Elementary School Psychologist/Counselor – 48% position (17.5 hours weekly)

Overview of School

Prospect Sierra School, a prominent East Bay independent school, is seeking a part-time school psychologist/counselor at the Elementary School campus for the 2018-19 school year.

Prospect Sierra is an independent, co-ed K–8 school located on two campuses in El Cerrito, California. Our mission “inspires students to seek deep, meaningful understanding; to develop strong academic skills; and to become creative and independent thinkers.” The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) featured Prospect Sierra as a Model School of the Future, among only seven schools worldwide, in its publication A Guide to Becoming a School of the Future. Please visit our website, www.prospectsierra.org, for more information about the school.

Overview of Position

This position is for a part-time  elementary school psychologist/counselor, and it is a new position at the elementary campus. This position will report to the Elementary Division Head. The school psychologist/counselor will work closely with all classroom teachers and the learning support team to ensure adequate academic and social/emotional support within our elementary program. As the elementary school psychologist/counselor, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

 

Student Support

• One-on-one regularly scheduled or as-needed sessions with young students needing short-term emotional support and/or emotional regulation coaching.
• Student lunchtime groups and group facilitation during free play when needed (social skills coaching, for example).
• Student check-ins and conflict resolution facilitation when there are specific emotional needs or challenges that arise.
• Occasional co-teaching with classroom teachers of social/emotional lessons at all grades related to the school’s Toolbox Project and RULER programs, which support ongoing, explicit teaching around emotions, emotional regulation, and conflict resolution.

 

Case Management

• Interpret psychological evaluations/reports from outside providers; advise and assist faculty and parents with implementing recommendations for accommodations for students with diagnosed learning differences and/or social/emotional support needs.
• Serve as liaison between community-based mental health providers and school staff/administrators.
• Participate in or lead Information Sharing Meetings (ISMs) in order to collect data about how individual students are doing across the program and disseminate notes from ISMs to those teachers who teach the student.
• Participate in or lead student team meetings which include teachers, parents, and outside professionals.
• Update digital learning specialist–or is it learning support? (LS) hubs with current information on students’ social/emotional needs to ensure important history and current information is communicated to all teachers.
• One-on-one parent consultation when students are experiencing social and emotional challenges related to school and/or familial strain (i.e. illness, family transition, loss, conflict).

 

Curricular Support & Team Collaboration

• Join team meetings when necessary in order to support teachers with needed accommodations.
• Work closely with each classroom teacher to identify and address questions and concerns about student social/emotional progress when concerns arise.
• Collaborate weekly as a member of the learning support team, made up of all learning specialists, the Elementary Head, and the Elementary psychologist/counselor.
• Meet weekly with Elementary Head and provide support in responding to psychosocial issues that may impact the larger class/school community.
• Implement in-house screenings (language, processing skills, memory, etc..) when needed, and follow up with parents and teachers.
• Recommend outside evaluation and services to students/families as needed, and keep referral lists up to date.
• Classroom observations of students at the request of teachers, administrators, and/or parents when questions arise about social/emotional challenges or learning differences.

• Work in collaboration with Learning Specialist team to create communication to current and prospective families around learning differences, social/emotional support, and resources on the school website.

 

Duties school-wide include:

• Participation in Learning Specialist weekly meetings.
• Ancillary duties include responsibilities that are part of elementary school life, e.g., attendance at school functions, occasional full faculty professional development trainings or faculty meetings, and recess duties weekly.

 

Qualifications

The candidate must have:

• Master’s degree in school psychology, clinical psychology, or counseling (MFT certification or certified school/clinical psychologist preferred)
• Three or more years’ experience in a school setting preferably at the elementary school level
• Specific training in or expertise in providing interventions for students with learning differences and social/emotional/behavioral challenges
• Familiarity with assessment and screening tools for elementary aged students
• Ability and willingness to work collaboratively
• Ability to effectively communicate with parents
• Strong organizational and record keeping skills
• Initiative
• Desire to work within a school setting and within a classroom setting when necessary
• Willingness to have a flexible schedule in order to accommodate meetings with parents, shifting times to work individually or in small groups with students, and to meet with teachers

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Sense of humor
• Confidence in managing digital databases and using technology

Prospect Sierra School’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in our hiring process; people of color and LGBT candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Salary

The salary is competitive.

How to Apply

Send a résumé (including written recommendations and/or contact information for three references) and one-page cover letter to:

Abby Guinn, Elementary School Head

Email:  tapscottjobs@prospectsierra.org