi-disciplinary team meetings, works collaboratively with professional colleagues, and provides consultation to other staff on the special needs of children.K. Assists the department in the preparation of the department budget to adequately fund services.L. Assumes responsibility for requisitioning and maintaining equipment and supplies.M. Prepares and maintains the confidentiality of student records.Community RelationsA. Develops and maintains positive working relationships with teachers, administrators and other staff.B. Assists students, families and the community, using a variety of treatment modalities and interventions, to resolve those personal, social and/or emotional problems that interfere with schooladjustment, personal development and /or student learning.C. Consults with community personnel and other health professionals, as necessary and assists in proper referrals.D. Assesses the impact of socio-cultural, ethnic, familial and community factors upon student learning and identifies strategies to help resolve potential barriers to school participation andperformance.Professional ResponsibilitiesA. Maintains an office environment conducive to the performance of job responsibilities.B. Participates in staff/departmental meetings and in-service activities, as available, to promote professional development and improve professional knowledge and skills.C. Participates in curriculum development and/or evaluation, when indicated by departmental needs, and contributes to the teaching of the appropriate aspects of affective education, including life skillsplanning and social skills development.D. Attends professional conferences and workshops to update professional knowledge and skills.E. Conducts appropriate in-service programs that enable teachers and staff to better meet the diverse needs of students, and, whenever possible, makes the recommendations and assists in developingschool-wide programs that enhance the overall learning environment of the school.F. Submits written reports and statistics in a timely fashion and in accordance with departmental standards and format.G. Performs other duties as assigned by the special education director or designee.Job Responsibility Requirements: All work is to be conducted in compliance with applicable employer, state, local and federal safety and environmental requirements.Incidental Duties:1. Assists the principal with the implementation of town-wide standardized tests at the building level and aids the staff with the interpretation of the results of those tests.2. Serves as a member of school and district committees to enhance the educational process and to help students benefit from their school experiences.3. Maintains work area as a neat, pleasant work environment.4. Composes routine correspondence.Physical Demands:While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms. The employee may be required to lift, push and/or move up to 25 pounds or more, including office materials and equipment. The employee must be able to hear clearly (correctable to within normal limits) to record telephone information. The employee needs to be able to tell where a sound is coming from in a noisy environment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include vision correctable to 20/20, distance vision, depth perception and peripheral vision. Adaptive technology may be used. There is stress in interacting with the public in routine as well as emergency situations.Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Work Environment:Exposure to student and staff illnesses. There is intermittent exposure to computer screens. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and is acceptable to this particular environment. The employee must work with the public and staff, continuously meeting multiple demands from several people, sometimes in emergency situations.Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are 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.Terms of Employment:Per negotiated agreementEvaluation:Performance of the person holding this position will be evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the Board's policy on evaluation of certified personnel.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.