Supporting the Whole Child
Every school in Williamson County has the services of a school psychologist.
School psychologists are highly trained in both psychology and education and are members of the of the school team. Their training emphasizes preparation in mental health and educational interventions, child development, learning, behavior, motivation, curriculum and instruction, assessment, consultation, collaboration, school law and systems.
School psychologists must be certified and licensed by the Tennessee Department of Education. The National Association of School Psychologists sets ethical and training standards for practice and service delivery.
School Psychologists work with students to:
- Provide counseling, instruction and mentoring for those struggling with social, emotional and behavioral problems
- Increase achievement by assessing barriers and determining the best instructional strategies to improve learning
- Promote wellness and resilience by reinforcing communication and social skills, problem-solving, anger management, self-regulation, self-determination and optimism
School Psychologists work with students and families to:
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Identify and address learning and behavior problems that interfere with school success
- Evaluate eligibility for special education services within a multi-disciplinary team
- Support students’ social, emotional and behavioral health
School Psychologists work with teachers to:
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Identify and resolve academic barriers to learning
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Design and implement student progress monitoring systems
- Design and implement academic and behavioral interventions
- Support effective individualized instruction
- Create positive classroom environments
- Motivate all students to engage in learning
School Psychologists work with administrators to:
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Collect and analyze data related to school improvement, student outcomes and accountability requirements
- Implement school-wide prevention programs to help maintain positive school climates conducive to learning
- Promote school policies and practices ensuring the safety of all students by reducing school violence, bullying and harassment
- Respond to crises by providing leadership, direct services and coordination with needed community services
