School Psychology Careers
School psychologists work with children and adolescents in early childhood and in elementary and secondary school. Their objective is to help create healthy learning environments for students, where they can thrive. To achieve this, they apply their expertise in psychology to children's situations and collaborate with parents, teachers, and staff.
Issues of concern to a school psychologist include learning problems, maturation, misbehavior, gifted and talented students, disability, motivation, and socialization. On an institutional level, they help mold facets of a school such as classroom management techniques, the efficacy of school programs, parenting skills, communication, and learning strategies.
They meet one-on-one with students, conduct learning evaluations, observe in classrooms, assist teachers, counsel parents, and act as an expert support system for the school as a whole. Essentially, school psychologists specialize in understanding the needs, struggles, and thoughts of school-age children, and determine how best to help and communicate with them as regards their learning experiences.
Generally, school psychologists have their own office at a school, and may be either the sole member of a counseling department, or one of several. To excel in this career, individuals need to be driven by their compassion toward children. They should be kind, nurturing, understanding, and helpful. The work is often exhausting and emotionally trying, so patience, resolve, and a strong work ethic are needed.
Requirements: A doctoral degree is usually required to practice as a school psychologist, with one or more years of post-doctoral supervised experience before certification and licensing. However, some states allow psychologists to practice in schools with their master's degrees only. Internships are a required component of either degree program, and students are trained extensively in the areas of both psychology and education.
Job Outlook: The field of school psychology is expected to grow by 11 percent in the next decade. Because it is considered a specialty area within psychology, graduates with this degree should be at a particular advantage as regards job prospects. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics explains:
“Demand for school psychologists will be driven by a growing awareness of how students' mental health and behavioral problems, such as bullying, affect learning. School psychologists will also be needed for general student counseling on a variety of other issues, including working with students with disabilities or with special needs, tackling drug abuse, and consulting and managing personal crisis.”
Salary: The median annual salary for a psychologist working in an elementary or secondary school was $65,710 in 2008.
Article Resources:
University of California, Berkeley
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics