Which of the following best describes the role of a consultant in the context of school psychology?

The role of a consultant in school psychology primarily focuses on enhancing the skills and understanding of the consultee, typically educators or staff members, thereby enabling them to effectively support students. This involves not only identifying effective treatments or interventions that can benefit students but also educating and empowering the consultee. The goal is to collaboratively problem-solve, share evidence-based strategies, and ultimately improve student outcomes.

In this context, it is essential for school psychologists to facilitate a supportive relationship where they help teachers and other professionals gain insights into best practices and methods for managing student behavior, learning challenges, and emotional needs. By doing so, the consultant plays a vital role in building capacity within the school, ensuring that the approach is sustainable and that all personnel involved are equipped to implement effective strategies.

Other options suggest a more limited or misaligned role: solely instructing teachers overlooks the collaborative and supportive aspects of consultation, working independently disregards the importance of teamwork in educational settings, and managing conflicts among students is just one facet of broader psychological support, rather than the key function of a consultant. Thus, the best description of a consultant's role is one that emphasizes treatment identification and knowledge enhancement for the consultee.