ROLE MISSION: 

Licensed Specialists in School Psychology (LSSP) address barriers which impact students from achieving academic, behavioral and social outcomes. The  LSSP demonstrates knowledge and skill in assessment, determining Special Education eligibility, academic and behavioral interventions, state and federal legal frameworks for Special Education, and ensures compliance with all facets of Special Education. LSSPs will oversee an estimated caseload of 75 students across all Compass Rose campuses to support students and parents through problem solving interventions. LSSPs will track student progress towards IEP goals for related services provided.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

THE LSSP WILL CONDUCT PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS FOR STUDENTS SUSPECTED OF OR HAVING AN EMOTIONAL AND/OR BEHAVIORAL DISORDER ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY'S CRITERIA

• Conducts multidisciplinary evaluations Full and Individual Evaluations for all Non-Speech only students who are referred for 1 or more eligibility categories (out of 11 eligibility categories).  
• Review information on referred students such as (psycho-ed testing, state folder, discipline and attendance records). 
• Score and interpret test data and incorporate psycho-ed data. 
• Conduct behavioral observations and clinical interviews with students
• Schedule and conduct interviews with parents and school personnel. 
• Utilize appropriate scoring program analysis and comprehensively interpret results. 
• Prepare and maintain Psychological Evaluation Report for each student evaluated.
• Participate in Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings with other professionals for students evaluated. 
• Participate in Central Multi-Disciplinary Team (CMDT) meetings with other professionals and consult as needed. 
• Recommend appropriate disability condition(s) for ARD/IEP Committee considerations.
• Review outside psychological and neuro-psychological evaluations provided by other districts, agencies or by the parent.
• Conduct in-services for school personnel on emotional/behavioral markers, classroom modifications/accommodations and structured intervention strategies. ▪ Perform other job-related duties as assigned. 
• Ensures psychological evaluations for Autism and Emotional Disturbance are conducted in accordance with National Association of School Psychologists best practice recommendations.
• Adhere to most up to date evaluation tools and standards as stipulated in the American Psychological Association Testing Standards 
• Conducts evaluations as needed for student College Board accommodations 
• Helps the campus conduct a Functional Behavioral Assessment.

THE LICENSED SPECIALIST IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY WILL DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF AND AID IN THE DEVELOPMENT, COMPLETION, AND MONITORING OF ARD (ADMISSION, REVIEW, DISMISSAL)/IEP (INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM) FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES AS PER STATE AND FEDERAL GUIDELINES.   

• Supports the special education teachers in developing appropriate IEP academic, behavioral, and social goals. 

• Ensure IEP services are being provided as indicated in the ARD. 

• Meet 100% compliance in Annual ARDs and ensure all paperwork is submitted in a timely manner. 

• Works in conjunction with Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and other related and Instructional Service Personnel (VI, AI, APE, PT) to ensure completion of all ARD paperwork in a timely manner. 

• Follows correct procedures for maintaining records and services.

THE LSSP WILL PLAN AND COMPLETE 100% OF INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP SPECIAL EDUCATION COUNSELING SERVICES FOR ALL ELIGIBLE STUDENTS AS WELL AS INTERVENE WITH ALL STUDENTS IN EMOTIONAL OR BEHAVIORAL CRISIS ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS.  

• Ensure all counseling services are tracked  
• Complete counseling service notes per session 
• Be trained in Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CPI) 
• Conduct crisis counseling when necessary 
• Guide the campus in interventions for students who are in emotional and behavioral crisis

THE LSSP WILL SUPPORT THE CAMPUS RTI (RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION) COORDINATOR IN TRACKING AND MONITORING STUDENTS IN RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION FOR ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS. 

• Ensure that campuses are employing a problem solving model for students in TIERS II and TIERS III  
• Guides the campus in how to track and document academic and behavioral interventions 
• Aids the campus in completing Functional Behavioral Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans in Response to Intervention 
• Provides guidance on academic and behavioral interventions in TIERS II and TIER III 
• When necessary ensures that students referred to Special Education have participated in TIER II and TIER III interventions for an appropriate amount of time prior to referral for Special Education evaluations.

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Knowledge of all applicable federal, state, and local laws, guidelines and procedures, including special education.  
• Knowledge of child development, human behavior, learning theory, family systems theory, crisis intervention theory/skills and consultation.  
• Knowledge of curriculum and instruction.  
• Skill in effectively managing a classroom and student behavior.  
• Skill in communicating effectively with others.  
• Skill in administering psychological assessments, evaluation and feedback, group process and therapy principles.  
• Skill in modifying instruction for various student needs.  
• Skill in working with various forms of equipment including, but not limited to, personal computers, calculators, projectors, and printers.  
• Skill in working with computer tools, including but not limited to, email, internet, word processing and spreadsheets.  
• Skill in working in collaborative team-based environments.  
• Knowledge and sensitivity to the impact of diversity issues as related to student achievement and mental and behavioral health.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduate degree and valid license issued by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologist as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology
• The requirements for licensure as a specialist in school psychology are set forth in Board rule 463.9
  • Requires completion of a training program in school psychology approved/accredited by the American Psychological Association or the National Association of School Psychologists, or a graduate degree in psychology with specified course work.
  • Requires a formal internship of at least 1200 hours, of which 600 must be in a public school.
  • Requires passage of the Praxis School Psychology Examination.
  • Requires passage of the Jurisprudence Examination.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

COMPENSATION: Starting at $55,000 and is commensurate with experience

WORK CALENDAR: 11 month and starts August 1st, 2020

SUPERVISED BY: Director of Student Supports