Who is a School Psychologist?
¿QUÉ ES UN PSICÓLOGO ESCOLAR?
School psychologists collaborate with educators, families, and other professionals to help children succeed academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally. School psychologists are problem-solvers who work to find the best solutions for children.
School psychologists provide direct support and interventions to students, consult with teachers, families, administrators and other school-employed mental health professionals (i.e., school counselors, school social workers) to improve support strategies and school-wide practices, and collaborate with community providers to coordinate needed services. They help schools in the following ways:
Improve Academic Achievement
Promote Positive Behavior and Mental Health
Support Diverse Learners
Create Safe, Positive School Climates
Strengthen Family–School Partnerships
School psychologists provide direct support and interventions to students, consult with teachers, families, administrators and other school-employed mental health professionals (i.e., school counselors, school social workers) to improve support strategies and school-wide practices, and collaborate with community providers to coordinate needed services. They help schools in the following ways:
Improve Academic Achievement
- Promote student motivation and engagement
- Conduct psychological and academic assessments
- Individualize instruction and interventions
- Manage student and classroom behavior
- Monitor student progress
- Collect and interpret student data
- Reduce inappropriate referrals to special education.
Promote Positive Behavior and Mental Health
- Improve students communication and social skills
- Assess student emotional and behavioral needs
- Provide individual and group counseling
- Promote problem solving, anger management and conflict resolution
- Reinforce positive coping skills and resilience
- Promote positive peer relationships and social problem solving
- Make referrals to and help coordinate community services provided in schools
Support Diverse Learners
- Assess diverse learning needs
- Provide culturally responsive services to students and families from diverse backgrounds
- Plan appropriate Individualized Education Programs for students with disabilities
- Modify and adapt curricula and instruction
- Adjust classroom facilities and routines to improve student engagement and learning
- Monitor and effectively communicate with parents about student progress
Create Safe, Positive School Climates
- Prevent bullying and other forms of violence
- Support social–emotional learning
- Assess school climate and improve school connectedness
- Implement and promote positive discipline and restorative justice
- Implement school-wide positive behavioral supports
- Identify at risk students and school vulnerabilities
- Provide crisis prevention and intervention services
Strengthen Family–School Partnerships
- Help families understand their child’s learning and mental health needs
- Assist in navigating special education processes
- Connect families with community service providers when necessary
- Help effectively engage families with teachers and other school staff
- Enhance staff understanding and responsiveness to diverse cultures and backgrounds
- Help students transition between school and community learning environments, such as residential treatment or juvenile justice programs