School Psychologists are a part of every school system in the nation

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Steven R. Fricke

What is a School Psychologist?

School Psychologists are a part of every school system in the nation. They are highly trained in mental health, child development, learning theory, motivation, and education. To meet licensure requirements, Ohio School Psychologists must obtain a master's degree in School Psychology and serve a one year supervised internship in a school setting.

What Do School Psychologists Do?

	Support families, school, and the community in meeting the academic and mental health needs of students.
	Consult with parents, teachers, and other professionals to promote student well-being and achievement.
	Evaluate academic and socio-emotional needs of students.
	Develop special prevention and intervention programs for students.
	Teach effective coping and problem solving skills through individual and small group counseling.
	Advocate sound educational practices for all students.

For Children:

	Provide formal assessments of a child's abilities, learning styles, emotional development and social skills.
	Observe in the child's classroom to gather useful data needed for interventions.
	Integrate the assessment information into an accurate and useful picture of the child's current skills and abilities.
	Make recommendations for an educational program tailored to the child's individual needs.
	Help children develop appropriate problem solving skills through individual or group counseling.
	Monitor the child's progress toward meeting goals set by the building level team.

Children Today Face Many Challenges - School Psychologists understand these challenges and are there to help with:

Learning difficulties

Separation anxiety

Lack of success

Retention

School violence

Suicidal thoughts

Socialization difficulties

Attention difficulties

Poor self-confidence

Lack of motivation

Teen pregnancy

Sexuality issues

Proficiency testing

Competition

Family issues

Peer pressure

Substance use/abuse

Trauma and loss

For Teachers:

	Consult with teachers about the child's achievement levels, social and emotional development, and individual needs.
	Consult with teachers about the effects of various teaching techniques and methods of classroom management.
	Help teachers understand more about how children grow, learn, and develop.
	Assist teachers in the development of appropriate goals and objectives necessary to meet the needs of each child.
	Provide formal in-service training to increase knowledge of psychology, education, and special education law that includes current research findings.

For Parents:

	Establish open communication between the home and the school that promotes parent participation in educational decisions affecting their child.
	Help parents recognize the special needs of their child and support them as they work to meet those needs.
	Assist parents to better understand typical parent-child interactions related to stages of development.
	Provide parent education programs.
	Facilitate referrals to other agencies and specialists when appropriate.
	Collaborate with other professionals on the child's team to implement recommendations in the school setting.

Description from the Ohio School Psychologists Association

"What we do to children, they will do to others. There is nothing like the moral power of example. But above all, we as a society, as a common culture, have to respond to the call of our national history, and to the responsibility it imposes upon us of instilling in our children an informed appreciation of American principles and American practices."
--William J. Bennett, former U.S. Secretary of Education