Washoe Country School District
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What is a school psychologist? 
What is a School Psychologist?
School Psychologists have specialized training in both psychology and education. They use their training and skills to team with educators, parents, and other mental health professionals to ensure that every child learns in a safe, healthy and supportive environment.School psychologists understand school systems, effective teaching and successful learning. Today's children face more challenges then ever before. School psychologists can provide solutions for tomorrow's problems through thoughtful and positive actions today.
What training does a School Psychologist have?
The training requirements to become a school psychologist are a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours including a year-long internship. This training emphasizes preparation in mental health, child development, school organization, learning, behavior and motivation.
To work as a school psychologist, one must be certified and/or licensed by the state in which services are being provided. School psychologists may also be nationally certified by the National School Psychology Certification Board.
What do School Psychologists do?
School psychologists work to find the best solution for each student and situation and use different strategies to address student needs and to improve school and district-wide support systems. School psychologists provide leadership in initiating and facilitating constructive change in accordance with best practices by providing the following services:
Consultation
- Collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators to find effective solutions to learning and behavior problems;
- Help others understand child development and how it affects learning and behavior;
- Strengthen working relationships between educators, parents, and community services
- Facilitate the collaboration between regular education and special education
- Provide support to school staff on procedure and professional topics
Prevention
- Design programs for children at risk of failing in the educational environment
- Promote tolerance, understanding and appreciation of diversity in the school community
- Participate in developing programs to make schools safer and more effective learning environments
- Develop partnerships with parents and educators to promote healthy school environments
Intervention
- Participate in problem solving teams to develop academic and behavioral strategies to ensure student progress, including home-school collaboration and adjustments to the instructional environment
- Provide psychological counseling to help resolve interpersonal or family problems that interfere with school performance
- Work directly with students, families, and educators to help resolve problems in adjustment and learning
- Provide training and social skills in anger management
- Help families and schools deal with crises, such as death, illness, or community trauma
Evaluation
- Supporting educators and parents in data collection for identifying and verifying problems that require intervention
- Supporting educators and parents in collecting data to monitor student progress and the effectiveness of interventions and educational programs
- Use a wide variety of techniques at an individual, group, and system level to evaluate:
- Academic skills
- Learning aptitudes
- Personality and emotional development
- Social skills
- Learning environments and school climates
- Eligibility for special services
Research, Planning, and Training
- Evaluate the effectiveness of academic and behavioral management programs
- Identify and implement programs and strategies to improve schools
- Use evidence-based research to develop and/or recommend effective interventions
- Train educators, students, and parents on topics such as:
- Data collection for problem solving purposes
- Instructional and behavior management strategies
- Working with students who have disabilities or unique talents
- Substance abuse
- Crisis management
