D428 School Psychologists
Here in the DeKalb School District, we share the goal of helping our students grow in school, at home, and in life. This includes recognizing individual growth, bridging differences, celebrating diversity, building positive relationships, providing opportunities to gain new knowledge and skills, and encouraging our students to take on challenges and persevere when things get difficult. Working together, we can support student growth through these formative years.
This year, we celebrate National School Psychology Week from November 6th to November 10th, 2023, the theme of which is “Let's Grow Together”. During this time, we highlight the critical work that school psychologists do to help students thrive. As members of the school team, school psychologists apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior to help children and adolescents succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. As we continue to navigate the aftermath of the pandemic, as well as the ongoing struggles brought on by social injustice and inequality, our primary focus is to reinforce children's natural and learned capacity for resiliency. Together, we can help our students as they grow as individuals and contribute to a positive school community.
D428 School Psychologists are here to support you.
Cortland Elementary School ~ (815) 754-2360
Littlejohn Elementary School ~ (815) 754-2258
Huntley Middle School (Fall Semester) ~ (815) 754-2241
Clinton Rosette Middle School ~ (815) 754-2226
Malta Elementary School ~ (815) 754-2970
Tyler Elementary School ~ (815) 754-2389
Brooks Elementary School ~ (815) 754-9936
DeKalb High School ~ (815) 754-2986
Huntley Middle School ~ (815) 754-2241
Jefferson Elementary School ~ (815) 754-2263
Lincoln Elementary School ~ (815) 754-2212
Founders Elementary School ~ (815) 754-3800
DeKalb High School ~ (815) 754-2271
Huntley Middle School (Fall Semester) ~ (815) 754-2241
Brooks Elementary School ~ (815) 754-9936
TBD
Early Learning Development Center ~ (815) 754-2999
What is a School Psychologist?
School psychologists are mental health specialists with knowledge of child development, the psychology of learning, behavior management and intervention, monitoring progress of students, and program evaluation.
School psychologists apply this knowledge using a problem-solving approach to help bring about positive changes in learning environment, attitude, and motivation. Services offered by the school psychologist may be provided directly to the student or indirectly by working with teachers, parents, and other care givers; however, all services provided by the school psychologist are intended to enhance the academic and social emotional success of students.
School psychologists promote the application of research-based psychological principles and practices that support the mental health and learning potential of all students in general education as well as special education programs.
How do we help students and families?
Education and Prevention
Providing school staff and parent training
Helping to develop school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) programs
Supporting students with suicide prevention and crisis management
Fostering tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of diversity in the schools
Developing and implementing social-emotional screening programs to identify students in need of intervention
Intervention
Providing direct services to children and parents
Helping families and schools deal with crises
Providing short-term individual and group counseling related to learning and school issues
Helping to conduct behavioral assessments and develop behavioral intervention plans
Providing training in social skills, behavior management, and other school-related topics
Supporting school-wide efforts to facilitate student progress toward measurable goals through data collection, progress monitoring, and data interpretation
Consultation
Supporting teachers with student accommodations and learning strategies
Assisting with classroom management and behavior intervention plans
Leading problem-solving teams
Consulting with other professionals in the community
Assisting parents access mental health resources in the community
Assessment
Assessing learning environments and school climate
Conducting psychological evaluations to assess abilities, skills, and emotional/social functioning
Conducting behavioral assessments
Performing curriculum-based assessments
Participating in the special education eligibility process
Collaborative Efforts
Collaborating with school staff and parents to support student learning and life skills
Working with other county school psychologists to improve service delivery
Collaborating with professionals in the community to improve client services
What training is required to become a School Psychologist?
School psychologists are intensely trained in both psychology and education and are required to complete a minimum of 60 graduate semester credit hours in a specialist-level degree program in school psychology, with a year-long, or 1,200-hour, supervised internship. The overall program includes graduate training and studies in mental health and educational interventions, child development, learning, behavior, motivation, curriculum and instruction, assessment, consultation, collaboration, school law, and systems. Many programs also offer a doctorate in school psychology, which generally requires 5 to 7 years of graduate work, including a 1,500-hour internship and completion of a dissertation. School psychologists must be certified and/or licensed by the state in which they work. They also may be nationally certified by the National School Psychology Certification Board (NSPCB). The National Association of School Psychologists sets ethical and training standards for practice and service delivery.
901 S. 4th Street
DeKalb, IL
Phone: (815) 754-2350
Espanol: (815) 754-2102
