School Psychologist

Description

Mission Statement

Through the use of social and restorative justice principles, Five Keys provides traditionally underserved communities the opportunity to improve their lives through a focus on the Five Keys: EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, RECOVERY, FAMILY, COMMUNITY.

Five Keys Overview

Five Keys is a nonprofit organization that operates an extensive network of programs across California. With a presence in 14 counties and over 120 locations, Five Keys focuses on various initiatives aimed at empowering individuals and families to overcome poverty and inequity. The organization's programs encompass a wide range of services, including public charter schools, restorative justice programs in jails and prisons, shelters, permanent supportive housing, and the development of new housing and support programs. At Five Keys, the overarching objective is to uplift individuals and families by providing them with essential resources. This includes education, housing, employment, and the necessary tools to sustain their progress. By offering these fundamental elements, the organization aims to create positive and lasting change in communities, making them better places for everyone.

Our Core Competencies

A well qualified candidate has the capacity to communicate effectively, collaborate with others while building positive relationships, demonstrates strong problem solving skills, has a dynamic learning mindset, and remains committed to a high level of cultural and social awareness. A successful candidate will work well under pressure, observe appropriate boundaries and operate with a high degree of emotional intelligence.

What it’s really like to join our agency…

At Five Keys, culture matters. Culture is at the very core of everything we do and impact on a daily basis. We’ve made a commitment to building an inclusive culture that seeks collaboration over hierarchy to create empowered work teams. We serve vulnerable populations daily and we strive to approach everyone with compassion, patience and a trauma informed approach. We choose to push past discomfort to have difficult conversations to impact the greater good. This allows us the opportunity to collaboratively create an inclusive culture and transform the world around us.

Benefits

We offer very low monthly costs for medical, dental, and vision insurance, along with generous time off! Various pre-tax flexible spending accounts and retirement account 403(b) are available. We provide annual reimbursements up to $100 towards gym membership, smoking cessation, and weight loss programs. Annual athletic event participation and annual massages are reimbursed up to $50. Other Company-paid benefits, including free wellness-related apps, an Employee Assistance Program, and a comprehensive mental health care platform, are available to you and your dependents.

Qualifications

JOB SUMMARY

The School Psychologist reports to the Special Education Program Manager and is responsible for providing direct mental health services and conducting psychoeducational assessments to students ages 16–22 who qualify for special education under IDEA. Key responsibilities of this position include completing psychological testing for initial and triennial evaluations, writing comprehensive reports, developing IEP mental health goals and objectives, providing Individual and guidance counseling services, implementing IEP mental health goals, and collecting and analyzing data to inform progress reporting. 

The School Psychologist plays a critical role in supporting students in various education settings, including county jails, reentry centers, and community-based classrooms. This position requires frequent travel throughout their assigned region (either Northern California or Southern California) to conduct assessments, provide counseling services, and participate in Student Support Team (SST) and IEP meetings. The School Psychologist is an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, collaborating with Education Specialists, Administrators, Clinical Supervisors, and community partners to ensure educational access and support for historically underserved, system-involved, and justice-impacted students.

We are seeking an individual who maintains a positive attitude and demonstrates cultural humility, trauma-informed practice, and a commitment to working with underserved, urban youth and adults. The ideal candidate is passionate about providing high-quality mental health supports that promote academic success and personal growth for students navigating complex life circumstances.

This position supports the Five Keys Alameda Academic and CTE Programs throughout multiple sites and counties, in-custody and community, in the Northern California region. Counties include but are not limited to Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Marin, Solano, and Sonoma. The scheduled hours vary between 7:00 am - 8:00 pm; the current schedule is 8:30 am - 4:00 pm. Temporarily for the 2025-2026 school year, this position will work 7 hours per day, 35 hours per week, with 195 working days annually. Based on the organization's needs, the schedule may change to the original: 6.5 hours per day, 32.5 hours per week, with 210 working days annually. 

 JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide individual and group counseling services to students to promote improved educational performance, personal growth, and emotional well-being
• Develop ERMHS (Educationally Related Mental Health Services) counseling goals or collaborate with the ERMHS Clinical Supervisor to ensure counseling goals are appropriate, measurable, and aligned with student needs
• Conduct comprehensive psychoeducational assessments for initial and triennial evaluations to support eligibility determinations for special education services
• Write clear, comprehensive psychological reports and present findings as an active participant in the multidisciplinary team and IEP team process
• Develop IEP mental health goals and objectives, implement counseling services, collect and monitor progress data and report progress to IEP teams
• Participate in Student Support Team (SST) meetings to help identify student needs, recommend appropriate interventions, and assist in decisions regarding special education referral
• Support the development and implementation of Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs), Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs), and manifestation determinations as needed
• Provide collaborative consultation and documentation of results, including assisting educational staff with Response to Intervention (RTI) and pre-referral intervention strategies, and making recommendations for classroom adaptations and supports
• Collaborate with Teachers, Education Specialists, Administrators, and other staff to design and support student programs, ensuring appropriate accommodations and services are in place to promote success across diverse educational settings, including independent study and corrections-based environments
• Create and maintain a data collection system that is organized and updated weekly or as appropriate
• Maintain appropriate data systems to document student progress, monitor goal attainment, and ensure compliance with IEP requirements and legal timelines
• Provide virtual and in-person services as appropriate to meet the needs of students across assigned region (Northern California or Southern California)
• Travel frequently throughout the assigned region (Northern California or Southern California) to conduct assessments, provide counseling services, and participate in SST and IEP meetings in correctional facilities, community-based classrooms, and independent study programs
• Utilize trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and restorative practices in all professional interactions with students, staff, and families
• Provide training and consultation to Five Keys staff on relevant topics such as trauma-informed care, behavior intervention, restorative practices, and special education compliance
• Stay current with clinical and educational research and participate in professional development activities to enhance practice
• Adhere to the ethical standards and codes of the profession, as well as to the rules, regulations, and laws governing special education programs in California
• Support and implement Five Keys policies, regulations, procedures, and administrative directives
• Complete all required records, reports, and documentation accurately and within legal timelines
• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to adapt approaches and strategies to meet the unique needs of students in nontraditional learning environments
• Other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Willingness and ability to travel frequently throughout the assigned region (Northern California or Southern California) to provide services across multiple educational settings, including correctional facilities and community-based sites
• Self-driven and results-oriented professional with strong attention to detail, and a through understanding of IDEA, AB 167/216, AB 2306, and California special education compliance requirements
• Strong general and emotional intelligence to be able to build rapport with vulnerable youth and adults while maintaining professional boundaries
• Ability to maintain strong and appropriate boundaries with personal identifying information when interacting with students or community or program partners, and while at any school location or community or program partner site
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with ability to clearly convey complex psychological concepts to both professional and lay audiences
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multi-disciplinary teams, including Education Specialists, Clinical Supervisors,Transition Managers, and Administrators
• Ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple deadlines, and adapt to dynamic work environments
• Advanced problem-solving skills; tactfully address and resolve questions/concerns
• Advanced proficiency in digital platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Excel, SEIS, and databases for conducting assessments, counseling, documentation, and virtual meetings
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality and take all precautions when handling sensitive information

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• A master's degree or higher in School Psychology or a related field preferred
• Possession of a valid California Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential authorizing service as a School Psychologist, a license as a Clinical Psychologist, or a license as an Educational Psychologist
• Experience with understanding of how educational barriers affect work and training for students in the program

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS  

• Must wear provided PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and adhere to all safety guidelines and requirements, when needed
• Frequent talking and hearing conversations
• Long periods of walking, sitting at a desk and/or computer station
• Lifting items that weigh up to 25 lbs.; reaching, bending, carrying and stooping within the daily routine of tasks and activities

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

This position is contingent upon: 

• Satisfactory results of a Live Scan (criminal background investigation)
• Successfully obtaining jail clearance for positions working in county jails or probation locations
• Submitting proof of clear TB results. Results dated within 60 days prior to hire date are acceptable

WORK ENVIRONMENT  

• Moderate to high noise level
• Work environment varies from site to site
• Some personal safety risk working in underserved communities
• Must be willing and able to work in a correctional facility, travel throughout the assigned region to community sites, and travel for statewide as needed

GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

At Five Keys, we understand that when our employees grow, the agency has a greater capacity to thrive and accomplish its mission. It is for this reason that we remain committed to providing ongoing professional development opportunities for all of our employees. These include but are not limited to: conferences, staff development training, and coaching plans that allow incumbents to grow into new positions within and across programs within the agency (i.e., programs, schools, housing).