School Psychologist (Meridian PCS)

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Job description

ABOUT MERIDIAN PCS
Meridian is a PreK-8th grade school located in Washington DC's vibrant U Street Corridor. Our mission is to inspire a passion for learning in our students and to help them build their self-confidence and self-respect through academic achievement.

Our 650+ students are a diverse mix of African-American, Latino, Asian, African, and White students. Almost 30% of our students are English language learners, and we have one of the largest Hispanic populations in DC charter schools. We are committed to building a community of teachers and staff who reflect the rich diversity of our student body.

Meridian is committed to serving families from our local communities; and one-third of our students live within a half mile of the school. The U Street Corridor was once the heart of black culture in DC and offers a tangible historical archive for our students, and Columbia Heights is one of the most racially and economically diverse neighborhoods in the District. We are also proud of the fact that Meridian is a school of choice for parents- all eight wards of the city are represented among our student population.

Meridian's strengths include two beautiful and historic campuses, with nearby outdoor and recreational grounds; state of the art technology for students and teachers; updated and aligned curricula; an academic program laser-focused on student growth, achievement, and social-emotional development; extensive professional development and support for teachers and leaders; and a school culture grounded in student achievement, collaboration, and student-centered learning.

Join us as we continue to take Meridian from good to great!

For additional information about Meridian visit mpcs-dc.org .

ABOUT THE POSITION
The School Psychologist measures and interprets the intellectual, adaptive, academic, social and emotional development of children; interprets results of psychological studies; interprets and applies state and federal codes; and develops strategies and interventions to address the special education needs of eligible students.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Administers standardized and/or supplemental assessments for the purpose of measuring the intellectual, adaptive, academic, social and emotional development of children and/or determining eligibility for services in compliance with regulatory requirements
• Assesses students' functional capabilities and home and/or classroom environment for the purpose of determining student's functional level and developing recommendations and/or placement
• Communicates with teachers, students, parents, and/or other personnel for the purpose of evaluating situations, solving problems and/or resolving conflicts
• Compiles information from a variety of sources (e.g. teachers, nurse, probation officer, mental health agencies, other professionals, etc.) for the purpose of producing a comprehensive evaluation report in compliance with established guidelines
• Consults with teachers, parents, other personnel and/or outside professionals for the purpose of providing requested information, developing plans for services and/or making recommendations
• Coordinates with community agencies including medical, judicial, social service and mental health services for the purpose of determining appropriate treatments, etc. to meet the needs of specific students
• Counsels students, parents and guardians for the purpose of enhancing student success in school
• Daily attendance and punctuality are required for the purpose of ensuring the goals of the work unit can be met
• Develops behavior plans, curriculum modifications, etc. for the purpose of implementing treatment programs
• Facilitates meetings, processes, etc. for the purpose of meeting curriculum guidelines and/or ensuring that state mandates are achieved
• Implements school wide program development and program evaluation (e.g. crisis intervention services, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring effective programs to assist children who experience physical, mental, social or emotional difficulties
• Intervenes in occurrences of inappropriate behavior of students for the purpose of assisting students in modifying such behavior and developing successful interpersonal skills
• Participates in meetings, workshops and seminars as assigned for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions
• Prepares a wide variety of written materials (e.g. extension requests, correspondence, memos, behavior plans, Medicaid billings, reports, required documentation, Psych Ed Summary, Psych Report, etc.) for the purpose of documenting activities, providing written reference, and/or conveying information
• Researches resources and methods (e.g. intervention and treatment techniques, assessment tools and methods, community resources, etc.) for the purpose of determining the appropriate approach for addressing students' functional goals
• Supervises interns, practicum students and others for the purpose of monitoring performance, providing for professional growth and achieving overall objectives of school's curriculum

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's Degree in School Psychology, Educational or Clinical psychology from an accredited institution, to include forty-two (42) semester hours of graduate level coursework and five hundred (500) clock hours of satisfactory field experience in a pre-K through 12 school setting under the supervision of a certified school psychologist. See DCMR 1659.1 for additional details regarding required graduate level coursework.
• Certification as a School Psychologist by the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)
• 5 years of related experience
• A minimum of two (2) year paid professional experience (post master's degree) in setting providing direct services to individuals and groups of school age children and their families
• Energetic, flexible, creative, innovative individual who can develop strengths-based, student-centered support plans that boost learning for students
• Ability to collaborate with families, school staff, and the community
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

SALARY AND BENEFITS
A recent TNTP Insight Survey of our teachers placed our staff's satisfaction with compensation in the top quartile of all charter schools in DC. We also lead the charter sector in compensation transparency, and publish our salary scales for teachers, apprentice teachers, and dedicated aides here .

Meridian teachers and staff are compensated competitively for their time and have opportunities to earn additional income through leadership opportunities at the school level, offering extracurricular clubs and sports for students, and facilitating tutoring programs.

HOW TO APPLY
Do you embody a love of learning? Do you believe in the importance of educating the whole child? Do you want to help Meridian continue to grow from good to great?

Apply today to the School Psychologist position!

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin or ancestry, marital status, veteran's status, or any other factor, which would constitute a violation of the D.C. Human Rights Act or other applicable laws or court order.

One School, One Community, One City... the World Intersects at Meridian