Position Title: School Psychologist 25-26 School Year
FLSA Classification: Exempt, Salary (10.5 months)
Reports To: Lower School Principal
Mission:
The Howard School empowers students with language-based learning differences by addressing individual needs and leveraging strengths to develop a lifelong understanding of and advocacy for their ownlearning process.
School Profile:
The Howard School is a 74-year-old day school serving approximately 300 children, of all genders, in grades K -12. The Howard School educates students with language-based learning disabilities through instruction designed to complement and address each student’s individual needs. The curriculum focuses on depth of understanding to make learning meaningful. Howard is located in Blandtown on the vibrant Westside of Atlanta.
Position Purpose:
The School Psychologist primarily serves students in grades K-5 and will consult with school counselors in grades 6-12. The Psychologist meets with students, and families, to identify challenges (emotional, cognitive and behavioral). Through observation, interviews and tests, and reviews of existing psychoeducational/ neuropsychological reports, the Psychologist will formulate a plan according to the student’s needs and will monitor progress. The Psychologist also provides individualized student and/or group support to include wellness and prevention programming, risk assessments and interventions, and counseling. He or she provides services that promote students’ communication and social skills, problem-solving, anger management, conflict resolution, self-regulation, self-determination, resilience, and optimism. In addition, the Psychologist will promote students’ positive behavior and social interactions.
Essential Functions:
Plan and implement social emotional learning (SEL) lessons for students in the Lower School including the Lower School health and sexuality curriculum.
Review student files with teachers, including psychoeducational evaluations, to assist teachers in understanding their students’ profiles.
Assist with development of classroom and individual student strategies/interventions for academic, executive functioning, social skills, and emotional support.
When needed, meet with parents to assist them in understanding their child’s profile, progression through the curriculum, and to offer support and referrals. This may include participation in Parent Conferences alongside teachers and specialists.
Consultation and collaboration with outside professionals for coordination of care for students and provision of referrals to LS parents for outside professionals, such as OTs, Psychologists, SLPs, and Psychiatrists.
Assist with writing of student Learning Profiles.
Along with the school Registrar, engage with families as they transition to public schools and need paperwork for support services.
Provide student support including triage needs, one-on-one intervention if needed, and student mediation with duos, small groups, restorative circles and classes as needed.
Develop and provide both parent enrichment and staff/ faculty training.
Assist in applications for accommodations on standardized tests (e.g., the ACT).
Collaborate with the Director of Enrollment Management in the admissions and retention process.
Other duties as assigned.
Special Characteristics:
Highly collaborative and excited about engaging in a team setting.
Curious, creative, self-reflective, and willing to take initiative.
Flexible, organized, and passionate about contributing in position ways to the educational initiatives of an LD school.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with a high degree of comfort navigating conversations that may have colliding perspectives and/or be characterized by high degrees of emotional engagement.
Ability to collaborate and work well with all faculty and parents.
The Howard School is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, age, pregnancy, disability/handicap, genetic information, uniform service member status or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. veteran or disability status.
Qualifications:
Master's degree in school psychology from an accredited program.
Certification from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
Experience working with students of lower school age.
Physical Requirements and Work Environment:
Works in a highly dynamic environment dealing with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a varied and diverse array of contacts.
May work at a desk and computer for limited periods of time.
May work long hours for extended periods of time.
Be able to occasionally lift up to 75 lbs.
Works in varied and extreme weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold.
The Howard School educates students with language-based learning disabilities and learning differences through instruction designed to complement and address each student’s individual needs, and to help each student understand and advocate for his or her own learning process. The curriculum focuses on depth of understanding to make learning meaningful and therefore, maximize educational success.