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- What is my role as School Psychologist?
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What is my role as School Psychologist?
School Psychology is an exciting and rapidly growing field. I think of my
role as encompassing three broad areas: consultation, counseling and
evaluation. In regards to consultation, the School Psychologist interacts
with various members of the school community such as parents,
administrators, faculty, and community members. The School Psychologist is
an excellent resource in the school regarding psychological and educational
matters. In the school, the School Psychologist will often be consulted
regarding academic, behavioral, and social/emotional concerns. If these
concerns extend beyond the school, the School Psychologist can help direct
interested families to resources in the community.
School Psychologists can also provide students with counseling services(with
appropriate parent/guardian permission) to help them succeed in their
academic endeavors. The School Psychologist may meet with a
student individually to target specific skill areas and/or utilize a small
group format to encourage socialization and positive peer interaction among
students. A School Psychologist may also lead whole-class groups to help
encourage positive community building experiences.
The School Psychologist is also a member of the Planning and Placement Team
(PPT). The PPT is a group that may be comprised of parents/guardians,
administrators, teachers, the school nurse, special education staff, other
pupil personnel, and community agencies. The PPT may decide an evaluation
is warranted to determine a student's initial and/or continued eligibilty to
receive special education services. The School Psychologist can help in the
evaluation process to provide information about a child's cognitive,
behavioral, social-emotional, and/or adaptive skill levels.
For more information about the role of a School Psychologist, please go to
the Handouts tab and click on School Psychologist Brochure (requires Adobe
Acrobat).
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