Job Title:         Behavior Specialist Teacher

Department:    Special Education    and General Education

Reports To:     Director of Special Education or Building Principal

Summary:

The Behavior Specialist consults with teachers and staff to recommend classroom interventions for elementary students with behavior concerns. 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.

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:

• Nebraska Special Education K-12

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.

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.