2023-24 Behavior Specialist

Job Title:Behavior Specialist
Department: Special Services
Reports To: Director of Special Services
SUMMARY:
Provides case management and develop behavior plans for special education students. Works directly with teacher teams at each school location to provide direct support for students struggling with behaviors.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Attends IEP meetings, develops goals and objectives for students.
• Provides direct services to students regarding behaviors.
• Consults with teachers regarding student behaviors.
• Consults with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems, works with staff to implement solutions, and informs parents of progress.
• Leads group counseling sessions to enhance social development of individual members and provide peer support in areas such as grief, stress, or chemical dependency.
• Observes and monitors control of students' behavior in the classroom, playground, field-trips, lunchroom, library, school buses and other areas.
• Consults with regular education teachers to utilize and implement classroom management techniques to maintain organization, orderliness, student safety, and a productive learning environment.
• Utilizes positive reinforcement to maximize desired behavior and educational outcomes.
• Consults with regular education teachers to plan instruction to achieve specific objectives based upon student need and established curriculum, implement instructional techniques to encourage and motivate students.
• Evaluates the performance of students regarding IEP goals and makes necessary provisions to meet learning needs.
• Ensures parents and students are informed of methods of evaluation utilized in the classroom.
• Notifies site administrator of a special needs student who displays characteristics which vary from the norm.
• Collaborates with specialists to assist students.
• Monitors the activities of paraprofessionals in conjunction with the classroom teacher and building administrators.
• Other duties as assigned, determined by the Director of Special Services and district needs.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Supervise learning and behavior intervention techniques in use with students, train staff regarding student needs or techniques to best meet student needs, supervise students as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Special Education, Psychology or a related field.
• Experience working with student with severe behavioral and emotional issues.
• Any equivalent combination of training or education with a minimum of 3+ yrs. of applicable experience.

Desired:

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Special Education, Psychology or a related field.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Missouri Special Education K-12 ED teaching/counselling certificate OR
• Missouri Special Education K-12 Cross-Categorical Certificate

LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read and interpret educational documents such as IEP's, reports, behavior plans and progress notes. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively to employees of the organization, parents, and students.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Must be skilled in behavior intervention, be certified in "restraint training" (MANDT/CPI) or be willing to attend training.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, feel and type; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Classroom environment is typical but there will be some work performed outdoors in varying weather conditions and temperatures. Contact with public, employees, children and parents will be frequent. Exposure to noise, dust, and scents from various sources will be frequent.
2/28/2019