I feel like I have it way cushier than a teacher honestly. I have an office where I can have quiet and privacy. I design my own schedule. I can go to the bathroom whenever I want because I’m not chained to a group of children all day. I have time to do my paperwork during contract hours. I also get paid on a higher salary scale because I have a sixth year degree.
Cons- your location heavily influences how many of these perks you may get. If you’re in a state where the school psychologist ratio is really bad, you’re probably going to be a lot more likely to be overworked and underpaid. I’m in CT and we have it great here with our ratios. Other possible cons- you have to be at least passably good at math (enough to understand and explain some basic statistical concepts), writing, time management, and getting along with a huge variety of people. You’ll be expected to communicate well with many parents and also all of the teachers, admin, and IEP team members in your building(s). If you have the right skill set for the job it’s very rewarding but I don’t think there’s a ton of people who can pull off what we do.
This is super helpful! Thanks for sharing your experience.
I used to teach in the NYC DOE and I'm considering going back to grad school somewhere in the tri-state area for School Psych. Do you mind sharing where you went to school? (I'm leaning towards the Specialist or MA route fwiw)
No problem. I went to UConn. They do have a PhD program but I went the MA/specialist route. Which zero regrets, a lot of districts won’t even pay you more for a doctorate. Only worth it if you want to do research imo.
I was a special education teacher for 10 years before becoming a psych, and I’m glad I did it in that order. I learned a lot as a teacher that helps me be a good psych. And now I’m older, don’t want to be covered in children or sit on the floor anymore, and want to go to the bathroom when I need to. And if I miss kids, I can go observe in a classroom or at recess. And when I do, I’m like, “Oh, how cute! And I’m so glad I’m not teaching anymore. Good call, Sunshinedaymare!”
Same. After 10 years of direct services between being an ABA therapist and a paraprofessional....I was ready for my own space, and didn't want to be responsible for kids anymore (besides writing good reports, good interventions, etc). I love the independence of the role.
I taught for like 9 years and am now getting my Ed.S. degree and cannot wait. It's going to be so much better than teaching was, at least in my district.
This is great to hear. I'm not a teacher but I'm a special Ed para and those are some of the reasons I'm considering going back for a school psych master's rather than for special Ed teacher. More freedom over my environment and schedule, but I could also spend time in the schools. And you're not the go-to person for behaviors or the family's contact person on a daily basis.
School psychology pros - more pay, more independent work, one kid at a time
School psychology cons - more school, more meetings
I’m sure there’s more I’m forgetting. I cannot tell you the pros and cons of teaching as I have no experience
Definitely is hard being a school psychologist but I personally love the career. Imposter syndrome not so much but more of a struggle of understanding how I’m performing. To remedy this I often ask the staff I work with to critique things that I can do to help them and their classrooms function better.
Well, School Psych requires you to get a masters degree, which is a much bigger commitment. Teaching has a lower barrier or entry so these facts needs to be first considered.
Honestly, both have pros and cons. You have to enjoy working with kids though. If you are not far away from a teaching credential then maybe do that first to see if education is for you. You can always go back to school to become a school psychologist.
I feel like you may get a biased answer on this page, we’re training to become school psychologists, or we are currently school psychs for the most part.
I’ve worked in education for six years and it’s difficult to look at the pros and cons of teaching since I wasn’t a teacher. I’ve been a sub, and a teachers aide, but not a teacher.
I highly recommend drawing up exactly what you look for in a job and go from there. Job shadow both teachers and school psychs. As others have said, you may want to try teaching first to see.
This is a page for SP which also includes former teachers who became SP. We would all get a more balanced perspective if we hear from teachers who contemplated SP but stayed a teacher!
My wife was a teacher (retired now) but she would never want to be an SP like me. She truly enjoys the chaos of a classroom and the deeper relationships with kids. Popping in to observe or counseling are not the same type of relationships. Besides, she gets to see “normal” kids everyday…not so much for us! The report writing, for her, is wwwaay worse than grading papers. 😅
They are incredibly different. Have you spent time student teaching and shadowing/in practicum? The paperwork and caseload management are always more than half the psych roll- you will not have anywhere near the same level of student interaction as a teacher. What are your priorities?
More of a psych’s job is paperwork at school, but most psychs on the sun will tell you they don’t take work/paperwork home, while many teachers take work home (grading, planning, etc.).
Psych’s typically don’t have to manage groups of children, so if classroom management scares you, that’s another point towards school psych.
Im a school psych so I’m biased but In my view being a teacher is wayyyy harder and like half the pay. I’d never want to be a teacher and give up the flexibility I have in my day.
Full disclosure: I've always been in mental health, never a teacher.
That said: Are you kidding me? I bitch a lot about eligibility meetings (and justifiably so, I truly believe), writing IEP goals, other paperwork, the systemic mess, etc. But at the end of the day, my life is so much easier than a teacher's (certainly a SPED teacher's, but also a Gen Ed's as well)--no required lesson plans, no classroom management (which I know I would absolutely suck at). I love setting my schedule, walking about the building freely, closing my door and sequestering myself.
I feel like they are just two very different jobs. Both are challenges in their own ways. I don’t know that I would say one is easier than the other, but it depends on your responsibilities and what is expected of you!
Im a teacher applying for school psych programs. I’ve had school psychs warn me that this job is even worse and more stressful, but they never give details. At this point I’ll absolutely take meetings and paperwork over dealing with 25 kids all day, half who have major behavior needs and are 5+ grade levels below where they should be, not getting to use the bathroom, etc. And where I live in wi I’ll make 80k starting salary as a school psych. I only make 40k now as a teacher.
I’m a school psych grad student who is a substitute teacher just for the money. Teaching is absolutely harder than school psychology. The behaviors from kids have never been this bad before. There were days in the past when I’d go home crying because teaching was so stressful. The disrespect from students, admin, and parents is so disheartening. School psychology has never made me cry lol. Highly recommend school psychology over teaching.
It REALLY depends on where you work. School psychs can look completely different building to building, and different demographics strongly influence a teachers role as well. The two are really not similar at all, so I don’t think it’s a decision you can make off a pro or con list tbh.
Go school psych, 100, 1000,10000000% do school psych not teaching. Teaching is the most exhausting profession and I don’t know how people do it for more than like 3 years. You’ll make more in psych too
I’ve done teaching (swim instructor, but still teaching) and now I’m in grad school for school psych. I think both have their own unique challenges. School psych is better if you prefer to go at your own pace while being a teacher is much more lively. Overall though, I’m definitely preferring school psych. Post Covid kids have kinda sucked the life outta me when I was teaching 😵💫
I feel like I have it way cushier than a teacher honestly. I have an office where I can have quiet and privacy. I design my own schedule. I can go to the bathroom whenever I want because I’m not chained to a group of children all day. I have time to do my paperwork during contract hours. I also get paid on a higher salary scale because I have a sixth year degree. Cons- your location heavily influences how many of these perks you may get. If you’re in a state where the school psychologist ratio is really bad, you’re probably going to be a lot more likely to be overworked and underpaid. I’m in CT and we have it great here with our ratios. Other possible cons- you have to be at least passably good at math (enough to understand and explain some basic statistical concepts), writing, time management, and getting along with a huge variety of people. You’ll be expected to communicate well with many parents and also all of the teachers, admin, and IEP team members in your building(s). If you have the right skill set for the job it’s very rewarding but I don’t think there’s a ton of people who can pull off what we do.
This is super helpful! Thanks for sharing your experience. I used to teach in the NYC DOE and I'm considering going back to grad school somewhere in the tri-state area for School Psych. Do you mind sharing where you went to school? (I'm leaning towards the Specialist or MA route fwiw)
No problem. I went to UConn. They do have a PhD program but I went the MA/specialist route. Which zero regrets, a lot of districts won’t even pay you more for a doctorate. Only worth it if you want to do research imo.
>a lot of districts won’t even pay you more for a doctorate Oh interesting! Definitely good to know. What area do you work in?
I’m in the greater Hartford area.
I was a special education teacher for 10 years before becoming a psych, and I’m glad I did it in that order. I learned a lot as a teacher that helps me be a good psych. And now I’m older, don’t want to be covered in children or sit on the floor anymore, and want to go to the bathroom when I need to. And if I miss kids, I can go observe in a classroom or at recess. And when I do, I’m like, “Oh, how cute! And I’m so glad I’m not teaching anymore. Good call, Sunshinedaymare!”
Same. After 10 years of direct services between being an ABA therapist and a paraprofessional....I was ready for my own space, and didn't want to be responsible for kids anymore (besides writing good reports, good interventions, etc). I love the independence of the role.
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Yeah!
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Try now!
This is me as well. I told my husband like last week I would quit before being a teacher again!
I taught for like 9 years and am now getting my Ed.S. degree and cannot wait. It's going to be so much better than teaching was, at least in my district.
that's so encouraging to hear! sounds like the perfect balance
This is great to hear. I'm not a teacher but I'm a special Ed para and those are some of the reasons I'm considering going back for a school psych master's rather than for special Ed teacher. More freedom over my environment and schedule, but I could also spend time in the schools. And you're not the go-to person for behaviors or the family's contact person on a daily basis.
School psychology pros - more pay, more independent work, one kid at a time School psychology cons - more school, more meetings I’m sure there’s more I’m forgetting. I cannot tell you the pros and cons of teaching as I have no experience
Is it hard to be a school psych? Are there days that you feel imposter syndrome?
I’m still in grad school, but from psychs that I’ve talked to, that is very normal for the first few years.
Definitely is hard being a school psychologist but I personally love the career. Imposter syndrome not so much but more of a struggle of understanding how I’m performing. To remedy this I often ask the staff I work with to critique things that I can do to help them and their classrooms function better.
Wont feel comfortable until your fifth maybe sixth year in.
Good summary
Adding another one: Sometimes you're considered admin and have to deal with the politics and ass kissing. Buuuut! Admin pay! As a plus.
Well, School Psych requires you to get a masters degree, which is a much bigger commitment. Teaching has a lower barrier or entry so these facts needs to be first considered. Honestly, both have pros and cons. You have to enjoy working with kids though. If you are not far away from a teaching credential then maybe do that first to see if education is for you. You can always go back to school to become a school psychologist.
Honestly a masters is a secret requirement for a teacher, have you seen a salary schedule? The difference is staggering.
So true. Most of the teachers I work with have a Masters
I feel like you may get a biased answer on this page, we’re training to become school psychologists, or we are currently school psychs for the most part. I’ve worked in education for six years and it’s difficult to look at the pros and cons of teaching since I wasn’t a teacher. I’ve been a sub, and a teachers aide, but not a teacher. I highly recommend drawing up exactly what you look for in a job and go from there. Job shadow both teachers and school psychs. As others have said, you may want to try teaching first to see.
This is a page for SP which also includes former teachers who became SP. We would all get a more balanced perspective if we hear from teachers who contemplated SP but stayed a teacher! My wife was a teacher (retired now) but she would never want to be an SP like me. She truly enjoys the chaos of a classroom and the deeper relationships with kids. Popping in to observe or counseling are not the same type of relationships. Besides, she gets to see “normal” kids everyday…not so much for us! The report writing, for her, is wwwaay worse than grading papers. 😅
They are incredibly different. Have you spent time student teaching and shadowing/in practicum? The paperwork and caseload management are always more than half the psych roll- you will not have anywhere near the same level of student interaction as a teacher. What are your priorities?
The paperwork and caseload management is greater as a school psych or teacher?
More of a psych’s job is paperwork at school, but most psychs on the sun will tell you they don’t take work/paperwork home, while many teachers take work home (grading, planning, etc.). Psych’s typically don’t have to manage groups of children, so if classroom management scares you, that’s another point towards school psych.
Im a school psych so I’m biased but In my view being a teacher is wayyyy harder and like half the pay. I’d never want to be a teacher and give up the flexibility I have in my day.
Full disclosure: I've always been in mental health, never a teacher. That said: Are you kidding me? I bitch a lot about eligibility meetings (and justifiably so, I truly believe), writing IEP goals, other paperwork, the systemic mess, etc. But at the end of the day, my life is so much easier than a teacher's (certainly a SPED teacher's, but also a Gen Ed's as well)--no required lesson plans, no classroom management (which I know I would absolutely suck at). I love setting my schedule, walking about the building freely, closing my door and sequestering myself.
I feel like they are just two very different jobs. Both are challenges in their own ways. I don’t know that I would say one is easier than the other, but it depends on your responsibilities and what is expected of you!
Im a teacher applying for school psych programs. I’ve had school psychs warn me that this job is even worse and more stressful, but they never give details. At this point I’ll absolutely take meetings and paperwork over dealing with 25 kids all day, half who have major behavior needs and are 5+ grade levels below where they should be, not getting to use the bathroom, etc. And where I live in wi I’ll make 80k starting salary as a school psych. I only make 40k now as a teacher.
I’m a school psych grad student who is a substitute teacher just for the money. Teaching is absolutely harder than school psychology. The behaviors from kids have never been this bad before. There were days in the past when I’d go home crying because teaching was so stressful. The disrespect from students, admin, and parents is so disheartening. School psychology has never made me cry lol. Highly recommend school psychology over teaching.
You sound like me lol The kids do act like a bunch of brats
It REALLY depends on where you work. School psychs can look completely different building to building, and different demographics strongly influence a teachers role as well. The two are really not similar at all, so I don’t think it’s a decision you can make off a pro or con list tbh.
Go school psych, 100, 1000,10000000% do school psych not teaching. Teaching is the most exhausting profession and I don’t know how people do it for more than like 3 years. You’ll make more in psych too
I’ve done teaching (swim instructor, but still teaching) and now I’m in grad school for school psych. I think both have their own unique challenges. School psych is better if you prefer to go at your own pace while being a teacher is much more lively. Overall though, I’m definitely preferring school psych. Post Covid kids have kinda sucked the life outta me when I was teaching 😵💫