SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST (10 MONTH AND 12 MONTH)

 Unclassified

 NJSA 11A:3-4(e) 

DEFINITION


 Under direction of a supervisor in a state department, is responsible
 for examining, classifying, and recommending special educational
 programs for pupils identified as having a handicap or disability
 according to mandated state rules/regulations for special education;
 does other related duties as required.

 NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative
 purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform
 all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties
 performed on the job may not be listed.

 
EXAMPLES OF WORK:


 Confers with administrators, nurses, speech therapists, guidance
 counselors, direct care staff, and classroom teachers, and makes
 recommendations with regard to special educational programs.

 Administers psychological evaluations of student cognitive, social,
 adaptive, and emotional abilities and capabilities.

 Detects or diagnoses special learning difficulties in terms of mental,
 physical, environmental, and psychological difficulties.

 Compiles educational diagnosis of abilities and disabilities.

 Applies appropriate teaching techniques, learning procedures, and
 materials to the immediate situation.

 Contributes to the accurate understanding of problems and shares
 responsibility for solutions.

 Plans remedial programs for individual pupils and adopts specialized
 measures of guidance/instruction.

 Observes teachers in the classroom and evaluates the teaching-learning
 relationship.

 Represents the school at state/national conferences concerning
 psychological services.

 Speaks to local/statewide parent groups and colleges concerning
 psychological processes.

 Evaluates and completes a psychoeducational workup on all applicants.

 Organizes and conducts inservice workshops/seminars for
 teachers/houseparents concerning various psychological issues.

 Drafts correspondence in the course of official duties.

 Organizes and defines criteria to measure the prescribed educational
 program.

 Provides expertise in behavior management.

 Conducts individual and group therapy sessions.

 Shares findings with appropriate team and staff members including
 parents/teachers. Attends professional courses, seminars, workshops,
 conferences, and other activities to maintain maximum level of
 professional competence.

 Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic
 and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency,
 office, or related units.

 REQUIREMENTS:

      EDUCATION:

      Graduation from an accredited college or university with a
 Master's degree.

      EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of experience working with exceptional
 children in a clinical hospital, public school system, or mental
 health or child guidance center.

      LICENSE: Appointee will be required to possess certification as a
 School Psychologist issued by the NJ Department of Education.
 Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New
 Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee
 mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
 NOTE: Clinical externship hours for state certification requirements
 may be applied in meeting the minimum experience.

      SPECIAL SKILL

      Appointees to the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf must be
 able to communicate effectively in the language of the deaf,
 particularly American Sign Language, sufficiently to perform duties of
 the position, and must successfully pass a screening process
 administered by the deaf and hard of hearing committee at the school.

 KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

 Knowledge of psychological services and processes.

 Knowledge of behavior management and special educational programs.

 Ability to administer psychological evaluations of student cognitive,
 social, adaptive, and emotional abilities and capabilities.

 Ability to detect and diagnose special learning abilities.

 Ability to apply appropriate teaching techniques, learning procedures,
 and materials.

 Ability to complete psychoeducational workup on all applicants.

 Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording
 and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

 Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English
 sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign
 Language and Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of
 communication.

 Ability to communicate in sign language and AMSLAN.

 Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as
 they can perform essential functions of the job after reasonable
 accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation
 cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship,
 such persons may not be eligible.

 CODES: P26 - 73104 (12 mo.)     RKR/cah                  4/11/98
        P23 - 73105 (10 mo.)