Polk County Public Schools
Pam Stein
Senior Manager
534-0958
The Psychological Services Department consists of 45 school psychologists, 4 school psychologist interns, and clerical support staff. School psychologists provide a wide range of comprehensive services which include:
Last year, school psychologists provided over 2,000 student evaluations and spent an average 52 days providing comprehensive services.
There are 43 school psychologist positions that provide services for students in pre-kindergarten through adult education. The ratio of school psychologist to student is less than 1:2000.
As an integral part of the Student Services Department, Psychological Services is managed and supervised by two district level administrators with training and experience in school psychology.
The Department provides psychologists with needed technological equipment such as lap top computers, printers, scoring software, Internet access, and network services.
Applied training is available in areas such as social skills, crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, assessment, referral procedures, child development, parent/teacher discipline programs, special education topics, ADHD, and other school psychology-related issues.
Job applications can be downloaded from the Polk County Schools web site at www.polk-fl.net. Current salary information may also be obtained on the Polk County Schools website under “Employment.”
It is recommended that applicants send their resume to the Psychological Services Coordinator. They should also complete the website application. Once the application and resume are received, an interview will be scheduled.
Educational background should be in the area of school psychology from an accredited college or university, preferably NASP approved.
Applicants must be eligible for school psychology certification or licensure.
The philosophy of Psychological Services in Polk County is that an internship experience should be broad and the intern should be given varied opportunities to explore the profession of school psychology.
Interns are assigned to an experienced psychologist with whom they work closely. Initially, they shadow their supervisor until they become more familiar with the setting. Interns will then have an opportunity to provide services under supervision. As skills develop, greater autonomy within the schools is expected.
Interns will be able to participate in the development of academic and behavioral interventions, evaluate students for special needs, provide individual/group counseling, and consult with parents, teachers, and other professionals,
Applied training is available in areas such as social skills, crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, assessment, referral procedures, child development, parent/teacher discipline programs, special education topics, ADHD, and other related issues.
Unique to the internship experience in Polk County is the visitation program. Community and school programs are visited so interns can become familiar with the resources available to students and families.
Applications can be downloaded from the Polk County Schools web site at www.polk-fl.net. Further information about Polk County Schools is also available at our website.
Once an application is received, interns are interviewed for consideration. Educational background should be in the area of school psychology from an accredited college or university.
A stipend and full benefits are provided. Generally, four paid internships are available each school year. Doctoral internships are also offered.
Psychological Services follows the FASP Internship Selection Guidelines." For further information, go to www.fasp.org.