School Psychologist(Pupil Services Specialist (12 Month) (35 Hour))

School Psychologist

Pupil Services Specialist (12 Month) (35 Hour)

Recruitment #260715-6659T4-001

Location Bridgeport, CT

Brooklyn, CT

Cheshire, CT

East Lyme, CT

Enfield, CT

Hartford, CT

Montville, CT

New Haven, CT

Newtown, CT

Suffield, CT

Date Opened 8/18/2026 12:00:00 AM Salary $75,900 - $131,422/year Job Type Open to the Public Close Date Continuous Recruitment

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Introduction

The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) has exciting opportunities for experienced and qualified individuals to join Unified School District #1 (USD#1) as School Psychologists (Pupil Services Specialist).

This recruitment is continuous and may be used to fill openings in correctional facilities across the state.

Those who possess a School Psychologist (070) CT Endorsement are encouraged to apply directly to this recruitment! Click here to confirm you possess the appropriate license and that it is up-to-date.

• While the Pupil Services Specialist Classification has an umbrella of disciplines (i.e. social work, school counseling, etc.) this recruitment will be specifically used for hiring a CT certified School Psychologist.

What we can offer you

We take part in a competitive benefits plan which includes:

• Option to maintain State of Connecticut Teacher Retirement Plan or enroll in the State Employee Retirement System;

• A variety of medical and dental plans;

• Participation in a hybrid retirement plan which provides a retirement benefit, that may include retiree health insurance;

• Sick and personal leave;

• Five (5) weeks of scheduled vacation time;

• Annual $1,000.00 lump sum payment;

• A $4000 stipend is available pursuant to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement;

• Tuition reimbursement; and

• The State of CT is an eligible Public Services Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.

Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview page to learn more!

In addition, the State puts an emphasis on:

• Providing limitless opportunities;
• Hiring for diversity and fresh perspectives;
• Performing meaningful work and;
• Encouraging a healthy work/life balance!

Position Highlights

• SCHEDULE: first-shift, full time (35 hours per week,) Monday through Friday
• ACADEMIC CALENDAR: Unified School District (USD) #1 follows a 12-month school calendar, 222 school days per year.
• TRAINING: Candidates selected for hire, are required to attend a fourteen (14) week training at the CT DOC Training Academy. More details can be found in the Selection Plan of this job bulletin.
• LOCATION: Positions may be directed to any one of our facilities based on the candidates Education Endorsement and Department needs.

Candidates new to the State of Connecticut will start on 'Step one' of the pay plan, in the tier that their highest level of education corresponds to. Starting salary is non-negotiable.

Masters Degree 6th Year Step 1 (minimum)

$75,900 $81,208 Step 13-15 (maximum)

$131,422 $140,620

The Connecticut Department of Correction Unified School District #1 is dedicated to providing quality educational programs for incarcerated individuals. Academic knowledge, vocational competencies and life skills integrated with technology are offered to students in a positive environment to foster lifelong learning, multicultural awareness and a successful transition to society.

The School Psychologist will perform a full range of pupil service functions for students within the district that include educational diagnosis, counseling, and psychological services. The School Psychologists will also collaborate with the State School Teachers to offer resources and assist in planning educational programs.

As a School Psychologist, you will have the opportunity to work in the following areas:

Liaison Activities

Acts as a liaison between:

• Students and former education placements

• Students and outside providers

• Outside agencies and local school programs

• The school program and institutional DOC components

• Interested parties and the school programs, particularly as it related to transition to the community

Direct Service

• Individual and group counseling of students with respect to the social, emotional, and psychological needs related to education; as well as vocational, educational, and career planning
• Uses crises intervention skills to mediate student problems
• Administers and analyzes psychological related assessments
• Creates IEP goals in the areas of self-determination, behavior, and transition
• Prepares and delivers classroom lessons and group presentations related to appropriate vocational, career, and social/emotional topics
• Implements and documents interventions

General Assessment & Placement

• Assists as needed with the general assessment program at the local site including the collection of information needed for educational and vocational placement and institutional classification
• Administers group and individual achievement and vocational assessment as needed
• Assists in development and administration of the process to make assessment data available or decision making
• Assists the school administrator in the development and implementation of an efficient process for the placement of students into appropriate program

More details can be found in the class specification

About us

The Connecticut Department of Correction is a diverse agency with a wide variety of employees from Correction Officers, to Educators, to Managers and Skilled Professionals. We value differences that make us stronger as a team and support our mission statement.

The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) is the agency responsible for corrections in the U.S. State of Connecticut. The agency operates 13 correctional facilities. It has its headquarters in Wethersfield. The DOC protects public safety by ensuring offenders serve their sentences of imprisonments in facilities that are safe, human, and provide re-entry programming.

The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction is a unified system; all sentenced and un-sentenced offenders are supervised by the DOC. The Department also provides supervision for offenders on parole, community release, and other discretionary release programs.

Our School District

USD #1 is dedicated to providing quality educational programs for incarcerated individuals. Students are offered academic knowledge, vocational competencies, and life skills integrated with technology in a positive environment to foster lifelong learning, multicultural awareness, and a successful social transition. USD#1 offers an array of academic programming, including:

• K-12 High School Program
• Adult Basic Education (ABE)
• General Education Development (GED)
• Credit Diploma Program (CDP)
• English Second Language (ESL)/ Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and;
• a wide variety of Career-Technical Education (CTE) programs.

Our USD#1 motto is defined by the Latin phrase on the Districts seal. The phrase, "Non Sum Qualis Eram," translates into English as "I am not what I once was." The hope is that returning citizens will be provided with some of the core tools required to change their path in life through education.

Hear from our employees:

"When the opportunity to work in Corrections was first presented to me, I was hesitant to consider working in such an environment. I had been in an inner-city public school for five years and felt so fulfilled by the children I worked with. The competitive salary, amazing health care and retirement benefits, and better work-life balance were what attracted me to apply. After being offered the position, I toured the facility and felt comfortable in the setting. Ten years later, I still feel the same fulfillment I felt in the urban elementary school and truly enjoy coming to work each day. It's a fast-paced setting filled with variety and opportunity for professional growth."-Lisa B., Manson Youth Institution

"I decided to apply to the Department of Corrections with 8 years of public High School Experience under my belt. The truth is I was totally burnt out being the only School Psychologist at the high school level. My last year in public school, I had 87 evaluations and 178 PPT meetings! I would stay late every day and wake up early on Saturdays to write reports. I have been a school psychologist with USD #1 for 12 years and I am so happy that I made the change from public school to DOC. The salary, health care benefits are far superior to what I received in public school. Additionally, I leave work on time every day and never bring work home." -Michelle N., Manson Youth Institution

"Every day is a challenge, and no two days are ever the same. Working in USD #1 is conducive to having a family, as you are able to leave and be home with your family at a reasonable time. The other school psychologists within the district are easy to work with, provide great support and very knowledgeable about special education. " -Tracey C., MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution

"Being a School Psychologist in USD#1 is a multifaceted position-no two days are the same. We are change agents that are helping our students navigate the needs of secondary education while being incarcerated. With that said, we wear many hats. Although challenging at times, my career here has been fulfilling, knowing that I am able to have an impact on many young men's lives. Having a growth mindset, flexibility, and a strong work ethic will help you succeed in our district." -Laurie C., Manson Youth Institution

Selection Plan

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THIS RECRUITMENT:

• Please include any related endorsement certification(s) and/or licensure credential details within your application.
• Be sure to select all DOC facility locations you are interested and commutable to.
• Selected candidates may be required to present a lesson plan in front of students in one of our Correctional Facilities as part of the interview process.
• This is a hazardous duty* position.
• Candidates selected for hire will be required to attend a 14-week hazardous duty training at the Maloney Center for Training & Staff Development located in Cheshire, CT. This training consists of both classroom and on the job training (one day of classroom presentation and nine days of "hands-on" physical training.) The Behavior Management Program training will education on the use of physical force as it applies to self-defense, and the maintenance of order and security within the inmate population. In order to graduate, trainees will be required to pass a written exam, as well as a practical skills test which will be scored.

BEFORE YOU APPLY:

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
• Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the 'Apply' or 'Apply Online' buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

• Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates-such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links-please check your Personal Status Board regularly. For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select "Update My Contact Information."
• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire's expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
• Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
• This employer may participate in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization.

QUESTIONS? WE'RE HERE TO HELP:

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Mackenzie Robinson at Mackenzie.Robinson@ct.gov.

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state institution, facility or region within a state unified school district performs professional services within the area of pupil personnel and special education services in a school setting and serves in a resource capacity and consultant to teachers.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Performs services for students in the area of special training such as educational diagnosis, counseling, speech and hearing, social work, or psychological services;
• Serves in a resource capacity to educational staff and other appropriate individuals;
• Confers with parents and teachers concerning individual students and assists in planning educational programs;
• Keeps records and makes necessary reports;
• May serve as liaison with school systems and community services;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of

• the philosophy and methods of service delivery to the assigned disciplines;

• the principles and practices of education and or services for special needs population;

• Ability to

• motivate students;

• communicate at the appropriate level;

• establish cooperative relationships with those contacted in planning educational programs;

• prepare written reports;

• perform educational testing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A Masters degree which includes a planned program of preparation for the field in which the special services are performed.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in the identification and eligibility of Special Education Students
• Experience acting as a liaison between students, former education placements, outside agencies, local school programs, and other interested parties
• Experience with individual counseling of students
• Experience with group counseling of students
• Experience participating and contributing student information as a member of the PPT process
• Experience with promoting student development of interpersonal and intrapersonal skills through counseling and instruction
• Experience monitoring the achievement of IEP and ITP objectives

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class must possess an appropriate certificate issued by the Connecticut State Board of Education in special education or special services areas such as school counselor (elementary or secondary), speech and hearing consultant, school psychologist, psychological examiner or school social worker.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a current Connecticut Motor Vehicle operators license.

CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the checking of references and of facts stated in the application, a thorough background investigation of each candidate may be made prior to appointment.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.

Click on a link below to apply for this position:

Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. Apply Online