Behavior Specialist

Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation • Evansville, IN

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Behavior Specialist develops behavior plans and interventions and provides direct support to students to promote positive social, emotional, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental changes. The role supports and coaches school staff, provides supportive interventions to families, and works with community partners to develop and maintain a continuum of supports. The position is non-exempt, scheduled for 183 days per school year at 7.25 hours per day, and follows the approved school calendar for holidays. It will begin at Fairlawn Elementary School and may be assigned to another location based on student needs. Salary ranges from $45,765 to $68,644 based on credentials and years of relevant experience. Specialists with BCBA certification receive a $5,000 annual stipend.

Requirements

• An associate degree in a related field is required.
• Knowledge of child and adolescent cognitive, social, emotional, behavioral, and physical development; assessment; mental health; and development of function-based plans is required.
• A valid driver's license is required for travel to multiple schools when necessary.
• Ability to work effectively with students with intensive behavioral, social, emotional, and/or cognitive needs and with a variety of students.
• Ability to maintain composure under stressful conditions, respond quickly to changes in temperament, and de-escalate conflicts.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with students, staff, and the school community.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing, including communicating with coworkers, parents, and school staff and presenting information to groups.
• Ability to perform duties with awareness of district requirements and school board policies.
• Ability to apply theoretical and research-based knowledge to individual student and classroom programs.
• Ability to prioritize work demands and continually adjust schedules.
• Ability to pass all sections of Safe Crisis Management certification annually and proficiently use physical interventions.
• Ability to work collaboratively with employees, vendors, and community partners; improve processes; provide service with a results-oriented, customer-driven focus; and work effectively in a high-pressure, time-sensitive environment.
• Ability to self-motivate, think critically, initiate improvements, maintain a positive and dependable work ethic, and stay organized with attention to detail.
• Ability to read and interpret written materials, professional journals, and state and governmental regulations; write reports, behavior plans, goals, correspondence, and procedure manuals; and present evaluation information.
• Ability to score and interpret rating scales, apply mathematical concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions, and interpret data trends.
• Ability to solve practical problems, interpret written and oral instructions, generalize behavior principles to specific situations, and assess antecedents.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the job, including using physical interventions safely when indicated, communicating through speech and hearing, reading goals and student nonverbal reactions, occasionally moving quickly to protect self and students, driving between sites, occasionally climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling, occasionally lifting and/or moving up to 50 pounds, and frequently bending, reaching, and using fine motor skills.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Education, Psychology, Social Work, Applied Behavior Analysis, or a related field.
• Experience working with students in a PK-12 setting preferred.
• BCBA certification qualifies specialists for a $5,000 annual stipend.

Responsibilities

• Support and model Tier I behavior support practices in assigned schools, using data to inform prevention and intervention.
• Work with school teams to use universal screening, identify students with executive functioning or self-regulation delays, and assign students to appropriate intervention groups.
• Provide student support that includes behavior support, de-escalation, coping and self-regulation skills, conflict resolution, and problem-solving.
• Support the MTSS teams within assigned schools.
• Use Safe Crisis Management skills and procedures when necessary.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to implement evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions matched to the root causes of student challenges.
• Use observation and qualitative and quantitative data to determine the root causes of student challenges.
• Collect data to evaluate programming and support the development of function-based or other behavior plans.
• Facilitate small-group instruction focused on specific self-regulation skills.
• Use tablets and/or computers to record intervention programs and data and comply with school system standards for scheduling and time submission.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop, implement, review, and modify student support plans, including Tier II and function-based plans in general and special education settings.
• Plan and implement small-group or individual skill-development sessions, scheduled refueling breaks, and check-in/check-out sessions as part of each school's multi-tiered system of support.
• Participate in ongoing professional development to improve social, emotional, cognitive, and academic outcomes for students.
• Provide workshops, training, and in-service presentations on behavior support strategies.
• Build positive and productive working relationships with administrators, teachers, students, and families through flexible collaboration.
• Attend regular check-ins with district support and maintain regular attendance.
• Supervise students and interns when assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Access to EVSC Health & Wellness Centers, with primary care services, generic prescription medications, physicals, health screenings, and labs at no cost to employees and covered family members enrolled in an EVSC medical plan.
• Accumulated paid sick time and personal business days.
• Automatic enrollment in the Indiana Public Employees' Retirement Fund (PERF), including a defined-benefit pension and an Annuity Savings Account.
• Opportunity to participate in a 403(b) retirement plan with pre-tax salary deferrals.
• Eligible employees may enroll in group life insurance and long-term disability plans.
• Voluntary insurance products through American Fidelity.
• Free Employee Assistance Program offering confidential counseling and referral services.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree