Who are School Psychologists?

School psychologists have specialized training in both psychology, education, and mental health. 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 than ever before. School psychologists can provide solutions for tomorrow’s problems through thoughtful and positive actions today.

What Do School Psychologists Do? ​ School psychologists tailor their services to the particular needs of each child and each situation. School psychologists use many different approaches, but most provide these core services: Consultation Give healthy and effective alternatives to teachers, parents, and administrators about problems in learning and behavior Help others understand child development and how it affects learning and behavior Strengthen working relationships between educators, parents and community services Enhance understanding and acceptance of diverse cultures and backgrounds

Assessment: Use a wide variety of techniques at an individual, group and system level to evaluate: Academic skills and Learning aptitudes Personality and emotional development Social skills Learning environments and school climate ​ Intervention Increase achievement by assessing barriers to learning and determining the best instructional strategies to improve learning Assist with the Response To Intervention (RTI) process Provide counseling, instruction, and mentoring for those struggling with social, emotional, and behavioral problems Help families and schools deal with crises, such as separation and loss

Prevention: Develop school-wide initiatives to make schools safer and more effective ​ Education: Develop programs on relevant topics such as: Teaching and learning strategies Classroom management techniques Crisis management Promotion of mental wellness ​ Research and Planning Generate new knowledge about learning and behavior Collect and analyze data related to school improvement, student outcomes and accountability requirements Health Care and Community Provisions Collaborate with families and community-based personnel to provide a comprehensive model of services