Job Description

ABOUT OUR DISTRICT

The Syracuse City School District is undergoing a new phase of innovation and transformation with the goal of ensuring that all students graduate high school with the skills needed to be ready for college and career. For Syracuse, all means all. The School Board and Syracuse community have charged the Superintendent with improving student achievement, and she is seeking a dedicated and diverse team of educators to partner with her in moving the district toward its goals.

The Syracuse City School District represents 35 schools and programs, including 6 high schools, 6 middle schools, 6 K-8 schools, 13 elementary schools, and 4 alternative education programs, serving approximately 19,000 students Pre-K–12. Of these students, 82.3% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, 20.1% are served by the Office of Special Education, and 83% are students of color.

REPORTS TO: Building Principal

WHO WE WANT:

Successful SCSD educators are passionately committed to urban education and all in for Syracuse students. They:

• Believe strongly that all students can learn at high levels;
• Demonstrate commitment to serving urban students, schools or communities, and to closing the achievement gap;
• Demonstrate willingness to put the interests of students above all others;
• Actively contribute to a culture of high expectations in their school and district;
• Adapt seamlessly to the complexities of the urban school environment; and
• Follow current trends in education policy and research, including Common Core standards, comprehensive assessment systems and data-driven instruction.

The School Psychologist Intern applies theory, principles and methods to prevent, assess, evaluate, formulate and implement a plan of action based on student needs and strengths. The School Psychologist Intern will facilitate the learning, social-emotional, and adaptive functioning of students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. A School Psychologist Intern intervenes to address the mental, social, emotional, behavioral, and developmental conditions and disabilities experienced by students within our school communities as outlined in the Syracuse City School District Practitioners Model for Evaluation. Due to the necessity of working with families and community-based agencies to provide and/or coordinate comprehensive evaluation services for students, a School Psychologist Intern’s work hours may at times occur outside traditional school hours requiring a flexible work schedule.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assessment and Interpretation
  • Identifies and assesses the learning, development, and social-emotional functioning and needs of individuals and groups and the environmental factors that affect learning
  • Conducts psycho-educational assessments appropriate to the focus of concern and in accordance with prevailing professional standards
  • Conducts assessments with consideration of the characteristics of the student or group of students including ethnic, cultural, socio-economic, and handicapping considerations
  • Assists in identifying factors in the learning environment that may affect the student and assessing the degree of impact
  • Integrates data from assessment procedures and develops hypotheses relative to: (1) instructional and educational programming and (2) program eligibility and placement
• Direct intervention for Students
  • Provides academic or social-emotional-behavioral interventions to students to support the teaching process and to maximize learning and adjustment
  • Teaches students how to develop effective learning strategies, adaptive skills, and pro-social skills
  • Counsels students on educational and personal adjustment issues
  • Evaluates effectiveness of individual and group interventions and modifies interventions based on data collected
  • Uses assessment data about the student and the environment(s) to develop appropriate interventions and programs
  • Crisis intervention
  • Suicide assessment
  • Collaborate to develop and monitor Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals and behavior plans.
  • Attend parent-teacher conferences as needed
  • Attend team meetings as needed
  • District crisis team member
  • Collaborate with all school personnel to assess student’s social/emotional obstacles to academic success
  • Consult with therapists, doctors, parents, child protective, law guardians, family court
  • Develop/facilitate/coordinate prevention activities and intervention strategies that include Non-Violence services, programs and training
  • Work collaboratively with college/university partners on District initiatives

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be actively pursuing a New York State School Psychologist Certificate
• Provide own transportation throughout the community (mileage is reimbursed with submission of accurate records)
• Training and or experience with Culturally Relevant Education (preferred)
• Prior demonstration of exemplary attendance is expected of any candidate for hire.
• The successful candidate will be required to pass a fingerprint-based background check, at the cost of $101.25 to the candidate.
• City Residents are encouraged to apply!

SALARY/SALARY RANGE:

• Compensation is in accordance with the Unit 1 contractual agreement and ranges from $57,766 to $99,065, based on experience and qualifications.
• Teachers may also have the opportunity to participate in our Summer School Programs, which are compensated at an hourly rate of $45.00.
• Teachers of color or those with experience and a deep background in Urban Education may qualify for the District's Urban Fellowship Program.