School Psychologist as Superintendent's Consultant

This paper addresses the role of the school psychologist and how this role can be broadened to encompass areas other than just test administration, and takes a look at what additional knowledge is needed in order to fill more consultative and administrative roles. Through better training programs, the school psychologist is beginning to perform functions as leader and policy maker in the schools. It is possible for the psychologist's services to be called upon for assistance in developing possible solutions if he/she is prepared to design plans of action and accept responsibility for implementation. As the school psychologist offers a plan for dealing with a crisis, he/she needs to take into consideration administrative issues such as community pressure, resistance to change, personnel issues, and various financial issues. The author feels that schools can benefit from more of the expertise of school psychologists, if the crises that administrators continuously face are seen as opportunities for greater involvement in the total functioning of schools. (YRJ)