School Psychologist Jobs

With the concern of parents and teachers stemming from increasing frequency of school violence, openings for school psychologist jobs are on the rise. Parents of troubled and special needs children are becoming more vocal, demanding that the school address the problems that exaggerate the stress placed on their own children by a hostile school environment. Troubled kids, including kids who have ADD and ADHD and take various medications, need evaluation and monitoring by a trained professional.  With the spotlight on bullying and its effects, the need for psychologists on staff in schools is clear.

Considering the rising demand and the significant number of baby-boomers leaving the workforce in the coming years, the career outlook for an aspiring school psychologist is well above average. Working conditions for school psychologist jobs, aside from stress arising from the nature of the position, are remarkably good. Most school psychologists work the same schedule as teachers, nine months of the year and reasonably little overtime. The median salary for a school psychologist is about $60,000, but the true reward may be in helping children realize their potential by identifying problems and gifts and using that knowledge to place them in programs beneficial to special circumstances.

The duties of a school psychologist include evaluating children with special needs by performing classroom evaluations to verify that the child is not simply overlooked or unresponsive to teaching methods, administering tests to determine fitness for special needs or gifted classes, and working with parents, children, and school administrators to find the best options for the children. School psychologists may also conduct classes, parenting classes, workshops, and sessions designed to address common age-appropriate issues and participate in grief counseling following traumatic events.

In most states, the minimal education requirements are a 3-year post-bachelor specialist degree (or Ed.S), although a doctorate degree is preferred and may make finding a job, especially in a supervisory position, much more likely. Other necessary skills include problem solving ability, patience with both children and adults, oral and written communications skills, adaptability, and the ability to fit into a collaborative team. It's a field in constant evolution, making ongoing education and research skills high priorities.

School psychologist jobs are rife with challenge and reward. It is not a good career choice for people who are impatient. Stress is certainly a factor, but not an insurmountable obstacle. For most, it's a great career choice; a well paying job high on the satisfaction scale with few drawbacks. If you’re looking for school psychologist jobs in your area or elsewhere in the country, Procare Therapy can help you find the right job for you!

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