2025-2026 Middle School Teacher - Behavior Specialist, Reed Academy Middle School

Springfield Public Schools; Springfield (MO); On-site; USD 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established educational institution is seeking a dedicated Behavior Specialist Teacher to enhance student success in academics and behavior. This pivotal role involves developing lesson plans, supervising students, and collaborating with staff to implement effective behavioral interventions. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication and interpersonal skills, along with a Bachelor's degree and significant classroom experience. Join a supportive environment where your expertise will make a meaningful impact on students' lives and educational journeys. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a dynamic team focused on fostering positive learning experiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; 5 years classroom experience essential.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills are crucial.

Responsibilities

• Support instructional processes and ensure student success.
• Collaborate with staff and parents on behavioral supports.

Skills

Communication Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Behavior Management Techniques

Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a job-related area

5 years Tier 1 classroom experience

2 years instructional coach experience

Tools

Standard Office Equipment

Software Applications

Job description

Job Title: Teacher - Behavior Specialist

Department: LearningSecondary

Pay Grade: Teacher's Salary Schedule

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports to: Principal

Purpose Statement

This position is responsible for providing support to the instructional process by serving as a teacher with specific responsibility for ensuring secondary age students' success in academics, interpersonal skills, and activities of daily living. The role involves supervising students within the classroom and other assigned areas, developing lesson plans, and delivering group and individual student instruction within established curriculum guidelines. Additionally, it includes collaborating with other teachers, professional staff, and administrators in addressing instructional and/or classroom issues and responding to inquiries from students' parents or guardians regarding the instructional program and student progress.

Essential Functions

• Provides ongoing, scheduled professional learning for teachers and staff in the school-wide behavior intervention process.
• Collaborates with teachers, administration, staff, and parents to create, monitor, and assess individualized processes for behavioral supports.
• Monitors and analyzes discipline data to inform and improve school processes.
• Compiles and analyzes data and recommends student behavioral intervention services and modifications.
• Completes professional learning for the purpose of advancing expertise and delivery of the highest quality behavioral intervention practices.
• Works with individual and groups of students (within the regular classroom and outside of the classroom) on procedures to support successful return to the classroom.
• Provides teachers with tools, training, and supports to successfully implement procedures and supports in the classroom.

Knowledge is required to plan appropriate meetings, training, and support sessions with clear objectives and relevant, measurable outcomes; facilitate group sessions with adult audiences; incorporate appropriate technology; communicate high standards and expectations for each session; create an environment conducive to learning and teaching; and provide relevant feedback to coaches, specialists, site administrators, and Tier 1 participants.

Skills are required to perform multiple, highly complex, technical tasks with a need to periodically upgrade skills in order to meet changing job demands. Specific skill-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include maintaining organized records, preparing and maintaining accurate records, analyzing assessment instruments, and operating standard office equipment including using pertinent software applications.

• Has strong communication skills, written and verbal.
• Has strong interpersonal skills.
• Has an understanding of instructional methods and education curriculum.
• Has the ability to lead and train others to apply behavior management techniques effectively.
• Has knowledge of and ability to work with various support systems available in the community.

Ability is required to schedule rehearsals, activities, meetings, and/or events; gather, collate, and/or classify data; and use job-related equipment. Problem-solving is required to analyze issues and create action plans. Specific ability-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include developing and maintaining positive relationships, setting high expectations for self and others, setting and monitoring progress toward goals, utilizing and offering effective feedback to continuously improve, collaborating and communicating effectively with internal and external stakeholders, applying critical thinking/problem-solving to improve work processes, adapting to changing work priorities, maintaining confidentiality, exhibiting tact and patience, and working flexible hours.

Employee Punctuality and Appearance

• In order for schools to operate effectively, employees are expected to perform all assigned duties and work all scheduled hours during each designated workday, unless the employee has received approved leave.
• Any deviation from assigned hours must have prior approval from the employee’s supervisor or building administrator.
• All employees are required to report to work dressed in a manner that reflects a positive image of Springfield School District and is appropriate for their position.

Responsibility

Responsibilities include working under limited supervision using standardized practices and/or methods; directing other persons within a small work unit; and utilizing resources from other work units to perform the job's functions. There is some opportunity to significantly impact the organization’s services.

Terms of Employment

This position is treated as a full-time exempt certified position. The terms of employment will be governed by applicable state laws regulating employment or teaching in a Missouri public school and Board of Education policy, as those laws and policies may change from time to time, and the Teacher Contract. If your position is represented by a Collective Bargaining representative, then your employment will also be governed by a negotiated agreement between SPS and that Collective Bargaining representative.

Qualifications and Requirements

Education and Experience

Bachelor's Degree in a job-related area, required.

Minimum of five years Tier 1 classroom experience, required.

Minimum two years instructional coach experience, preferred.

Fine Arts experience and interest, preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, and Other Special Requirements

Background clearance, the results of which must be satisfactory to the District, required.

Missouri Secondary Education grade level teaching Certification, required.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, some climbing and balancing, frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling, and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 20% sitting, 5% walking, and 75% standing.

The job is performed under minimal temperature variations and under conditions with some exposure to risk of injury and/or illness.