K-8: School Psychologist - Boston, MA (2024-2025)

  • Full-time
  • Grade Level: Middle
  • Start Date: Immediate opening
  • Department: School-based Support

Company Description

Our Mission

The mission of all of KIPP Massachusetts schools is to create an environment where students develop the academic skills, intellectual habits and character traits necessary to maximize their potential in high school, college and the world beyond. Our program is based on:

  • A focus on high-quality instruction supported by rigorous professional development to ensure that our students develop the academic skills necessary to pursue the life they choose.
  • A high regard for character development to ensure that our students and staff celebrate and develop their character and identity strengths.
  • An emphasis on family engagement, because we believe that our students are most likely to be able to maximize their potential when we work in partnership with our students and their families.
  • A focus on college readiness for all students so that all students can make choices about their post-secondary education and future.

What We Do

We seek to provide a world-class education for students from educationally underserved communities in Lynn and Boston. Our student demographics mirror those of neighborhood schools in terms of race, socioeconomic status, Multilingual Learners (MLL), and students who receive special education services.

Our promise to families is that their children will enter college and the professional world able to thrive academically due to their literacy, numeracy, and core knowledge in science and social studies. We also promise that our students will develop the zest for learning and grit necessary to persevere as they climb the mountain to and through college and career. Our graduates will be prepared to return to their community as teachers, leaders, and architects of continued growth in Lynn and Boston.

Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Vision

At KIPP Massachusetts, we believe that Knowledge is Power. Every day, our team and family have the opportunity to either perpetuate systems of oppression or disrupt them. We are compelled by the ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusivity. Therefore, we continuously commit to operating as an anti-racist organization.  Read more at Diversity Equity Inclusivity Vision.

Who We Are

KIPP Massachusetts began enrolling students in 2004. We currently hold two charters, operating two “districts.” Our first district, KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School, is based in Lynn, MA.  Our second district, KIPP Academy Boston Charter School, is based in Mattapan, MA. Each district is housed on one or more “campuses,” which we use to refer to different grade spans, for example, elementary grades, middle school grades, or high school grades.

In Lynn, KIPP Academy Lynn Elementary (serving grades K-4), KIPP Academy Lynn Middle (serving grades 5-8), and KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate (serving grades 9-12), are all under our Lynn charter.  Admission to any grade in the Lynn district is admission to all remaining grades in the Lynn district K-12. 66% of our students in Lynn are Hispanic, 23% are African American and 11% are other races/ethnicities.

In Boston, KIPP Academy Boston Elementary (serving grades K-4), and KIPP Academy Boston (serving grades 5-8), are both under our Boston charter.  Admission to any grade in the Boston district is admission to all remaining grades in the Boston district, K-8. 68% of our students in Boston are African American, 30% are Hispanic and 2% are other races/ethnicities.

KIPP National

KIPP Massachusetts partners with the KIPP Foundation, or KIPP National, which is a non-profit national network of college-preparatory public charter schools serving elementary, middle and high school students.  KIPP National has a 25-year track record of preparing our students in educationally underserved communities for success in college and life.

There are 242 KIPP schools in 20 states plus the District of Columbia educating over 100,000 students on their path to and through college and career.  We believe that excellent academic, safe and structured schools, empowered teachers, an emphasis on character development and support through college are the foundation for student success, and we strive to provide this for every student.

All KIPP schools, whether they are in Massachusetts or in other states, are part of the free public school system in their respective states and enrollment is open to all students.  KIPP public charter schools are given more academic and budgetary flexibility than traditional public schools, and in exchange commit to deliver high-quality academic results for students.

Job Description

School Psychologist

KIPP MA is looking for a committed, ambitious, and culturally competent School Psychologist to become part of a vibrant educational team.  KIPP MA psychologists are responsible for delivering effective, high-quality consultation, assessment, and intervention services to aid student achievement and ensure that students are progressing on their individual goals. The School Psychologist will also approach the work with a sense of possibility, seeing challenges as opportunities for creative problem solving. As a result, the School Psychologist will contribute to amplifying our children’s potential by creating a school experience that affirms, values, and challenges students each day. The School Psychologist will support all KIPP MA schools and will report directly to the Director of Special Education.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Consultation, Assessment, and Intervention

  • Evaluate and screen students to assess cognitive, academic and social-emotional and behavioral needs
  • Write evaluation reports including all cognitive, academic, social-emotional, and behavior assessments and goals
  • Maintain logs and ongoing assessments to evaluate student progress and complete progress reports
  • Deliver crisis response and intervention services to students, families, and staff when needed
  • Routinely gather evidence of positive outcomes resulting from psychological services
  • Receive and review available developmental information from school and outside resources about student behavior(s) and select evidence-supported or evidence-based psychological interventions

Student and Family Engagement

  • Work in conjunction with the IEP Team to create IEPs for annual reviews and provides input for students who are involved with the three-year re-evaluation
  • Attend family conferences as needed
  • Coordinate outreach activities that support our students and families including pediatricians, outside counseling agencies and agencies such as DCF, DMH, etc.
  • Conduct home visits and works with families to help students make positive behavioral changes

School and Community Support

  • Provide consultation to classroom teachers pertaining to student progress, behavior management techniques and establishing individualized behavior management plans
  • Meet federal and state mandates as well as local policies in performance of duties
  • Participate in special education meetings
  • Participate in dispute resolution meetings, hearings, and mediation settlement meetings as needed
  • Complete Medicaid reimbursement activities

Regional Responsibilities

  • Embody KIPP MA’s Code of Conduct by acting with integrity, leading with humanity, centering self-awareness and critical consciousness, taking personal responsibility, and engaging productively
  • Participate and engage in regional professional development and community events as required

KIPP MA staff are supported in their demanding work by experienced and dedicated leadership and staff who have themselves proven successful in their role. Our KIPP MA Executive Leadership Teams maintain consistent systems and procedures designed to permit staff to do their best work. 

In addition to the responsibilities listed above, there will occasionally be other duties as assigned that staff will engage in to help promote a positive and safe learning environment and culture.

Qualifications

Qualified candidates have the following:

  • Love and unwavering belief in the high potential of all students
  • Commitment to anti-racism and equity
  • Demonstrated ability to drive student growth and achievement and to create a warm, inclusive, rigorous learning environment
  • Completion of Master’s degree or higher in school psychology approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), including an advanced practicum of 1,200 hours, 600 of which must be in a school setting;
  • Possession of MA DESE School Psychologist License;
  • Experience with Special Education processes (IEP meetings, documentation, initial referrals)
  • An eagerness to set ambitious, challenging, and tangible goals, and a relentless drive to achieve them
  • An ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and a capacity to remain calm and focused when faced with unexpected challenges
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including strong public speaking skills
  • Fluent Spanish or Haitian Creole speakers strongly encouraged to apply
  • KIPP MA requires that all staff be fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine (or approved by KIPP MA for an exemption as a reasonable accommodation due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief). 
  • Pass Criminal Background Checks

KIPP MA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe in the importance of being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization that enables all of our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building an exceptional team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. We also strive to ensure an inclusive community by creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. We hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

Additional Information

What We Offer

The starting salary range for this exempt position is $70,000 to $85,000 with a $1,000 signing bonus—and $2,000 retention and $3,000 longevity bonuses in subsequent years. We offer a comprehensive tiered benefits plan, with a competitive employer contribution toward premiums for health insurance, including coverage for spouse/domestic partner and/or children. Other benefits include dental and vision plans, flexible PTO, life insurance, work-life balance benefits, paid family and medical leaves, flexible spending account options, parenting and elder care benefits, free access to financial coaching and services, commuter benefits, 403(b) plans, individualized coaching, and referral bonuses. KIPP MA may offer a relocation stipend to help defray the cost of moving for this role, where applicable.

All staff and educators at KIPP MA are committed to anti-racism and inclusion, are part of a close-knit diverse community, and are encouraged to show up authentically, inspiring our children to do the same. For more information on the benefits of joining KIPP MA, please view our Employee Value Proposition. 

Application process

Internal candidates: If you are currently a member of the KIPP MA team, please apply by emailing your resume to the Recruitment Team at [email protected].  Be sure to indicate to which position you wish to apply.     

External candidates: If you do not currently work for the KIPP MA team, please visit our job board at https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/KIPP/massachusetts and complete an online application.

  1. The KIPP MA Recruitment Team will select candidates to move forward to the video/phone screen interview stage.
  2. Following the phone interview, the KIPP MA team will invite qualified candidates to interview with KIPP MA School or Regional Office Teams. 
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