Centralia-School Psychologist 2024-25

Job Summary:

This position helps students with the psycho-educational development, their abilities and potentials, and their social-emotional needs. Additionally, it helps students adjust to cultural and environment factors which influence learning and the adjustment process. 

Required Qualifications:

• Washington State ESA certification as a School Psychologist
• Demonstrated successful leadership and managing qualities
• Working knowledge of rules, regulations, and laws dealing with special education
• Willingness to learn curriculum, education codes, and district policies
• Competency in assessment, data gathering, and interpreting techniques
• Successful experience establishing and carrying out behavior interventions systems
• Current knowledge of federal and state laws, rules, and regulation governing the education of children qualified for special education
• Working knowledge of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) best practices 
• Knowledge of the identification process of special education students
• Ability to communicate effectively, possess awareness (for self and others), listen actively, be patient, incorporate humor/lightheartedness into work, be empathic, possess a growth mindset, and be customer-service oriented
• Ability to support the District’s vision, mission, goals, and Culture Code including the belief that all students can succeed
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude
• Ability to team teach
• Familiarity with racial equity and inclusion frameworks
• Successful experience working with self-direction and a high degree of collaboration 
• Ability to act in an ethical and confidential manner in all aspects of employment 
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations
• Possession of organizational skills and flexibility to respond to changing student needs
• Ability to function in a calm, efficient, courteous manner under stress and to exercise careful judgment, confidentiality and tact in the performance of duties

Preferred (Not Required) Qualifications:

• At least five years of successful special education teaching experience
• Ability to speak Spanish
• School counseling or Board-Certified Behavior Analyst certification 
• Actively participates in activities at the state and federal levels
• Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Training in crisis management and/or threat assessment

Essential Functions:

• Assesses, motivates, redirects, and interacts with students in a productive manner
• Provides training/in-service on strategies for working with students with behavior problems
• Manages the day-to-day activities of paraprofessionals assigned to work with students
• Observes students experiencing behavioral issues and collaboratively designs and implements intervention strategies
• Coordinates and collaborates with district and building staff and outside agencies
• Evaluates, creates, and implements FBAs (functional behavior assessments), PBIPs (positive behavior intervention plans), and ERPs (emergency response protocols) for students 
• Participates in or facilitates school based Multi-disciplinary Team/Group of Qualified Professionals meetings
• Recognizes individual student learning needs and develop strategies to address those needs
• Keeps current on special education pedagogy and applies this research to special education programs
• Articulates special education visions and goals to general education and special education staff
• Assists in developing and implementing Childfind activities
• Coordinates psychological and educational testing activities conducted for the purpose of special education eligibility determination as well as provides information supporting the development of appropriate educational programs
• Provides classroom support and intervention for students experiencing behavioral, social, and/or emotional behaviors that impact their education
• Provides direct services and intervention for special needs students as required for their success including proactive strategies such as social skills education, individual student interventions, behavioral contracts
• Directly assists classroom teachers with the ongoing management of special needs students 
• Assists teachers with the design and implementation of solutions to classroom concerns focused upon the special need’s students’ population
• Serves as a member of the Student Support management team, IEP Teams, etc. as pertinent to the job
• Assists with the development of instructional and/or behavioral goals and objectives
• Conducts family and/or family-student conferences set up to interpret student assessment results
• Participates in curriculum development and implementation of special education services
• Works to ensure that the appropriate menu of services is identified and implemented for identified K-12 students
• Uses collaborative and evidenced‐based approaches to assist in the creation of IEP’s to ensure that students receive skills targeted to their areas of identified need 
• Develops staff capacity and family participation in data‐based decision making 
• Confers, counsels, trains and assists site administrators and school staff regarding specialized procedures and requirements 
• Responds to inquiries from a variety of sources (e.g. other teachers, parents, administrators, etc.) around aspects of special education services
• Stays current on policies and laws related to special education
• Completes all documentation as required by law or prescribed by the Executive Director of Special Services, including but not limited to IEPs, assessment documents, and progress reporting 
• Attends staff and other professional meetings as appropriate or directed
• Uses and integrates technology for communication and instruction
• Conducts testing, interpret results, and leads the multi-disciplinary team in the identification of special education students
• Other duties as assigned

Salary:  $58,524.50 - $119,550.80, depending on experience and qualifications

Work schedule: 1.0 FTE (186 days per school year)

Benefits: 12Sick leave and 3 personal leave days; health benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and long-term disability insurance through SEBB; State retirement through DRS; other fringe benefits as allowed under the Centralia Education Association Collective Bargaining Agreement.