Behavior Specialist

Commission On Economic Opportunity • Troy, NY

8d • $28 - $29 • Onsite

About The Position

CEO is seeking a Behavior Specialist to provide staff with support regarding the behavioral needs, strengths, interventions, progress, and recommendations for children. This role is part of the Early Head Start/Head Start program, which provides comprehensive early childhood services to children aged 6 weeks to 5 years and their families in Rensselaer County. The program aims to create partnerships and develop opportunities for social and economic growth and empowerment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field (Psychology, Special Education, or Elementary Education)
• Experience working with preschool children with challenging behaviors.
• A valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle.
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S without the need for Visa Sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Background in Special Education and Behavior Management is preferred.
• Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Special Education or a related field (Psychology, Special Education, or Elementary Education) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide short and long-term positive management behavior support to classrooms, staff, and children.
• Directly model how to intervene when a child is displaying challenging behaviors for classroom staff.
• Utilize positive behavior support strategies and encourage all classroom staff members to do the same consistently.
• Locate resources for teachers and families relating to child behavior.
• Utilize knowledge of child development to differentiate between developmentally appropriate behavior and behavior challenges.
• Provide classrooms with supports based on child's individualized special education needs and assist staff with developing strategies for children with special needs.
• Participate in the collaborative process for developing, monitoring, and modifying behavior plans.
• Meet with classroom staff and managers to develop, monitor, and modify individual child behavior plans.
• Implement child behavior plans with classroom teachers.
• Demonstrate implementation of individual child behavior plans with classrooms teachers and appropriate center staff.
• Support classroom staff and children with behavior plans.
• Review and revisit child behavior plans with teachers and appropriate staff.
• Maintain a regular schedule of site visits to all CEO center/sites, as assigned.
• Conduct regular classroom observations of Head Start classrooms to ensure compliance and quality.
• Provide specialized training, coaching, and support to classrooms.
• Develop plans for the improvement of classroom functioning as needed.
• Implement and enhance the comprehensive support of Early Head Start/Head Start programming.
• Assist with the implementation of positive behavior support systems, ensure curriculum quality and monitoring, and provide hands on support to classrooms throughout the program.
• Participate in all Education Team meetings.
• Collaborate with ECS management team to ensure recommended services are implemented for children in a timely manner.
• Work in collaboration with program management to support the programs School Readiness efforts.

Benefits

• Healthcare, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible spending and dependent care accounts
• Cash payment for waiving health insurance
• Telemedicine
• PTO and Sick time accruals
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Optional 403(b) Retirement Plan
• 12 paid holidays annually
• December, February, and Spring School Break Included in Vacation Package
• Employer sponsored pension plan starting at 5% of salary contribution when eligible
• Eligibility for the Federal School Loan Forgiveness Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level