What is a School Psychologist?The role of a school psychologist involves working in collaboration with parents, teachers, and other educational professionals to help students succeed academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally. A school psychologist conducts assessments, provides consultation, aides in creating goals, and supports student enrichment. As a member of the Intervention Assistance Team (IAT), the school psychologist is involved in the Response to Intervention (RTI) process. A school psychologist works to reinforce problem solving, self-regulation, self-determination, optimism, communication, and social skills.
School psychologists are highly trained in both psychology and education. Training programs emphasize preparation in mental health and educational interventions, behavior, child development, motivation, curriculum, learning, instruction, assessment, consultation, collaboration, and educational law and systems.
School Psychologists Work With Students and Their Families to:
- Identify learning difficulties behaviors that interfere with school success
- Evaluate eligibility for specialized instruction and acceleration (within a multidisciplinary team)
- Enhance home–school collaboration
- Make referrals for community support services
School Psychologists Work With Teachers to:
- Identify barriers to learning in the classroom
- Design and implement academic and behavioral interventions
- Support effective individualized instruction when necessary
- Create positive learning environments
- Motivate students to engage in learning
- Observe classroom behaviors
School Psychologists Work With Students to:
- Increase achievement by assessing barriers to learning
- Helping determine the best instructional strategies to improve learning
- Enhance understanding and acceptance of diverse cultures and backgrounds
- Provide counseling sessions as needed for reasons such as conflict reasoning and grief