Behavior Specialist

The Camp Hill School District is seeking candidates for an available Behavior Specialist position to serve students, families, and staff District-wide. This position will have a strong emphasis on working with students with autism in verbal behavior programming.

Job Summary:

The Behavior Specialist collaborates with administration, teachers, related service providers, families, and community agencies to improve student outcomes through evidence-based behavioral practices, data-driven decision-making, and implementation of individual behavioral interventions.

Essential Functions:

Behavioral Assessment and Intervention

• Conduct or assist in conducting Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs) and develop or assist with the development, implementation, and monitoring of Positive Behavioral Support Plans (PBSPs).
• Conduct direct observations of individual students or classrooms and analyze behavioral data to identify trends and recommend interventions.
• Support implementation of evidence-based behavioral interventions and provide recommendations for individualized behavioral supports within the educational environment.
• Collaborate with IEP Teams to develop measurable behavioral goals and provide recommendations for specially designed instruction.
• Assist with students returning from alternative placements or hospitalization.
• Ensure behavioral programming complies with IDEA, Section 504, PA Chapter 14, district policies and procedures, student IEPs, restraint and seclusion regulations, and FERPA requirements.

Data Collection and Progress Monitoring

• Develop behavior tracking systems to monitoring progress toward behavioral IEP goals.
• Assist staff with collecting reliable behavioral data.
• Review behavioral progress monitoring data to evaluate intervention effectiveness.
• Create or assist with the creation of data summaries and graphs for IEP meetings and problem-solving teams.
• Recommend modifications to interventions based on data collection and progress monitoring data.

Consulting, Coaching, and Professional Development

• Serve as a behavioral consultant to administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, related service providers, and paraprofessionals.
• Serve as Internal Coach for autistic support classrooms and act as district lead for the PaTTAN Autism Initiative.
• Serve as district PBIS lead for all buildings.
• Model effective behavioral strategies within classrooms and provide on-going coaching to improve fidelity of intervention implementation by all staff.
• Participate in IEP Team meetings and other student problem-solving meetings, such as IEP Team meetings and MTSS meetings as appropriate.
• Plan and deliver professional development for all staff on various related topics.
• Plan and deliver parent training and engagement activities on various related topics.

Crisis Prevention and Response

• Maintain trainer certification in Safe Crisis Management and lead district trainings to certify selected staff.
• Review all restraint and/or serious incident reports to ensure adherence to SCM procedures, state regulations, and district policy.
• Debrief incidents with staff to improve future responses.
• Assist IEP teams and school teams with crisis response planning for students with intensive behavioral needs.
• Support implementation of district-approved crisis prevention program.
• Participate in district safety planning committee.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participation on the Special Education Core Team, Professional Growth Committee, Safety Committee, or other relevant committees.
• Participate in Manifestation Determination meetings, evaluation/reevaluation meetings, or other meetings at the direction of the Director of Special Education and Student Services.
• Assist with behavioral components of evaluations.
• Maintain accurate and consistent documentation.
• Stay current on research and evidence-based behavioral practices through attendance to workshops and professional development opportunities relevant to the field.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Special Education and Student Services.

Qualifications:

Master's Degree in related field required. Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) strongly desired. Emphasis on students with autism and behavioral challenges, proficient in behavior supports, completion of Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA), behavior management plans, writing IEPs; goals and planning. Minimum three years of experience working with students exhibiting behavioral challenges.

Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Conflict resolution and collaborative problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities.
• Ability to schedule and effectively implement meetings and professional development opportunities.

Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of Applied Behavior Analysis principles.
• Understanding of child and adolescent development.
• Knowledge of PBIS and MTSS frameworks.
• Experience conducting Functional Behavioral Assessments.

Ability

• Schedule activities, meetings, and/or events
• Collate and/or classify data
• Demonstrate flexibility when working with others in a variety of circumstances
• Analyze data using defined but different processes
• Work with a significant diversity of individuals and/or groups
• Solve problems with data requiring an independent interpretation of guidelines
• Meet schedules and deadlines
• Organize information
• Create and maintain a team approach

Physical Requirements:

Position requires stooping, crouching, reaching with hand and arm, standing in a stationary position, walking at moderate speeds, use of fingers. Person must be able to communicate verbally and to hear with no more than a 40-decibel loss. Vision clarity of near, far and mid-range vision is needed (less than 20 inches and more than 20 feet). Depth perception, ability to focus on objects clearly, with field of vision and ability to identify colors is recommended. Itinerant teachers must have a valid PA driver's license.

Reasonable accommodations under Physical Requirements will be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).