Behavior Intervention Specialist

Catherine Hershey School; Middletown Township (PA); On-site; USD 53,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning is seeking a Behavior Intervention Specialist to support comprehensive behavioral management for CHS children and staff. You’ll help implement Tier 2 and 3 interventions, develop individual skill work and social skills groups, and create visual supports in classrooms.

You will collect data, consult with families and school teams, and model evidence-based strategies while ensuring safety for children in crisis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 3-5 years of experience in a similar role.
• Preferred certifications: Act 126, Title III ADA/HIV Awareness, Universal Precautions, CPR/AED, First Aid.
• Understanding of child development and Early Childhood Education.
• Experience with Tier 2/3 interventions and CST processes.
• Effective communication with families and staff.
• US work authorization and background checks.

Responsibilities

• Provide Tier 2 and Tier 3 support in classrooms for children, modeling evidence-based strategies.
• Develop and implement individual skill work and social skills groups.
• Create visual supports and tools to aid child success.
• Monitor progress and evaluate service effectiveness.
• Support staff in implementing Behavior Support Plans and collect data.
• Model de-escalation strategies and respond to crises.
• Collaborate with families, CST, and Health Services.

Skills

Tier 2/3 intervention support

Data collection & analysis

Staff consultation

Behavior support planning

Crisis management

Verbal & written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

The Behavior Intervention Specialist position assists with the delivery of comprehensive behavioral management and support services for CHS children and staff. This includes but is not limited to supporting the implementation of targeted and intensive Tier 2 and 3 interventions in the classroom. The primary purpose of this position is to develop and implement visual supports, individual skill work and social skills groups for children, participate in individualized Child Support Teams, and develop behavior support plans.

This role utilizes developmental and behavioral knowledge to collect data, provide consultation to staff and families, and supports in classrooms to implement, model, and transfer behavior support strategies to scholastic staff. In addition, the Behavior Intervention Specialist is responsible for ensuring continuity of care and safety for children in crisis. This position is also responsible for researching and utilizing evidence based social and emotional learning materials. Essential to this position is an effective, collaborative approach to working with and supporting families, teachers, Family Success, and Health Services staff members. The salary range for this position is $52,790 to $70,385 per year based on expertise.

Responsibilities:

Direct Support of Children in Classrooms

• Provide Tier 2 and Tier 3 support in classrooms for children, modeling evidence-based behavioral and instructional strategies for teaching staff
• Develop and implement individual skill work and social skills groups for children utilizing evidence based social and emotional learning materials across all 3 tiers
• Create and implement various visual supports and other individualized tools to aid child success.
• Complete progress monitoring and evaluate service effectiveness and fidelity for support on an ongoing basis
• Support teaching staff in Implementing Behavior Support Plans in classrooms and collect related data
• Provide and model de-escalation strategies within the classroom
• Respond to and effectively manage children who are in crisis

Indirect Support of Children: Consultation and Collaboration

• Consultation and collaboration with families, Child Support Teams, teachers, Family Success, and Health Services staff for children receiving behavioral support
• Collect and analyze behavioral data through the Behavior Incident Reporting System (BIRS) to inform programming and support
• Conduct classroom observations and complete Child Support Team (CST) consultation forms for behavioral or regulation-based concerns
• Actively participate in and contribute to CST meetings to support child-specific planning and service coordination
• Monitor progress and evaluate the effectiveness of behavioral and skill-based interventions on an ongoing basis

Behavioral/Educational Program Development

• Develop curricular materials for Behavioral Services programming
• Research evidenced-based interventions and practices for tier 2 and tier 3 interventions; modify as appropriate
• Complete program evaluations and modify services based upon evaluation results in order to ensure efficacy of services
• Assist with ensuring the linkage of all Health Services programming to CHS goals
• Maintain a high standard of professional ethics and expectations
• Follow all CHS policies and procedures.
• Score and assist with the scoring of behavioral protocols
• Respond to requests for reports and records, including data analytics and reports
• Participate in various committees for the development and/or enhancement of CHS programming
• Maintain strong and consistent boundaries and serve as a positive role model for children, staff, and families.
• As appropriate, contribution to CQI initiatives
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required
• 3-5 years of previous experience in a similar role
• Preferred Certifications- Act 126 Child Abuse, Title III ADA/HIV Awareness, Universal Precautions, CPR/AED, First Aid
• Understanding of child development
• Experience and knowledge in Early Childhood, Elementary Education
• Multi-Tiered System of Support: The Pyramid Model experience and knowledge in Early Childhood Education program and teaching standards, including code of ethics - NAEYC standards preferred
• Experience with crisis management and behavior management
• Experience with Functional Behavioral AnalysisExperience working with individuals in a group setting
• Effective listening skill and consultation skillSensitivity to individual needs
• Effective communication skills - verbal and written
• Experience in behavior intervention development and implementation
• Ability to establish authentic rapport with children from 6 weeks to 5-years-of-age
• Ability to defuse emotionally charged situations and maintain calm demeanor
• Ability to work independently and as a team
• Ability to respect confidentiality
• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to effectively work with low-income families preferred
• Comfortability with technology including MS Office Suite and various software
• Commitment to the mission and values of CHS and MHS and demonstrated high degree of integrity as all MHS and CHS staff are considered to be role models for children
• U.S. work authorization and successful completion of pre-employment background checks and clearances

Who we are and what we’re looking for

At CHS, we are leaders passionate about early childhood education and community betterment. Our work is driven by the desire to endow children with the resources for educational and physical well-being, while supporting and empowering their families. We listen to the needs of our diverse community and adapt to give everyone a voice. We hold each-other accountable for bringing our best and most authentic selves to school every day, creating an environment of mutual respect.

We strive to build a team of individuals that is passionate about our mission, brings in new creative ideas, and loves their work.

About Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning

At Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning, we nurture children, support them in discovering their world, and help them grow to reach their fullest potential. We are passionate educators, caregivers, and role models dedicated to successful early childhood development. We believe that a rich and solid foundation, along with a nurturing and supportive environment, is critical to helping children grow. We focus on the whole child, helping them flourish in mind and body. And we set them on a path to become their strongest, brightest, and best selves in school and beyond.

Catherine Hershey’s dream was to provide children with a well-rounded education. That dream lives on in her name and is our mission at Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning.

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning does not discriminate against applicants or employees, in hiring, promotion or any terms or conditions of employment, on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion or religious creed, veteran status, disability or use of a guide or support animal because of the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals, or any other status protected under applicable federal or Pennsylvania law.

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning are subsidiaries of Milton Hershey School and are staffed and operated independently of the Milton Hershey School core model.

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning will not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion or religious creed, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected under applicable federal or Pennsylvania law (collectively “Protected Characteristics”), against any applicant for admission, enrolled children, or any other individual(s) who participate(s) in the programs, services, and activities at our Centers.