Behavior Specialist - Special Education Department - 2026-27 School Year

Albemarle County Public Schools•Charlottesville, VA

19h•Onsite

About The Position

The Behavior Specialist helps coordinate Functional Assessments of Behavior and Behavior Intervention Plans that address students’ inappropriate behaviors and provide a means to help the students become more academically successful. Behavior Specialist provides classroom and school-wide behavior management strategies with knowledge and skills necessary to assist individuals, groups and systems through the application of positive behavior supports.

Requirements

Must hold or be eligible for a Virginia teaching certificate with endorsement in School Counseling.
Knowledge of current trends and methodologies used to address the needs of children with behavioral challenges.
Extensive successful experience in analyzing, assessing behavior, developing, planning and implementation of behavioral interventions.
Experience in data collection, evaluation, development and implementation of positive behavior intervention plans
Knowledge of tiered intervention frameworks
Knowledge of current accepted best practices utilized in the full continuum of placement options for students with behavioral challenges.
Knowledge of data tracking and collection, record management and reporting methods.
Demonstrated understanding of differentiated instruction.
Expertise in developing and providing staff development activities for individual schools and/or division-wide.
Outstanding interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills.
Strong problem solving and decision making skills.
Strong time management skills and ability to meet multiple deadlines
Ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision.
Must have a valid driver’s license.
Ability to travel between sites is required.

Nice To Haves

Minimum of five years successful classroom teaching experience in which the teaching of “at risk” and/or “behaviorally challenged” students with special needs is preferred.
Working knowledge of Choice Theory, Restorative Practices, and Positive Behavior Intervention systems preferred.

Responsibilities

Utilizes knowledge of function-based intervention planning for developing behavior change strategies that focuses on reducing problem behavior and increasing more appropriate behavior
Completes effective Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA), function –based interventions, and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP)
Uses knowledge of assessment and assessment data to inform instruction and prescribe work plans for individual students
Researches instructional strategies and effectively implements them
Plans and evaluates strategies for improving instruction and provides needed support
Assesses and supports instructional and behavioral programs for students
Provides staff development and works collaboratively with teachers, paraprofessionals and support staff to demonstrate best practices, strategies and techniques to enhance instruction for students with social, communication, behavioral and learning challenges
Collaborates with staff division-wide to develop understanding of a variety of methods to improve student behavior
Completes functional behavioral assessments and develops behavioral intervention plans using evidenced-based practices
Assists with the design, implementation and follow up of behavioral management programs for students to remediate behavioral and social problems
Provides individual and group counseling to targeted students to include socialization activities
Plans, coaches and confers with classroom teachers concerning any behavioral, social or personal problems affecting the students
Develops and conducts in-service activities regarding techniques for remediation of behavioral, social or personal problems of students
Assists teachers with the development of safety plans
Engages with families to plan for student success as needed
Assists in developing and maintaining home-school relations in crisis situations with students
Assists with the development and maintenance of program evaluation procedures
Engages in weekly data collection, recording and analysis for effective planning
Assists with case-management and team problem-solving with other behavioral specialists, agency personnel and other appropriate professionals on a regular basis
Demonstrates patience, respect, a receptive attitude towards students of varied age groups and understanding of the specific situation
Utilizes consulting skills to assure implementation and maintenance of intervention plans
Assumes responsibility for own professional growth and development by keeping current with the literature and new research findings
Performs other related duties as assigned