Director of School Psychology

Job Description:

The Director of School Psychology is a visionary leader, who strengthens student achievement by directing and coordinating school psychological services; ensuring the highest professional practice standards, maintaining strict compliance with federal, state and local mandates and driving equitable outcomes for diverse students in support of improved student outcomes. The Director leads by serving as a key bridge in collaboration with school psychologists, students and families, school leadership, the Student Support Team (SST), school faculty and staff and the broader Alexandria community. The Director of School Psychology reports to the Chief of Student Services and Equity.

Qualifications

Education: Master's degree with emphasis on school psychological services. Doctorate preferred.

Certificates & Licenses: Valid Virginia Department of Education School Psychologist license required, or the ability to obtain one. Administrator and supervision endorsement preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum of five years successful experience in the delivery of school psychology services with increasing leadership responsibilities and experience is required.
• Comparable professional experiences considered.
• Experience as a supervisor and/or school psychologist administrator preferred (e.g.Director of Psychology, Lead Psychologist, Program Lead).
• Progressive experience supporting the child study and/or Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) for behavioral interventions in an educational setting or with K-12 students.

Key Competencies:

• Deep working knowledge of special education regulations (IDEA) Section 504, and student services programs.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership, program administration, fiscal management, personnel and evaluation management and ability to design, execute, and monitor large-scale division initiatives.
• A proven track record of sensitivity to the needs of individuals, equity mindedness and responsiveness to the diverse needs of ethnic, cultural and educational backgrounds.
• Advanced insight into K-12 mental health and trauma-informed programs and ability to design interventions, analyze data, and measure program effectiveness.
• Perform other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the department.

Essential Functions:

• Directs the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, professional learning and continuous improvement of the division-wide school psychological staff.
• Leads the professional learning and supervision of the school psychological services staff in collaboration with other SST Directors and staff in the department.
• Conducts formative and summative observational evaluations of school psychologists to ensure high quality service delivery and optimal utilization of staff skills across schools and the division.
• Builds relationships with higher education institutions to manage internship and mentor placements.
• Interprets federal, state and local regulations to design, modify school psychological services and programs to comply with these regulations.
• Manages private day and residential placements in collaboration with the Office of Specialized Instruction to include partnership with the City's Department of Community and Human Services.
• Maintains and reviews statistical information regarding school psychological services to inform division-wide staffing, student support strategies and professional learning.
• Collaboratively participates in the Office of Student Support Team's internal decision-making activities.
• Strategically develops and manages the school psychological services budget to leverage efficiencies and increase funding sources to include revenue generating documenting practices (i.e, Medicaid reimbursements).
• Oversees and maintains the school psychological services inventory, procurement, ordering and equitable distribution of assessments tools and clinical supplies.
• Performs duties of school psychologist as needed, particularly in support of TAG and IDEA eligibility screening.
• Performs other tasks and assumes additional duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Chief of Student Services and Equity in support of improved student outcomes and department operations.

Clearances

Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance.

Tuberculosis Skin Test.