Assistant: Student Advocate - Arundel Middle

TrulyHired; Odenton (MD); On-site; USD 18,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) seeks an Assistant: Student Advocate to support a safe, orderly environment and assist administration, guidance, and teachers with student conflicts. The role includes monitoring student activity, deescalation, and communicating with families.

Requires a High School Diploma and 48 college credits or paraprofessional assessment. The position involves collaboration with staff, participation in planning, and assistance at athletic events as needed.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; college credits or assessment preferred.
• Ability to communicate with students, families, and staff with empathy and clarity.
• Experience supporting youth in challenging settings is a plus.
• Familiarity with PBIS and school safety procedures is helpful.

Responsibilities

• Assist administrators and teachers with student conflicts and behavior management.
• Monitor student activity in common areas to maintain a safe school environment.
• Communicate with families via conferences and calls; refer concerns as needed.
• Support planning with staff and participate in professional development activities.
• Assist at events and help enforce school rules and dress code where applicable.

Skills

Rapport with youth

Deescalation

Patience

Communication with families

Tech proficiency

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalency

48 college credits hours or paraprofessional assessment

Tools

MS Office

Video conferencing

Email & scheduling tools

Job description

Job Description

Title Code: Assistant: Student Advocate

JOB SUMMARY

Performs school-based duties supporting the goal of maintaining a safe and orderly environment. Assists the administration, guidance, and teaching staff with student-teacher and student-student conflicts. Work involves engaging students outside classrooms and being alert to the climate and tenor of the school in order to serve as an early signal to school administration regarding student discipline and school safety. Monitors student activities and intervenes as appropriate to deescalate student disruptions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists teachers and the administration in maintaining the flow of traffic in the building. Monitors all areas outside the classroom where students tend to congregate, including hallways, bathrooms, cafeteria (breakfasts and lunches), parking lots, and outside areas. Monitors entrances and exits, as directed. Monitors students during school via cameras and computers, as directed. Supports a safe school environment by monitoring hot spots in the community.
• Participates in behavior modification activities for students, as directed. Escorts students to and from classrooms, as directed. Assists students to regain their self-control and helps them to transition from classrooms to office and back as necessary. Uses Intervention techniques to help students deescalate, including non-violent crisis intervention. Seeks assistance, when necessary, if student behavior becomes violent or disruptive. Conducts after school administrative detentions, Saturday School, and other alternative to suspension programs, as requested.
• Communicates with student families through conferences and phone calls, as directed. Serves as contact for student and parent referrals. Liaison between parents and the community and school.
• Assists the administration in gathering information for investigations. Assists the administration when responding to teachers requesting assistance with students in need. Ensures that all required forms and procedures are completed and that adequate records are maintained on students.
• Participates in planning activities with other staff.
• Assists at athletic events, as assigned hours.
• Supports the schools Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) programs by knowing and enforcing the rules of behaviors outside the classroom and providing positive rewards when students behave appropriately.
• Mentors a caseload of students and monitors grades and attendance of identified students, as directed. Monitors peer mediations, as directed. Monitors improvements in student performance and provides positive feedback. Supports students in adhering to the Code of Student Conduct, including the dress code, athletic events, cell phone policy, and anti-bullying/harassment policies. Supports the school attendance goals by calling identified students when absent and assisting students when tardy.
• Serves on the County Crisis Team in order to assist other schools that might have a student crisis/disruption, as directed.
• Participates in on-going professional development and training.
• Performs other related duties as assigned within the same classification or lower.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education

• High School Diploma or Equivalency Certificate required.
• Other: To work in a Title I-funded school, 48 college credit hours or a passing score on a paraprofessional assessment issued by ETS or NES, required.

Experience

• None

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

• Ability to develop rapport with young people.
• Skill in deescalating aggressive behaviors.
• Ability to exercise considerable patience, courtesy, tack, and good judgment in working with students, teachers, administrators, fellow employees and parents.
• Prefer training and/or experience working with youth.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work and communicate with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated proficiency with business technology applications (e.g. Video/Web Conferencing, Microsoft Office Suite -Word, Excel, Outlook, and/or PowerPoint preferred).

Licenses and Certifications

Employee must retain active licenses, certifications, and enrollment as a condition of employment.

• Hold or be eligible for Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certification issued by AACPS/Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) preferred; or
• Hold or be eligible for Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) Certification issued by Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc preferred.
• To work in a Title I-funded school, a passing score on a paraprofessional assessment, in lieu of 48 college credit hours, issued by ETS or NES required.

Driving Requirements

• N/A

CAREER LADDER REQUIREMENTS

Qualification Requirements for Employment in Higher Grade as a New Hire or Transfer requires:

• Two (2) additional years successful experience required.
• Achievement of Registered Behavior Technician Certification or Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certification required.

Eligibility for Consideration for Advancement from Lower Grade to Higher Grade requires:

• Two (2) years continuous successful experience in the position at the Lower Grade level.
• Mastery of all responsibilities and duties of the position.
• Evidence of completion of additional training that may be recommended by supervisor and/or participation in approved professional development programs or courses, approved in advance by the supervisor. Successful completion of a minimum of one professional development within the last two years is required. Successful completion of job specific professional developments identified on the job description, performance evaluations and/or the supervisor's documented recommendation are required.
• Achievement of identified goals as they relate to the needs of the district and as established by the supervisor.
• Consistent maintenance of an effective and orderly work environment.
• Consistent compliance with general office procedures such as standards contained in the AACPS Employee Handbook; demonstration of discretion and excellent customer service; regular and punctual attendance; and building dress code, including wearing AACPS ID badge.
• Above Satisfactory overall job performance for the two most recent consecutive years of Performance Ratings.
• Letter of Recommendation written by the supervisor.

Additional Requirements for Advancement from Lower Grade to Higher Grade requires:

• Achievement of Registered Behavior Technician Certification or Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certification required.

LEADERSHIP ROLE

• N/A

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical demands and working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

• Standing: under 1/3 of the time
• Walking: under 1/3 of the time
• Sitting: between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time
• Keyboarding: between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time
• Talking: between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time
• Hearing: between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time
• As required by the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Vision

• No special vision requirements

Work Environment

Location

• Office, school or similar indoor environment: over 2/3 of the time

Noise Level

• Moderate: between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time

Weight & Force

Lifting and carrying requirements

• Up to 10 pounds: under 1/3 of the time

Travel Requirements

• N/A

JOB INFORMATION

Approved Date: 8/1/2026

Established Date: 10/1/2006

Title Code: C21048

Title: ASSISTANT: STUDENT ADVOCATE

Alternate Title: Assistant: Student Advocate

Reports to Generic: Principal

Reports to Specific: PRINCIPAL

Division: Academics

Business Unit: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment

Department:

Negotiated Agreement: Secretaries and Assistants Association of Anne Arundel County (SAAAAC)

Unit: IV

Days Worked: 191

FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Grade: SG07;SG08

Essential Job:

Months Worked: 10

Hours Worked: 7

Job Family: Educational Support Services

Sub-Function: Classroom Assistants

Welcome to ATX Learning

Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) provides a challenging and rewarding educational experience for every child. We offer a comprehensive system-wide multicultural curriculum from kindergarten through 12th grade. At every level, the focus is on success for every student. Quality instruction, combined with teacher commitment, provides excellence in our instructional programs. Explore career opportunities with a progressive school system dedicated to providing the very best services to our students, our educators, and our community.

Located on the magnificent Chesapeake Bay, Anne Arundel County is conveniently located near the cities of Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and is home to the state capitol, Annapolis, which has a rich historical past. Notable landmarks include the United State Naval Academy, Fort George G. Meade, the National Security Agency, and Baltimore Washington International Airport. The county encompasses urban, suburban, and rural areas, with 432 miles of tidal shoreline. Fine dining, state parks, major cultural attractions, the best in entertainment and professional sports are within easy access to our central location.