What Is a School Psychologist?A Guide for A Guide for

Undergraduate StudentsUndergraduate Students

Presented by

Mac I. Barnett

School Psychologist

© 2006 National Association of School Psychologists, 4340 East West Highway, Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814 – 301-657-0270

School Psychologists link mental health to learning and behavior to promote:

• High academic achievement.

• Positive social skills and behavior.

• Healthy relationships and connectedness.

• Tolerance and respect for others.

• Competence, self-esteem, and resiliency.

What Is the Role of a School Psychologist?

• Assessment.

• Consultation.

• Prevention.

• Intervention.

• Staff, parent, and student education.

• Research and program development.

• Mental health care.

• Advocacy.

• Systems change.

When Do Children Need a School Psychologist?• Learning difficulties.

• Behavioral concerns.

• Attention problems.

• Problems at home or with peers.

• Fears about war, violence, and terrorism.

• Depression and other mental health issues.

• Coping with crisis and trauma.

• Poverty, violence, or life changing events.

• Advocacy of their learning and mental health needs.

When Should Teachers Collaborate With School Psychologists? • Tackling challenging academic or behavioral

situations.• Implementing effective individualized instruction.• Providing evidence-based practices and interventions

(in accordance with new laws) to address students’ learning needs.

• Evaluating student progress towards individual goals and state standards.

• Advocating for resources within the school and community for all students and their families.

AssessmentSchool psychologists work with children, parents, and staff to help determine a child’s:•Academic skills.•Instructional level.•Learning aptitudes, strengths, and weaknesses.•Personality and emotional development.•Social skills and behavioral concerns.•Learning environment.•School climate.•Special education eligibility.

Assessment continued …School psychologists use: • Observations. • Interviews.• Standardized measures. • Curriculum-based measurement (CBM).• Curriculum-based assessment (CBA).

School psychologists evaluate the origin and degree of a student’s strengths and weaknesses and monitor progress toward reaching academic goals.

Consultation: Child-Centered School psychologists:

• Provide knowledge to help improve student learning and mental health outcomes.

• Implement and manage academic and behavioral interventions.

• Help teachers, parents, and other professionals understand a child’s development and learning.

• Meet or communicate with others involved with a child to determine the best way of managing or improving a particular concern.

Consultation: Consultee-CenteredSchool psychologists:

• Collaborate with teachers to help them identify classroom-based problems and implement data-based interventions.

• Support implementation of effective instruction and behavior management at the classroom level.

• Assist parents to develop skills to help their children succeed at home and in school.

• Collaborate with the principal and other school personnel to identify systemic concerns and promote systems-level change.

School psychologists and teachers can collaborate when presented with challenging students, classrooms, or

situations.

PreventionSchool psychologists: • Implement programs to build positive connections

between students and adults.

• Support early identification of potential academic skill deficits and/or learning difficulties.

• Design and implement programs for at-risk children.

• Foster tolerance and appreciation of diversity.

• Create safe, supportive learning environments.

Teachers know their students best. Teachers can help school psychologists with prevention efforts by identifying students at-risk and systemic concerns

in the classroom, school, and community.

InterventionSchool psychologists: • Work directly with children, teachers,

administrators, and families.• Develop individualized, classroom, and school-

wide interventions for learning and adjustment.• Design and implement crisis response plans.• Provide counseling, social skills training, and

academic and behavioral interventions.• Develop strategies for modifying instruction to

optimize student progress.

School psychologists can help teachers select, implement, and evaluate

interventions that work for children with diverse needs.

EducationSchool psychologists provide teachers and

parents training in:• Teaching and learning strategies and

interventions.• Parenting and disciplining techniques.• Classroom and behavior management

techniques.• Working with exceptional students.• Strategies to address substance abuse, risky

behaviors, or mental illnesses that affect students.

• Crisis prevention and response.

School psychologists teach students, teachers, parents, and other

professionals problem-solving strategies to address issues related to

academic, behavioral, and psychological problems.

Research and Program DevelopmentSchool psychologists: • Recommend and implement evidence-based

programs and strategies.• Conduct school-based research to inform practice. • Evaluate effectiveness of programs and

interventions independently and as part of a school-based evaluation team.

• Contribute to school-wide reform and restructuring.

School psychologists can help teachers, parents, and other

professionals use data-based decision making to improve student and

systemic outcomes.

Mental Health ServicesSchool psychologists: • Deliver school-based mental health services

such as group, individual, and crisis counseling.• Coordinate with community resources and

health care providers to provide students with complete, seamless services.

• Partner with parents and teachers to create healthy school environments.

• Promote mental health in the school setting.

School psychologists can help teachers understand and accommodate the

unique needs of students with mental health problems in the classroom.

Advocacy NASP and state professional associations are

dedicated to advocacy. School psychologists encourage and sponsor:

• Appropriate educational placements.

• Education reform.

• Legislative involvement.

• Community services and programs.

• Funding for adequate resources.

• Employment of highly qualified school personnel.

School psychologists and teachers can work together to advocate for the needs

of students at the school, local, state, and national level.

Some More Specific Examples …

School psychologists work with diverse populations and diverse needs!

Family Problems The teacher noticed that Carla, an able student, had

stopped participating in class discussions and had difficulty paying attention. He asked the school psychologist to explore why Carla’s behavior had changed so much. After discovering that her parents were divorcing, the school psychologist provided counseling for Carla and gave her parents and teacher suggestions to help her during this difficult time. Carla’s behavior and self-esteem improved, and she felt more secure about her relationship with her parents.

School psychologists can be trusted to help with delicate personal and family situations that interfere with schooling.

Reading Problems Tommy’s parents were concerned about his difficulty

in reading. They feared that he would fall behind and lose confidence in himself. In school the teacher noticed that Tommy understood what was presented in verbal form but that he needed help from his classmates to do written work. After observing Tommy and gathering information about his reading and writing skills, the school psychologist collaborated with his parents and teachers to develop an intervention to improve his reading and writing. The plan worked and both Tommy’s reading and his self-esteem improved.

School psychologists can help prevent future problems when they intervene

with learning problems early on.

A Potential Dropout David was a high school student who often skipped

class. He had very poor behavior and had been suspended from school on various occasions for fighting. After establishing a relationship with David, the school psychologist taught him simple techniques to relax and to control his aggressive behavior. David’s mother and his teacher worked together on a plan designed with the school psychologist to establish limits and to improve communication.

School psychologists recognize that changes in the school environment and at home can improve the quality of life

for children and their families.

For More Information, Contact:

National Association of School Psychologists

(301) 657-0270 www.nasponline.org *****************************************************************************************

Mac I. Barnett at mbarnett@ntschools.org

716-807-3855

QUESTIONS?

Special thanks to the 2005–06 NASP Student Leader Outreach Committee for initiating this outreach effort, and to committee member Stacy Bjorkman for her assistance with this presentation.

Staff Contributors Summer 2003

Kathy Cowan

Meaghan Curran

Ted Feinberg

Mary Beth Klotz

Linda Morgan

Libby Nealis

Staff Contributors Winter 2006

Kathy Cowan

Ted Feinberg

Linda Morgan

Mary Beth Klotz

Myriah Rosengarten

Arlene Silva© 2006 National Association of School Psychologists,

4340 East West Highway, Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814 – 301-657-0270