Anticipated SY26-27 School Security Officer

CPS; Illinois; On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Plan Options

Dental

Vision

Behavioral Health & EAP

Pension Plans

FSAs

Sick Leave

Job summary

Chicago Public Schools is seeking a Security Officer to safeguard students and staff, ensuring a calm and safe learning environment. You will patrol, monitor access, respond to incidents, document reports, and participate in ongoing safety training to support school culture and climate.

The role requires physical stamina, the ability to handle de-escalation, and a commitment to social justice. Reporting to Security Supervisor/Principal, you will help maintain a positive, secure environment

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 2–3 years of related security experience.
• Ability to patrol school property, walk/stand for long periods.
• Knowledge of the CPS Student Code of Conduct.
• Experience with CPS security technology.
• Strong attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to document incidents clearly.
• Experience with de-escalation and incident response.
• Commitment to social justice and restorative practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Fulfill duties associated with the post assigned as part of the school’s comprehensive security plan; maintain an orderly post and remain at the post at all times unless otherwise directed by a supervisor
• Respond to incidents, fights or other issues using Safety Care skills up to de-escalation
• Patrol and monitor school property for unauthorized persons; redirect or escort as needed
• Report unusual activity to Security Supervisor or administration
• Complete incident reports and misconduct reports
• Produce and deliver reports to show progress against key metrics
• Assist with organization and distribution of student lockers and locker searches
• Monitor entrances to ensure only authorized personnel/visitors
• Participate in professional development training
• Lead de-escalation efforts in classrooms
• Emergency response during crisis situations (fire, tornado, active shooter)
• Build positive relationships with students

Skills

Patrol experience

Crisis de-escalation

Incident reporting

Teamwork

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Ethical judgement

Cultural awareness

Stamina

Follow instructions

Education

High school diploma or GED

2-3 years related security experience

CPS Security Training certifications

Tools

Camera systems

Entry screening systems

CPS technology systems

Job description

Reports to:Security Supervisor/Principal

Purpose of the Position:Security Officers are responsible for the overall safety and security of the school. The security team plays a critical role in the school’s culture and climate. A calm, structured, and positive learning environment is top priority for the security team. Security personnel actively engage in supporting students in order for them to be successful in the classroom and school community. The role of a security officer is physically demanding as they are the first line of defense to defuse and de-escalate student misconduct and/or serious incidents and must respond urgently.

Principal Accountabilities & General Responsibilities:

• Fulfill duties associated with the post assigned as part of the school’s comprehensive security plan; maintain an orderly post and remain at the post at all times unless otherwise directed by a supervisor
• Actively respond to incidents, fights or other issues in the school that threaten the safety of students, staff, and/or guests utilizing Safety Care skills up to and including momentary physical intervention if warranted by the safety risk
• Fulfill duties assigned related to Hall Sweeps
• Patrol (foot or mobile) and monitor school property for unauthorized persons. If needed, redirect or escort from property
• Report unusual activity or suspicions of safety issues to the Security Supervisor or administration in a timely fashion
• Complete proper documentation related to incident reports and misconduct reports
• Produce and deliver reports to show progress against key metrics
• Assist with the organization and distribution of student lockers and locker searches
• Monitor school grounds and school entrances to ensure only authorized personnel and authorized visitors access the school; if assigned to the main entrance, ensure all guests follow visitor protocol and triage visitor requests
• Actively participate in professional development training to ensure ongoing growth and to advance skills
• As assigned, monitor the student entry and dismissal process to ensure safety
• Build positive and professional relationships with students and leverage those relationships to establish and maintain productive and safe learning environments and common areas of the building
• Exercise dignity and respect when interacting with students at all times
• Lead efforts to de-escalate inappropriate student behaviors and assist students with maximizing their time on task in classrooms
• Serve as a primary participant in emergency response during crisis situations including but not limited to fire, tornado and active shooter incidents

Key Performance Indicators

• Meeting school’s expectation for school-wide average attendance
• Meeting school’s expectation for reduction in serious misconducts
• Stakeholder perception of a safe school climate and culture
• Adherence to CPS Office of Safety and Security Accountability Standards

**Qualifications/Skills:**

• High school diploma or GED required
• A minimum of 2-3 years of highly successful related experience
• Actively patrolling school property is critical in securing the building and maintaining a safe environment for students and staff. Applicants must be able to walk or stand for long periods of time (up to 8 hours) and quickly ascend/descend stairs.
• Knowledge of the CPS Student Code of Conduct
• Knowledge of basic methods of providing site security and safety
• Solid attendance and punctuality
• Experience with CPS technology systems utilized for school safety processes (i.e. camera systems or entry screening systems)
• Ability to work with adolescents in maintaining a positive and safe school culture
• Ability to read and adhere to written and oral instructions
• Proficient with teamwork and collaborating with colleagues and administration
• Exhibit passion and the ability to thrive amidst change and challenging conditions while maintaining a positive outlook and forward looking perspective
• Possess an attuned appreciation for cultural awareness and competency and a staunch commitment to continuously develop insight and proficiencies related to such matters
• Takes personal responsibility for mistakes and learns from them, while consistently following up with analysis and corrective action
• Demonstrated ability to keep up with fast paced environments and to multi-task
• Sound judgment and ethical practice
• Commitment to social justice and restorative justice practices
• Strong oral communication skills, human relations and interpersonal skills
• Ability to write incident reports
• Impeccable attendance and punctuality
• Successful completion of CPS Security Training curriculum with associated certifications

Benefits:

Health & Wellness: Your Care, Your Choice
CPS is committed to providing comprehensive health coverage to our employees and their eligible dependents. You’ll have access to a variety of choices to best fit your needs:

• Medical Plan Options
• Pharmacy
• Dental
• Vision
• Behavioral Health & EAP
• Employee Wellness Program

Financial Security: Planning for Today and Tomorrow
We understand the importance of financial stability, which is why CPS offers strong retirement and savings options:

• Basic Life Insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Pension Plans
• Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) and 457(b))
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Spot Pet Insurance

Work-Life Balance: Supporting Your Personal and Professional Life
CPS values the well-being of its employees and offers competitive paid time off policies:

• Paid Leave
• Sick Leave
• Vacation Days
• Parental Leaves
• Short-Term Disability
• Religious Holidays
• Leaves

Reference theChicago Public Schools: A Comprehensive Benefits Overviewor thebenefits handbookfor comprehensive details.