KIPP New Orleans Schools is a non-profit network of 13 college-preparatory, public charter schools educating 5500 elementary, middle, and high school students. We have a track record of preparing students for success in college and life for over a decade, and our goal is to help students develop the knowledge, skills, and character strengths they need to pursue a life filled with choices.
Our schools are part of the free New Orleans public school system and enrollment is open to all students. As part of the national Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) network of 242 schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia, we are committed to partnering with the community to ensure that all children have the knowledge, skills and character they need to achieve their dreams while making the world a better place. We believe that great teachers and school leaders, a supportive learning environment, and an emphasis on both academics and character are the foundation for student success, and we strive to provide these for every child.
At KIPP New Orleans Schools, teachers, students, and families are all united around the same goal: college and a choice-filled life. We believe that an excellent college-preparatory education will set students up for success in whatever life path they choose. Through collective hard work and commitment, KIPP students complete college at a rate that is above the national average for all students and four times higher than that of students from similar economic backgrounds.
Job Description
The school psychologist at KIPP New Orleans schools provides direct support and intervention to students while building a strong collaborative relationship with teachers, school leaders, and families. The school psychologist helps all stakeholders understand child development and how it affects student performance academically and social/emotionally. S/he demonstrates a positive, collaborative problem-solving orientation with students, families, educators, community members, and colleagues. This individual has strong communication skills and is considered an expert on campus. S/he is able to work flexibly across teams and between school leaders.
The School Psychologist is responsible for collaborating with school-based teams to design effective, high-quality supports for students that are data-driven. KIPP New Orleans staff approach work with a sense of possibility and see challenges as opportunities for creative problem solving. KIPP New Orleans gives its students an intensive foundation in the core academic subjects with an emphasis on developing the knowledge and skills necessary for success in school and in life. The KIPP New Orleans community holds itself to high standards, cognizant that success can be achieved by all, regardless of challenging circumstances, through teamwork, tenacity, and focused dedication.
Prevention Services
- Participates in the projection of evaluations across campus based on student need and data points.
- Serves as a member of the Response to Intervention team. Analyzes academic and behavior data and provides recommendations to support struggling learners.
- Reduces inappropriate referrals to special education by offering advice on best practice when approaching, directing, teaching, and coaching diverse learners.
- Receives and reviews available developmental information from school and outside resources about student behavior(s) and selects evidence-supported/evidence-based psychological interventions.
- Consults with school-level teams on creating a safe, positive school climate through bully prevention, violence prevention, and trauma-focused lens. Provides professional development to staff when appropriate to support teachers in creating safe and supportive classrooms.
Direct Services
- Serves as the evaluation coordinator for the school. Drives the timeline for evaluation completion and coordinates all components of the evaluation process in collaboration with the special education case manager.
- Accurately administers, scores, and interprets psychological measures of intelligence, personality, behavior, achievement, adaptive functioning, and developmental maturity.
- Conducts student observations. Collects and interprets student and classroom data.
- Collaborates with grade level teams and counseling team to conduct functional behavior assessments, write behavior intervention plans and crisis plans. Supports in tracking student responses to the behavior interventions.
- Writes comprehensive evaluation reports for students who are eligible for special education services that are compliant with state and federal mandates including Louisiana Bulletin 1508 and IDEA.
- Participates in IEP meetings to communicate the results of psychological assessments to members of the team in parent-friendly language.
- Participates in mediations, administrative reviews, hearings, and due process proceedings, as needed.
- Participates in disciplinary proceedings: expulsions, manifestations, and causation meetings.
- Delivers crisis response and intervention services to students, families, and staff, when needed.
Consultation and Collaboration
- Serves in a consultative role with designated personnel to offer prevention and intervention strategies related to learning and behavioral problems of students; and provides consultation on an ongoing basis to teachers, parents, and other school personnel to resolve students’ learning and behavioral problems.
- Collaborates with service providers – SLPs, SWers, OT, PT, APE for comprehensive evaluations, and ongoing intervention for student support.
- Available for providing or consulting on behavioral, social, emotional, and mental health interventions on a school-based level.
Ongoing Meeting(s) and Communication Expectations
- Maintains updated communication on timelines (updated evaluation tracker) and meets dissemination deadlines without extension.
- Participates in school building level committee meetings on a monthly basis with the school leader, student support coordinator, and RTI coordinator to discuss next steps for students in the evaluations process.
- Participates in monthly regional school psychologist meetings.
- Participates in school-based Response to Intervention week meetings.
- Receives biweekly coaching and collaboration from the Manager of Clinical Services.
Qualifications
- Masters and/or Specialist’s in school psychology.
- Possess and/or eligible for state certification as a school psychologist in Louisiana.
- License-eligible as a psychologist in Louisiana (Preferred).
- Commitment to working with underserved students (Required).
Additional Information
Salary for this position is competitive and commensurate with experience. Additionally, KIPP New Orleans Schools offers a comprehensive benefits package including health coverage and retirement.
- Healthcare (including vision, dental, and short-term disability) provided for employees.
- 403(b) retirement plan with up to a 5% salary match.
- Mentor programs for new teachers.
- School-based PD over the summer, including 3-5 regional PD days.
- 3-4 regional PD days during the year for all KIPP New Orleans teachers.
- Ongoing coaching and school-based PD throughout the year.
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