School Psychologists

School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of the school team that support students’ ability to learn and teachers’ ability to teach.  They apply expertise in mental
health, learning, and behavior to help children and youth succeed academically,socially, behaviorally, and emotionally.  School psychologists partner with families,
teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school,
and the community.
What is the role of the school psychologist?

The school psychologist will utilize his/her specialized skills to

• consult/collaborate with other mental health professionals to promote positive student academic achievement
• assist staff members, families and students regarding state and federal regulations that govern special education in the state of Virginia
• explain procedural safeguards to parents, administrators and other staff members who provide direct services to students
• assist  administrative teams in crisis preparedness response and recovery
• evaluate and interpret intellectual, social and emotional development of referred students
• assist school-based intervention teams(SBIT) by providing specialized knowledge of difficulties/barriers that impact student learning
• Make recommendations to school personnel regarding curriculum planning and programming for children with significant adjustment problems in both generaland special education.
• Attend case conferences to assist the IEP team in the development and/or implementation of goals and objectives related to research and current data for children in K-12 settings based upon eligibility for the following high incidence disability categories such as: Intellectual Disability, Emotional Disability, Autism,Specific Learning Disability, and Other Health Impairment