Training And Technical Assistance Associate

Mission or Goal of Unit:

The School of Education (SOE) is committed to excellence in the initial preparation and continuing development of professionals for leadership, teaching, service and scholarly inquiry in culturally diverse settings across the life span. Our mission and values are grounded in and committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and engagement.

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) Customized Behavior Application Training initiative provides evidence-based regional training and technical assistance to participating school divisions to increase public school practitioners' capacity in behavioral assessment and intervention.

Chief Purpose of this position:

The chief purpose of this position is to serve as a Training and Technical Assistance Associate in the southwestern Virginia region to provide coaching and consultation services focused on behavioral assessment and interventions for students with autism and related disabilities. In this pivotal role, the responsibility lies in facilitating regionally based training initiatives, fostering collaboration with various school professionals, and strategically developing and executing project objectives to ensure positive impacts and outcomes for students with autism and related disabilities.

Note to applicants: This is a grant-funded position.

VCU-RRTC mission: VCU-RRTC improves services and supports for individuals with disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, by promoting research-based practices in schools and the community through training, technical assistance, research, and collaboration.

Training includes providing professional development to expand the expectations, knowledge, and skills of those who live with, educate, and support individuals with ASD. It supports the sustainable implementation of research-based practices by providing instructional activities and resources to anyone who wants to learn more about ASD and to leaders who guide professional development initiatives in the home, school, community, and work.

Technical assistance includes facilitating, implementing, and evaluating systems-change initiatives customized to stakeholders' unique needs in educational and community environments, regions, and the Commonwealth. It supports the sustainable implementation of research-based practices by providing team facilitation, coaching, strategic planning, and project management in agencies, school divisions, and direct services settings to build the confidence capacity of those supporting individuals with ASD.

Research includes asking questions, seeking answers, and disseminating findings on important socially significant issues impacting individuals with ASD across the lifespan to improve quality of life. Research is conducted using sound research methodologies in real-world settings.

Collaboration includes maintaining a spirit of cooperation in our interactions with colleagues and developing and sustaining partnerships with individuals with ASD and their families and local, commonwealth, and national entities to enrich, develop, disseminate, and deliver training, technical assistance, and research activities.

Position Responsibilities:

●Provide regionalized training and technical assistance support to designated division liaisons on research-based content and on-the-job coaching in behavior assessment and intervention applications within the public-school setting;

●Develop online training coursework to provide statewide training opportunities on critical topic areas;

●Facilitate online courses;

●Provide regionalized technical assistance to comprehensive public schools and school divisions to increase capacity and improve services for students with ASD across the age range;

●Coach division-level staff in the implementation of evidence-based practices for individuals with ASD;

●Assist public schools and school divisions in developing systems change plans for improving services to students with ASD;

●Participate in planning and implementing regional Communities of Leaders in Autism for multiple school divisions;

●Develop and deliver targeted training in numerous live and online formats;

●Coordinate and collaborate with statewide stakeholders on the development of additional products to meet the needs of students with ASD across the state;

●Provide data collection and research development related to the goals of VCU-RRTC by writing and disseminating training materials;

●Provide consultative and coaching services to school division personnel regarding implementing evidence-based practices and behavior analysis in regional partnerships. Board certification and state licensure in behavior analysis are preferred;

●Other (for instance, administrative duties, etc.): Maintain excellent communication with supervisor, co-workers, and external staff through written and verbal communication, complete documentation of time for data collecting and reporting, respond to requests for information promptly through electronic communication, and other means; complete additional projects as assigned to support the RRTC's work in local and statewide service improvement plans and statewide goals.

Required Qualifications:

●Master's degree in education, psychology, behavior analysis, or a related field and equivalent training;

●Holds BCBA certification and state licensure and is active, as well as in good standing, with national and state boards;

●Extensive knowledge of evidence-based practices used with children and adolescents with disabilities who have challenging behaviors;

●Excellent verbal and written communication skills;

●Experience developing and implementing live or online training and education in autism;

●Ability to travel regionally and overnight;

●Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications:

●Prior experience in teaching or administration in public school systems;

●Prior experience in delivering systematic personnel training and technical assistance within a public-school setting;

●Prior experience developing and implementing live and online training and education.

Materials received by July 19, 2024, will be given priority consideration.

Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty

Full time equivalent: 1

Tenure: Ineligible

Rank: Instructor

Months: 12

Department: SOE Spec Ed & DP - RRTC

ORP Eligible: Yes

Salary: $75,000 - $85,000

Contact Information:

Contact Name: Sue Palko

Contact Email: palkosm@vcu.edu

Contact Phone: