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Job Description
Tacoma Public Schools
Expected Start Date: As soon as possible
FTE: 1.0
Hours per day: 7.5
Salary Level: Based on preparation level and experience per TEA Collective Bargaining Agreement. Range is $73,549 (BA+0 step 1) through $144,248 (MA+90 step 20)
Additional Information: This position is a replacement contract for the 2025-2026 school year anticipated to go until November 20th, 2025, or upon the return of the employee on a leave of absence, whichever occurs first.
This position helps students with their psycho-educational development, their abilities and potentials, and their social-emotional needs; helps students adjust to cultural and environmental factors which influence the learning and adjustment processes.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
1. Administers appropriate assessments to students, on referral, interprets results, summarizes findings for parents, and reports findings via approved District procedures; writes intervention plans; ensures that assessments and plans are implemented within stipulated time frames and according to guidelines; processes appropriate referral documentation.
2. Consults and collaborates with parents, school staff, and outside agency personnel regarding mental health, behavioral, social-emotional, and educational concerns, and their implications and means of intervention; supervises students in lunchroom, in hallways, on school grounds, and in any program held at the school under school district sanction; meets with parents/guardians on a regular or as-needed basis.
3. Designs and develops procedures for preventing and improving mental health disorders; promotes student mental health and learning, and educational systems improvement.
4. Provides training and other skill-enhancement activities to students, parents, school personnel, and others within the community regarding issues of human development, learning, and behavior, as well as parenting skills, instructional methods, and behavior management.
5. Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with various parent support groups, and governmental and community family service agencies; involves these groups in assessment, intervention, and program evaluation procedures; develops network of social referral sources; provides referrals to outside agencies for crisis intervention and grief counseling.
6. Provides short-term crisis intervention for students referred for psychological and psycho-educational assessments; coordinates and assists in the referral of students and their families to appropriate school and community resources as necessary.
7. Participates with student response team (SRT) in establishing and planning respective roles in modifying a student’s behavior; develops individualized student behavior management programs; makes recommendations; provides feedback to SRT members and parents.
8. Maintains current knowledge of state and federal legislation related to disabilities; enhances personal knowledge through participation in case conferences, in-service training, professional organizations, meetings, and ongoing program and theoretical research in the field of school psychology; may serve on related committees.
9. Maintains appropriate reports, records, and files; documents psychological and/or developmental histories for each student in caseload; provides summary progress reports and notes within pre-established time frames.
10. Serves as a consultant to the Board of Education, district and school administrators, teachers, and other staff regarding psychological matters and services within the district.
OTHER JOB DUTIES
1. Maintains and updates knowledge and skills required for success in the position by participating in professional development activities and needed or as assigned.
2. Manages special projects and performs related duties as assigned, on a temporary basis.
3. Regular, reliable, predictable attendance or physical presence is an essential job requirement and critical to the performance of the work.
CONDITIONS
Experiences frequent interruptions; required to attend meetings beyond regular work hours; occasionally required to work an extended work day; required to travel to District and community sites; occasionally required to travel outside of the community; may be required to deal with, and defuse, if appropriate, difficult and/or sensitive situations and/or people; may be exposed to childhood diseases; may be required to lift and carry up to 20 pounds, bend, squat, stoop, kneel, crouch, walk, twist, climb, and/or be mobile.
Education and Experience
Master’s degree from an approved school psychology program and successful completion of all assigned practicum and internship requirements; or any combination of experience and training which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and ability required to perform the work.
Licenses/Special Requirements
Must maintain all licenses and certifications as a condition of continued employment.
Valid Washington State ESA certification in school psychology.
Valid Washington State driver’s license and access to personal transportation.
Fingerprints and successful WSP and FBI background clearance/sexual misconduct clearance.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of state and federal regulations regarding the identification and placement of students in special education.
Knowledge of current theories and methodologies of effective family instructional intervention and behavior modification.
Knowledge of community support resources and family service agencies.
Skill in obtaining, clarifying, and exchanging information.
Skill in providing instruction to parents related to the use of behavior modification techniques.
Ability to communicate effective instructional strategies and interventions, based on synthesis of academic, cognitive, and/or behavioral assessment data.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Ability to act as a liaison with community family service agencies and other support resources.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of people in a multi-cultural, diverse socio-economic setting.
Ability to demonstrate reasonable, reliable and regular attendance.
Ability to participate as part of a team.
Closing Date/Time: Mon, 06 Oct 2025 -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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Tacoma Public Schools
Show moreTacoma Public Schools (TPS) is one of the largest districts in Washington State serving approximately 30,000 children in preschool through grade 12. The district has 35 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, 10 high schools and 4 early learning centers. 19 schools are designated as innovative. TPS has nearly 5,000 employees and is one of the largest employers in Tacoma.
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