Psychological Services
The mission of the CISD Psychological Services Team is to improve student academic achievement and student well-being by addressing all facets of their development. By addressing emotional, social, and behavioral concerns a student may experience, learning will improve. As support staff, the team works to promote academic achievement through direct and related services designed to enhance the social and emotional functioning of students.
The Psychological Services Team includes a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Licensed Specialists in School Psychology (LSSP), a Special Education Counselor, and Behavior Specialists. They work in collaboration with parents, teachers, administrators, and other professionals in the district and the community to facilitate learning, socialization, and mental wellness of all students.
Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP)
Licensed Specialists in School Psychology (LSSP) are uniquely trained to support a student’s ability to learn and a teacher’s ability to teach. Their expertise in mental health, learning, and social-emotional functioning can assist in better understanding a student’s unique set of strengths and challenges. LSSPs complete Full and Individual Evaluations (FIE) for special education eligibility related to emotional, behavior and social needs; participate in the development of Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for students receiving special education services; and provide training to school staff and parents in supporting academic, emotional, and social needs.
Special Education Counselor
The Special Education Counselor provides direct counseling services to special education students who demonstrate an educational need for counseling as a related service. When providing direct counseling services, the Special Education Counselor provides therapeutic interventions to support a student in reducing behavioral excesses or improving behavioral deficits that interfere with a student’s ability to derive benefit from the educational program. Direct psychological services are currently face-to-face interactions with the student which require the student to be removed from the instructional environment (e.g., pull-out services). Counseling as a related service is considered the most restrictive method of supporting behavior change as identified with a student’s IEP goals and objectives.
Behavior Specialist
The Behavior Specialists work directly with campus staff. They teach, demonstrate, and coach effective interventions and strategies to ensure accurate implementation of the student’s Individual Education Plan. Behavior Specialists conduct Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs), support campus teams in developing function-based Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs), develop data collection systems, guide the analysis of data used to make changes to interventions and supports, and assist teachers in developing appropriate goals and objectives for students.
The CISD Behavior Team practices in a manner that is consistent with district and department policies, state and federal laws and established rules for the ethical and competent practice of psychology and behavior management. The Special Programs Department supports the continuing professional development of its staff.