Social Skills Specialist: Bolton Primary School

Position Type:
Licensed/Licensed

Date Posted:
6/5/2026

Location:
Therapeutic Classrooms (Heron Creek)

Date Available:
August 2026

Closing Date:
06/19/2026
Social Skills Specialist, Therapeutic School
Location : Bolton Primary School, 5933 Holmes St, West Linn, OR 97068
Schedule : 8 hours per day / 5 days per week / 190-day Instructional Calendar
FOR 2026-27 SCHOOL YEAR

Clackamas ESD strives to infuse equity in all our programs and bodies of work by maintaining an inclusive, barrier-free environment in which everyone participates and fully benefits.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be the one who comes from a less traditional background. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our qualifications described. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of this position, or how this would be determined, please feel free to contact Human Resources at View email address on click.appcast.io to discuss your application.

Find your "why" with Clackamas ESD
At Clackamas Education Service District, our mission is to lead, serve and innovate for learning. Clackamas ESD provides services in early learning, special education, technology and teacher/staff support to Clackamas County school districts. We ensure students and families in all of our communities -- big and small -- have access to equitable education services. Learn more about CESD here .

About the program :
Our therapeutic schools programs provide therapy, social-emotional support, and communication services as part of a strong educational experience for students. By creating individual support plans based on each student's specific needs and goals, we help students and their families build the skills they need to move to a less restrictive school setting when they are ready. Close collaboration with families, school districts, and other service providers ensures supports are coordinated and centered on each child. We encourage and support students, families, staff, and community partners to do their best. By recognizing different learning styles, focusing on transition skills, and offering different diploma options, Heron Creek helps students graduate prepared for life beyond school.

About this position :
The Social Skills Specialist instructs and provides social and behavioral supports to students whose significant social, emotional, and behavioral challenges severely impede their educational progress. The Specialist participates on the therapeutic team to functionally assess the needs of each child. The Specialist collaborates with the team on the development of individualized behavior support plans, and the integration of special education and social/emotional skills training services. The Specialist assists the classroom team in implementing skill development strategies designed to facilitate learning. The Specialist provides training and support to families including case management and community support.

Essential functions :

• Applies principles of human development, learning, and behavior, to functionally assess students' social-emotional and behavioral needs
• Collaborates with the therapeutic team to develop specially designed social skills and behavior intervention plans, which are integrated into the daily instructional experience for each child
• Participates in the therapeutic team to plan for the needs of each child and family
• Creates a comprehensive plan and delivers instruction in social skills.
• Contributes to team development using a solution-based focus, seeking and using the expertise and perspectives of other team members to develop common understandings and agreements
• Works with students on an individual and group basis, to provide skills training consistent with the students' IEPs and Behavior Support Plans
• Implements specially designed behavior intervention plans, coordinating with the classroom team, and collaborating with related service staff
• Utilizes Crisis Prevention and Intervention strategies including NCI.
• Communicates with students using language structure, tone, and body language that promotes positive student behavior, conflict resolution, problem solving, effective management of power struggles, and applies proactive strategies for management of escalating behavior
• Monitors and records student progress
• Assists with transition activities related to students' transition to their next educational placement, including return to the student's local district or discharge from the program
• Provides group activities and supervision for children during parent groups, toward a specific outcome. Provides information to the team on family dynamics, needs of the children in the family, and observational data regarding the child
• Maintains a safe, therapeutic environment for students
• Uses technology to produce and manage student information

Minimum qualifications :

• Qualified mental health professional (QMHP) per state statute or Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Master's of Social Work or Licensed Professional Counselor, or ability to obtain such license
• Demonstrated ability to provide child and family centered social-emotional supports
• Ability to assess and teach developmentally relevant social and behavioral skills
• Recent successful experience working in an educational/mental health setting, with students who have serious social- emotional challenges
• Ability to learn and apply mental health based strategies with education services in a public school setting
• Ability to compose and produce concise professional documents
• Demonstrated skills working with other professionals such as educators, counselors, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists, as resources for planning and delivery of specially designed programs
• Ability to develop and utilize scheduling and time management techniques in the daily performance of responsibilities
• Ability to acquire and maintain a valid first aid and CPR card
• Written and oral communication skills sufficient to perform essential functions
• Physical attributes sufficient to perform essential functions
• Mental attributes sufficient to perform the essential functions, including the ambiguity associated with program development
• Ability to acquire and maintain NCI certification as appropriate
• Technology skills sufficient to perform essential functions

Salary : Salary based on experience and education. The 2026-27 salary schedule is still being determined . For reference, the 2025-26 salary schedule was between $54,260 - $105,122 per year. See the Licensed Salary Schedule.


Benefits :

• Full medical, dental, and vision insurance with generous district-paid contribution
• Retirement through the Oregon Public Retirement System (PERS) includes pension and individual account program
• Paid time off, including paid holidays, sick leave, and other personal leave
• Opportunities to grow with us with generous professional development expense reimbursements
• Clackamas ESD covers the full cost of fingerprinting for new employees, saving you $82.50 - a benefit not offered by most other districts
• Read more about our benefits here

Retirement plan contributions:
Clackamas ESD employees working 600 or more hours in a calendar year are eligible for the Oregon Public Employee Retirement, or PERS. There are two components to PERS, including the pension, which is primarily funded by CESD and The Individual Account Program, or IAP, which is funded by a six-percent deduction from your paycheck. If you are new to PERS, your PERS deduction will begin automatically after a six-month waiting period.

How to apply:
Submit your application at Applications for this position must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the listed closing date.

Clackamas Education Service District is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We respect and seek to empower each individual and support the diverse cultures, perspectives, skills and experiences within our workforce along with the students and families that we serve.

Clackamas ESD policy provides veterans and disabled veterans with preference as required by law.
Clackamas ESD Notice of Nondiscrimination

Attachment(s):

• Social Skills Specialist Job Description