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will provide visionary leadership and focused services for learner success. |
School Psychology
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What is a School Psychologist |
| Contact an AEA #13 School Psychologist | |
| Information for Educators | |
| Information for Parents | |
| Job Opportunities/Internship Opportunities | |
| Links/Recommended Websites |
What is a School Psychologist?
AEA 13 school psychologists are professionals trained to
work with preschoolers,
children, adolescents, and their teachers and families. They work with
all school
personnel to help make education for students a positive, rewarding experience.
They
serve area schools as AEA building representatvies.
School psychologists are trained to provide a number of services:
Consult
*Collaborate with teachers, parents, and school personnel about learning,
social and behavior problems
*Help others better understand child development and its relationship to
learning and behavior
*Strengthen working relationships between educators, parents, and the
community
Educate
*Provide educational programs on classroom management strategies,
parenting skills, substance abuse, working with students with disabilities
or
gifted students, and teaching and learning strategies
Research
*Evaluate the effectiveness of academic programs, behavior management
procedures, and other services provided in the school setting
*Conduct research to generate new knowledge to improve learning and
behavior
Assess
*Work closely with parents and teachers, school psychologists use a wide
variety
of techniques to evaluate:
Academic skills
Learning aptitudes
Social skills
Self-help skills
Personality and emotional development
Eligibility for special service programs
School and classroom programs
Career and vocational goals
Intervene
*Work directly with students or families
*Help solve conflicts and problems related to learning and adjustment
*Provide counseling, social skills training, behavior management and other
interventions
*Help families deal with difficult crises such as separation or loss
For more information, contact a school psychologist in your area.
AEA #13 School Psychologists
ATLANTIC REGIONAL OFFICE
Serves: Anita, Atlantic, Cumberland-Massena
243-1480 or 1-800-886-1480
COUNCIL BLUFFS REGIONAL OFFICES
Halverson Center (Central Office)
Serves: Lewis Central, Riverside, Treynor
366-0503 or 1-800-432-5804
Manawa Office
Serves: A-H-S-T, Griswold, Iowa School for the Deaf, Tri-Center, Underwood
366-4210 or 1-800-645-2985
Peterson Center
Serves: Council Bluffs -- all public and non-public schools
322-7354 or 1-800-645-4574
GLENWOOD REGIONAL OFFICEServes: Fremont-Mills, Glenwood, Hamburg, Malvern, Nishna Valley, Sidney
527-5261 or 1-800-886-5261
HARLAN REGIONAL OFFICEServes: Elk Horn-Kimballton, Harlan, IKM, Walnut
755-3896 or 1-800-886-3896
MISSOURI VALLEY REGIONAL OFFICEServes: Boyer Valley, Logan-Magnolia, Missouri Valley, West Harrison, Woodbine
642-4112 or 1-800-886-4112
SHENANDOAH REGIONAL OFFICE
Serves: Clarinda, Clarinda Academy, Clarinda Correctional Facility, Essex, Farragut, Shenandoah, South Page, non-public schools
246-1716 or 1-800-886-1716
As school psychologists we recognize that our primary job is to be a partner with families. We also recognize that raising and educating children can be both rewarding and fulfilling and also agonizing and frustrating. The National Association of School Psychologists publishes monthly articles on their website that addresses issues relevant to raising and educating children. We invite you to visit this website. NASP also maintains links to many other sites that you may find of interest. Also, please feel free to contact the school psychologist assigned to your child’s building if you have any questions or concerns.
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As school psychologists we certainly recognize that one of our most important jobs is to work in partnership with teachers and administrators. With all of the changes in the field of education and the challenges that children bring to the classroom it is important for all of us to keep our knowledge base current. The National Association of School Psychologist maintains a web site specifically for educators. New articles are posted monthly and include topics that are of interest to educators and parents such as children and anxiety, helping children pay attention in class, ADHD, and reading development. NASP also provides links to relevant educational sites. Check out the NASP website at:
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Job Opportunities
Psychology Discipline Meetings: Once a month, all of the psychologists in AEA 13 meet to learn about a variety of topics. In the past, these topics have included reading strategies, psychopharmacological medications and crisis intervention.
Study groups: In addition to monthly psychology discipline meetings, school psychologist are invited to join a study group of their choice. These have included discussing early childhood issues, large-group assessment, specific psychological disorders, and neuro-psychology. These study groups are a way to continue your learning throughout the year on a specific topic.
Autism Team: This team provides consultative and support services to school districts, parents, and students who are identified as autistic or with autistic-like behavior.
Brain Injury Team: This team provides consultation and support to students identified as having a brain injury. The team is also a resource for the transition for students who return to school after recovering from an injury.
Crisis Response: In the event of a crisis, you may be invited to a school to help facilitate counseling services to students and crisis management. Also, you can be involved in helping area schools more fully develop their crisis plans.
School Improvement: A psychologist can offer support to local schools that are developing and implementing school improvement plans.
Statewide Committee Participation: Various statewide committees need representation from school psychologists. These areas might include Positive Behavioral Supports or advising on large-scale assessment.
Staff Development: Mentors and internship supervisors are necessary to help new school psychologists develop their skills and to provide support to them. An experienced school psychologist can be a great resource for new staff.
CONTACT THE AEA PERSONNEL OFFICE FOR AN APPLICATION
Cindy Wohlenhaus/Personnel Coordinator
AEA 13 provides opportunities for a school psychology internship that gives the student a wide variety of experiences using the problem-solving approach. AEA 13 employs a single service or building representative model with the schools served by the agency. This means that one person is assigned to a building(s) to work with administrators, teachers, and students in meeting the needs of the students in that building. The ratio of students per building representative is approximately 800:1, allowing the person assigned to a building(s) to become a more integrated resource in the school system(s).SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIP
School psychology interns with AEA 13 are considered full-time employees with an assigned caseload. Interns are expected to fulfill the same job requirements as any other first year building representative with AEA 13. Salary is based on experience and education in accordance with AEA 13 salary schedules. Interns receive the same benefit packages as any other full-time employee.
An AEA 13 fully certified school psychologist is assigned to be the intern’s field supervisor. Field-based supervisors are responsible for no more than two interns at one time (Standard 4.0 (g) Standards for Training and Field Placement Programs in School Psychology). The field supervisor may or may not be assigned to the same regional office as the intern. Face-to-face meetings between the field supervisor and the intern are arranged by the field supervisor and the intern. Intern meetings are scheduled for a minimum of eight hours per month in order to meet the intern requirements of an average of two hours per week of direct supervision. (Standard 4.0 (h) of NASP Standards). In addition, the field supervisor will conduct on-site visits and observations of the intern a minimum of twice each semester.
Field supervisors will complete evaluations for the interns for each semester of the internship. The field supervisors will complete any evaluation measures required by the intern’s university. A separate employee evaluation will be completed at the end of the year by the intern’s AEA supervisor. The field supervisor’s evaluation of the intern is made available to the AEA supervisor as additional input for the employee evaluation.
School psychology interns with AEA 13 may be assigned to a specific level of service, e.g., early childhood only, elementary center only, or a high school only. If the intern’s university requires experience will all age levels, the intern is responsible for arranging varied experiences with the help of his or her field supervisor and AEA supervisor.
School psychology interns will be able to adjust their schedules to include any on-campus meetings with university supervisors that are a part of the university’s school psychology training program. AEA 13 field supervisors will also be available to meet with university staff during the on-site visits to discuss the student’s progress and the internship experience.
AEA 13 recognizes that the internship year is a training
year for the intern. The training requirements specified by NASP
are followed and the agency is committed to providing a quality internship
experience for the student. The student will be afforded training
opportunities for professional development throughout the year and will
be encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities. The Agency
will work with the student to insure the student receives a quality internship
experience that will prepare the student to function as an effective school
psychologist.
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