How can you support teachers as a school psychologist?

You may have seen educational psychologists assisting students with learning disabilities and assisting students with their emotional and social well-being. However, you may be unfamiliar with their assistance and support for school staff. They can especially help with issues involving misbehaving students and difficult parents (factors that have a negative impact on teacher well-being).

An educational psychologist assists teachers by providing them with space to sit and reflect on specific children as well as different methods of assisting them to problem-solve around systemic factors in their setting. This question allows you to demonstrate your understanding of the role and responsibilities of a school psychologist. It may also be an opportunity to discuss your previous experience working in schools or other educational institutions, as well as how you assisted teachers. You can respond by demonstrating to the hiring manager that you understand how you can collaborate with teachers to assess student progress and assist teachers as they support their classes.

Answer as an example: "When I work with teachers, my goal is to support them in assisting their students to make social, emotional, and academic progress. I can advise teachers and discuss options with them to help improve the behavior of their students, or I can mention if I notice that a specific child appears to be struggling. Teachers may be able to observe their classes and collect data on students' progress, and I can assist them in analyzing their findings and developing strategic plans based on their findings."