Behavior Coach

Centerstone; Nashville, Northern (TN, KY); On-site; USD 26,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

403b retirement plan

Paid time off and holidays

AD&D, life, LTD insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Centerstone is seeking a Behavior Coach for the 2026–2027 school year at Murrell Special Day Treatment School. This 10-month, school-based role offers a schedule aligned with the academic year and summer time off.

Compensation starts at $19.50 per hour and can rise to $21.53 per hour based on post-bachelor’s degree experience. The role requires a Bachelor's degree in mental health-related fields, experience with youth, and certification in SAMA within 30 days.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in mental health or related field.
• Experience with children/teens with behavioral needs preferred.
• Must complete Physical Containment training.
• Valid driver’s license and insurance eligibility.

Responsibilities

• 10-month school-based/Centerstone program assignment.
• Plan/debrief before/after each day.
• Provide social-emotional learning in K‑7th classrooms.
• Intervene during mental health crises and communicate with guardians.
• Assist in managing students with severe emotional/behavioral issues.
• Conduct crisis assessments including safety planning.
• Lead two behavioral health group sessions weekly and daily briefings.
• Follow PBIS plans and provide trauma-informed care.
• Consult with MNPS staff and outside agencies as needed.
• Collect data and complete assessments to MNPS requirements.
• Obtain SAMA certification within first 30 days of hire.
• Attend meetings (clinical supervision, SAT, IEP, data meetings).
• Maintain timely documentation and student summaries.
• Provide staff trainings and parent/guardian communication.
• Support transitions to least restrictive settings and classroom coverage.

Skills

Crisis intervention

De-escalation

Active listening

Motivational interviewing

Communication

Ethics and professionalism

Team collaboration

Professional accountability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in behavioral health

Job description

Centerstone is among the nation’s leading nonprofit behavioral health systems with thousands of employees dedicated to delivering care that changes people’s lives. A dynamic, well-established organization, we offer rewarding opportunities to serve all ages in a variety of settings.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Join our team as a Behavior Coach for the 2026–2027 school year, with onboarding and school-year start‑up activities beginning in late July. This position is ideal for individuals who enjoy making a meaningful impact in the lives of students while benefiting from a school-based schedule that provides time off during summer months.

Compensation begins at $19.50 per hour and may increase to $21.53 per hour, based on relevant post-bachelor's degree experience.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Severe Behavior Intervention Behavior Coach serves students at Murrell Special Day Treatment School. All students are under the Exceptional Education umbrella and are covered under an Individual Educational Plan (IEP). These students have severe emotional and behavioral problems that have affected their ability to be maintained in a mainstream school setting. Behavior Coaches work in the classroom setting alongside Metro school staff to develop behavioral interventions and incentives, assist in crisis, and work to assist in the success of each student. Group sessions are also conducted by each behavior coach a minimum of twice a week. This position requires a collaborative approach with school staff and a teamwork attitude. This is a 10‑month position that requires a Bachelor’s degree in mental health, psychology, social work, criminal justice or other behavioral health related fields. The preference is that applicants have experience working with children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral needs. We are seeking applicants with a strong work ethic and a professional attitude that have a passion for working with children and youth.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• 10‑month position with Centerstone School‑based/Community‑based services (Severe Behavioral Intervention Program)
• Time before each day and at the end of each day will be used to plan, debrief and perform other duties as needed
• Provides social‑emotional learning in special day treatment classrooms K‑7th grade (all students are under an Individualized Educational Plan {IEP} and display severe emotional and behavioral issues)
• Intervene with students and clients at school when there is a mental health crisis, communicating with the guardian and school personnel on steps needed to stabilize the student. This can include contacting other agencies, DCS, mobile crisis, etc.,
• Assist on a daily basis with managing students with severe emotional and behavioral issues.
• Assessment of all students in crisis which can include (Conducting threat assessments and assessing for self‑injurious behaviors , Suicidal and homicidal ideations)
• Develops and conducts a minimum of two behavioral health group sessions each week, and daily morning and closing meetings
• Follows PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention Support) plans
• Provides trauma informed care
• Consults and collaborates frequently with outside agencies, as well as MNPS staff and Centerstone behavioral staff
• Collects data, completes assessments, analyzes and utilizes data on students/clients to meet MNPS requirements (Adverse Childhood Excrescences {ACES}, School Social Behavior Scales {SSBS‑2}, etc.)
• Must be certified in Satori Alternatives to Managing Aggression (SAMA) within the first 30 days of hire, this consists of verbal de‑escalation, object retrieval and physical containments (provided by MNPS)
• Attends and actively participates in clinical treatment team supervision meetings
• Attends staff meetings, Student Assistance Team (SAT) meetings, IEP meetings, data meetings and other meetings as assigned
• Maintain clear and timely professional documentation records including weekly student/client summaries
• Provide consultation and training to school staff as needed
• Provide excellent customer service to individuals seeking our services and to Metropolitan school staff
• Maintains frequent engagement with parents/legal guardians
• Assist in transitioning students to the least restrictive school settings
• Assist in classroom coverage as needed including implementation of MNPS lesson plans
• Develops, leads and participates in trainings during MNPS school breaks (Spring, Christmas and Spring Breaks and other MNPS planning and staff development days)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Effectively communicate via written, verbal, in person and virtual methods.
• Utilizes effective behavioral management techniques, crisis intervention, de‑escalation, active listening, motivational interviewing, etc.; demonstrating knowledge and skill to provide quality services.
• Displays knowledge and understanding of Ethical standards by evidence of practice with students, clients and community members
• Ability to grow and develop with extensive training opportunities
• A highly accountable, mature professional who listens actively and leads
• Self‑motivated individual who can set and meet simultaneous short and long term performance
• Desire to be a part of a proven leader in the world of behavioral healthcare
• Demonstrates good clinical judgment in decision making regarding consumers

QUALIFICATIONS

Education Level: Bachelor’s degree required. Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Criminal Justice or other behavioral health care field preferred.

Years of Experience: Experience with working with children and teens on mental health issues is preferred.

Certification/Licensure: Must be able to be trained in Physical Containments. Must possess a valid driver’s license and meet eligibility requirements to be covered under the organization’s vehicle insurance policy.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Standing –50%
• Sitting – 50% (frequently will sit on the floor or very low seating)
• Squatting – Occasional
• Kneeling – frequently
• Bending – Frequently
• Driving – Occasional or Minimal
• Lifting – Some
• Walking (briskly) - Frequently (can turn into running some)

DISCLAIMER

The duties and responsibilities described in this document are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time, or the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.

Time Type: Full time
Pay Range: $0.00--$0.00

Delivering care that changes people's lives starts with our employees. Below are just some of the great benefits Centerstone employees enjoy:

• Medical, dental, and vision health coverage
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
• 403b retirement plan with company match
• Paid time off and ten paid holidays
• AD&D Insurance, Life Insurance, and Long Term Disability (company paid)
• Employee Resource Groups
• Continuing education opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program

EQUALITY & INCLUSION

Centerstone is an equal opportunity employer.

Employment at Centerstone is based solely on a person's merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence.

We treat all clients and colleagues with dignity and respect.

At Centerstone, we use our values as a guide for what we do. Respect, Expertise, Integrity and Empowerment are at the heart of every interaction at Centerstone, and particularly rooted in our Culture. Our approach to culture is to create an environment that encourages, supports and celebrates the voices and experiences of our employees.

We are committed to a culture of empowerment, respect, integrity and expertise that powers our innovation and connects us to each other, our clients and the communities we serve.

Centerstone is also committed to a strong culture of quality and safety, celebrating role‑models who champion best practices for quality, clinical risk, and patient safety.

Centerstone is a nonprofit health system providing mental health and substance use disorder treatments. Services are available nationally through the operation of outpatient clinics, residential programs, the use of telehealth and an inpatient hospital. Centerstone also features specialized programs for the military community, therapeutic foster care, children’s services and employee assistance programs. Centerstone’s Research Institute provides guidance through research and technology, leveraging the best practices for use in all our communities. Centerstone’s Foundation secures philanthropic resources to support the work and mission of delivering care that changes people’s lives.