School Psychologist
Lisa Hines, MA, C.A.E.S. – School Psychologist for grades: PK-5
First Floor, RM 131
Who Are School Psychologists?
From the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) website: What is a School Psychologist: http://www.nasponline.org
School psychologists help children and youth succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. They collaborate with educators, parents, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments for all students that strengthen connections between home and school. School psychologists are highly trained in both psychology and education. They must complete a minimum of a post-Master’s degree program that includes a yearlong internship and emphasizes preparation in mental health, child development, school organization, learning styles and processes, behavior, motivation, and effective teaching. School psychologists must be certified and/or licensed by the state in which they work.
What Skills Do School Psychologists Have?
School psychologists’ unique training builds a broad range of skills that enables them to:
• Work collaboratively with students, parents, teachers and other professionals.
• Use problem solving approaches to address student issues.
• Improve school practices and policies to reduce impediments to student achievement.
• Exhibit strong team member and leadership skills.
• Promote appreciation and support for human diversity.
• Employ good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrate the highest standards for ethical and professional behavior.
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 work with students individually and in groups. They also develop programs to train teachers and parents regarding effective teaching andlearning strategies, effective techniques to manage behavior at home and in the classroom, working with students with disabilities or with special talents, abuse of drugs and other substances, and preventing and managing crises.
In addition, most school psychologists provide the following services:
Consultation
• Collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators to find effective solutions
to learning and behavior problems.
• Help others understand childdevelopment and how it affects learning
and behavior.
• Strengthen working relationships between teachers, parents, and service providers in the community.
Evaluation
• Evaluate eligibility for special services.
• Assess academic skills and aptitude for learning.
• Determine social-emotional development and mental health status.
• Evaluate learning environments.
Intervention
• Provide psychological counseling to help resolve interpersonal or family problems that interfere withschool performance.
• Work directly with children and their families to help resolve problems in adjustment and learning.
• Provide training in social skills and anger management.
• Help families and schools manage crises, such as death, illness, or community trauma.
Prevention
• Design programs for children at risk of failing at school.
• Promote tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of diversity within the school community.
• Develop programs to make schools safer and more effective learning environments.
• Collaborate with school staff and community agencies to provide services directed at improving psychological and physical health.
• Develop partnerships with parents and teachers to promote healthy school environments.
Research and Planning
• Evaluate the effectiveness of academic and behavior management programs.
• Identify and implement programs and strategies to improve schools.
• Use evidence-based research to develop and/or recommend effective interventions.
In addition to many of the above duties, I also chair special education Team meetings, participate in Instructional Support Team (IST) meetings to develop support plans for regular education students in the general curriculum within the classroom setting and work closely with the school adjustment counselors who provide the counseling services to the students.