The Cottonwood School offers dynamic homeschooling pathways for TK-12: a uniquely personalized, whole-learner approach that nurtures academic, social, and emotional achievement. The Cottonwood school is a tuition-free, public charter school serving transitional kindergarten through 12th-grade students in Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Placer, and Sacramento Counties. We take an integrative approach that education is more than academic learning. We understand that a rich education includes social and emotional development as well as a strong academic foundation.
Our Homestudy Pathway fosters holistic learning through the many activities and events we offer each month—field trips, workshops, hands-on, experiential activities.
Our Cottonwood College Prep Academy is a hybrid on-site High School Pathway that offers Montessori-inspired project-based learning that encourages collaboration and creativity.
At The Cottonwood School, we envision a world where students flourish, communities thrive, and staff are fulfilled.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: UNTIL FILED

Start Date: September 25, 2025
Vacancies: 1
Direct Supervisor: Assistant Director of SpEd Assessments and Services
Secondary Supervisor: Associate Director of Special Education
Salary Schedule: Schedule C2 (School Psychologist)
Work Calendar: 205
Classification: Certificated
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: This position is eligible for telecommuting up to 5 days per week, with in-person presence required as needed to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the position.
Position Summary
Under the direction of the Associate Director of Special Education, the School Psychologist will provide Special Education Assessments to students enrolled in our schools. The School Psychologist serves as a member of the Special Education Department. The School Psychologist interprets assessment results and develops Behavioral Intervention Plans when needed.
Required Qualifications
? Two years of experience in school psychology
? Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university
? Valid California Pupil Personnel Services Credential
? Must live in California
Preferred Qualifications
? Experience working at an independent study charter school
Employment Requirements
? AB 2534 Verification
? Background Clearance
? Tuberculosis Clearance
? I-9 Verification
Duties and Responsibilities
? Perform initial, triennial, and other assessments for students having IEPs (or those with signed assessment plans). E
? Complete Assessment Plans and Prior Written Notices for initial, triennial, and other assessments. E
? Evaluate pupils’ academic and social growth. E
? Attend IEP meetings as needed; provide consultation. E
? Attend and participate in core staff meetings. E
? Consult with school administrators, Home School Teachers (HST), special education teachers, and parents regarding student learning and access to the educational program (behavior, attention, learning disorders, etc.). E
? Refer students and families to community agencies as needed. E
? Provide reports and recommendations to School staff and families as needed. E
? Communicate with parents through a variety of means (email, phone, zoom, etc.).
? Maintain regular communication with Directors. E
? Create and present professional development to the staff as needed. E
? Attend Referral Request Meetings/Needs Assessment Meetings as necessary.
? Maintain a safe environment for students. E
? Respond appropriately to feedback given by parents and students. E
? Exercise discretion in discussing students with non-parental adults, including staff members. E
? Review contracted psychoeducational and academic assessments E
? May be called upon to review outside agency reports. E
? May be called upon to complete in-person psychoeducational/academic assessments on a case-by-case basis. E
Other Duties
? Respond to non-urgent communication within 24 school hours and urgent communication within two school hours. E
? Attend all required virtual and in-person meetings/events as assigned. E
? Resolve escalated employee, parent, and student issues in alignment with core values and ensuring compliance with the school’s Uniform Complaint Policy, Technology Use Policy, and the provisions of California Penal Code Section 11166 (Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act). E
? Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Skills/Abilities
? Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships
? Interpret and apply legal mandates, policies, and regulations pertaining to special education and safe school operations
? Maintain confidentiality
? Understand and carry out oral and written instructions
? Communicate effectively in oral and written form
? Work with students (Transitional Kindergarten through twelfth grades)
? Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy
? Proficiency in operating standard office equipment including a variety of software applications including, but not limited to Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), Google (docs, sheets, forms, drives), and virtual meeting platforms (Zoom,
Google Chat, etc.)
Work Environment
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. These physical standards are generic and tasks may vary depending on the school site or specialized site assignment. The information contained in this physical standards description is for compliance with the Americans with Disability Act and is not an exhaustive list of duties performed. The individuals currently holding this position perform additional duties and additional duties as assigned.
Physical Demands
? Continuously - Sufficient strength, stamina (including physical, mental, and emotional), physical ability, and mobility to visually observe and assist students.
? Continuously - Sit or stand for extended periods of time.
? Occasionally - Bend at the waist, kneel, stoop, squat, reach, and crouch.
? Seldom - Work variable hours
? Seldom - Lift, push, and/or pull objects weighing approximately 20 pounds.
? Occasionally - Ability to reach in all directions including overhead and horizontally.
? Continuously - Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate equipment including computer keyboard/mouse and standard office equipment necessary to do job functions.
? Continuously - Communicate effectively with students, staff, parents, and community members.
? Continuously - Comply with timelines and deadlines with frequent interruptions.
? Seldom - Travel for department meetings and school training/in-service meetings.
? Continuously - See to operate equipment, read and understand written material, and ability to detect information displayed on a computer screen.
? Seldom - Restrain students when necessary.
Physical Demands Frequency Definitions Based on an 8-hour day:
? Never = 0%
? Seldom = 1 - 10% (less than 45 minutes)
? Occasionally = 11 - 33% (up to 3.0 hours)
? Frequently = 34 - 66% (up to 6 hours)
? Continuously = 67 - 100% (more than 6 hours)
Environment including Hazardous Conditions
This position may include indoor offices/classrooms and outdoor work (including eating and common area(s), auditorium, playground(s), restroom(s), stairs if applicable, and parking lot(s)) with the following possible exposures: dust; wind; sun; insects; bloodborne pathogens and biohazardous waste; variances in weather conditions (snow, rain, sleet, etc.); noise which can
range from quiet to loud; fast-paced work environment with possible stressful situations and need to multitask; traffic congestion; playground projectiles such as baseballs, footballs, basketballs, etc.; intervening physically to stop conflicts between angry or emotionally upset students; and, dealing with students, parents, employees and the general public who may
exhibit unpredictable or anti-social behavior.
Employees in this position may have a higher level of exposure to illness or infection from students. May be exposed to students who may ask inappropriate personal questions, display socially unacceptable behavior, display physically aggressive behavior, and insult your personal characteristics including appearance, age, sex, and race. There is also frequent contact with
staff and the public.
Right to Revise
This job description is not meant to be all-inclusive and the School reserves the right to revise this job description as necessary without advance notice.
The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer without notice.
E = Essential Job Functions

Please refer the Job description for details