Behavior Specialist

Mission of NCS

Our mission is to provide the children of NCS with new educational opportunities through a rigorous, comprehensive K-8 program that cultivates the intellectual, social, and emotional development of each child. Our students, who will include autistic children, will become independent learners and critical thinkers, will acquire the academic skills that they need to succeed in college preparatory high schools, and will exhibit the social and emotional skills that will allow them to reach their full potential.

Job Summary:

The Behavior Specialist will be responsible for building and executing systems and procedures to ensure NCS is providing the most ideal learning environment for our diverse range of students, particularly those students who struggle behaviorally. This means they will be an expert in theories of classroom management, responsive classroom practices, and restorative justice practices. The Behavior Specialist will work with school teams to lead systems around creating strong Tier III behavioral systems across the network. The Behavior Specialist will be responsible for building the vision of strong and effective tier III behavior intervention plans and coaching leaders and staff around the implementation of these plans. The Behavior Specialist will create strong systems around progress monitoring for behavior intervention plans and other Tier III supports in place. They will also manage and coach all paraprofessionals. The behavior specialist will provide direct support as needed to our tier III students.

Behavior Programming and Progress Monitoring

• Develop structure and systems for data collection and analysis

• Develop the standard of excellence for BIPs at NCS.

• Including: Development, training, execution, progress monitoring, follow up, and streamlined communication around each BIP.

• Oversee Tier III Behavior Support Plans with culture staff.

• Observe, trial strategies, and train staff on the plan.

• Coordinate Tier III referrals

• Coordinate parent contact for FBA Consent (if needed)

• Coordinate observation and data collection plan

• Train teachers in data collection methods

• Coordinate/lead Lagging Skills Assessments and student interviews

• Develop safety plans as needed for Tier III students

• Direct observation/data collection for all Tier III referrals

• Write reports for FBA/BIP and submit reports to CSE

• Provide coaching and consultation to culture staff to ensure effective plans are in place and being continuously monitored

• Partner with school leadership on data collection and referral process

• Create a data collection calendar to schedule annual IEP review dates and observations

Staff Development and Coaching

• Create teacher resource guides for behavior support, IEP/BIP snapshots, etc.

• Develop "Meet your students" orientations with all teachers to orient them to BIP/IEPs/and Tier III referral process

• Provide live coaching and feedback for teachers on behavior strategies and in-the-moment interventions around specifically tier III and BIPS.

• Perform BIP fidelity checks and provide written feedback around recommended strategies.

• Train leaders and teachers around best practices around intensive behaviors and supports

Liaising between NCS and outside agencies

• Complete behavioral observation ratings and documentation as provided by the agency to the school.

• Delegate communication between school and outside providers as needed.

• Facilitate communication and coordination around outside programming for scholars as needed.

Student and Family Interfacing

• Develop crisis response procedures and systems for communication.

• When on-site, assist with crisis behaviors in the moment.

• Work side by side with counselors and social workers to provide mental health supports to scholars.

• Build strong relationships with our families that include heavy communication around scholar progress.

• Work with counselors and social workers to ensure that families are supported and have access to outside resources.

• Conduct evaluations for students on an as-needed basis. Including but not limited to: Functional Behavioral Assessments.

Co-Supervising Paraprofessionals

• Develop onboarding and training process

• Provide ongoing live coaching and feedback

• Perform BIP fidelity checks

• Create performance assessment rating system

• Perform continuous performance monitoring and feedback

• Coordinate with agency re: professional issues

• Create plan to coordinate coverage plans for call-outs and absences

• Sign time sheets weekly

• Oversee interviews/hiring of paraprofessionals

Case Management

• Provide updated progress monitoring as needed for all tier III students

• Assist the Special Education Team as needed with:

• Communication with the CSE

• Leading IEP meetings

• Parent communication around upcoming IEP meetings, evaluations, referrals

Qualifications

• Strong data-analysis skills

• Organized

• Efficient

• Model consistent professionalism

• Strong and proven track record of running adult professional development

• Ability to consistently meet deadlines

• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral)

• High capacity for problem-solving in ever-changing settings

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships across lines of difference

• Familiarity and experience with conducting Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and developing Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs)

• Knowledge of Special Education laws

• Strong knowledge of best practices for students with disabilities, specifically Autistic students

• Masters in relevant field (required); preference for candidates who hold current and valid NY State certification in teaching special education, school psychologist, or other relevant title

• Past work in an urban setting (preferred)

• Knowledge of social thinking curriculum (preferred)

• Bilingual (preferred)

• Certified in CPI (preferred)