School Psychology

School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach. They are the educators who know the most about psychology, and the psychologists who know the most about education. 

School psychologists have training and expertise in mental health, learning, behavior, and school systems and their main focus is to help students succeed academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally. School psychologists collaborate with families, teachers, school administrators, and other Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments.

The Role of the School Psychologist in North Carolina

School psychologists in North Carolina engage in delivery of comprehensive school psychological services for students PK-12. This includes:

  • Applying the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework to help schools and districts develop prevention and intervention programs to support students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs
  • Collaborating with school and district teams to collect and analyze data to help identify students in need of support and to monitor students’ progress toward goals
  • Conducting psychoeducational evaluations of students suspected of having a disability to help inform teams’ eligibility and programming decisions 
  • Serving on threat assessment teams to help identify students who may be at risk of harming themselves or others
  • Providing individual and group counseling interventions to students

In order to deliver a comprehensive school psychology program, school psychologists will understand and demonstrate competency in the following areas:

  • Home/School/Community Collaboration
  • Prevention, Early Intervention, and Crisis Management
  • School Systems Organizational Change, Policy Development, and Climate
  • Consultation and Collaboration
  • Student Diversity in Development and Learning
  • Systems-Based Service Delivery
  • Enhancement of Student Cognitive and Academic Skills
  • Enhancement of Student Wellness, Social Skills, and Life Competencies
  • Promoting Safe and Effective Learning Environments
  • Group and Individual Counseling Techniques
  • Data-Based Decision Making, Accountability, and Problem-Solving
  • Research and Program Evaluation
  • Legal, Ethical, and Professional Practice
  • Information Technology

Contact

Megan Cardin, M.A.
School Psychology Consultant
Megan.Cardin@dpi.nc.gov
984-236-2812

Information and Resources

For more information and resources, visit the subpages below or on the side-rail: