Behavior Support Specialist, KIPP Harmony Academy

KIPP Baltimore; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance options

Paid Time Off (PTO)

401(k) retirement plan with employer match

Employee recognition program

Job summary

A prominent educational organization in Baltimore is seeking a Behavior Support Specialist to foster a trauma-informed environment and collaborate with educators to support students. The ideal candidate will have experience in building strong relationships with families and possess excellent communication skills. Compensation ranges from $55,000 to $60,000 based on qualifications, with comprehensive benefits, including health insurance and a 401(k) plan.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of teaching experience preferred.
• Self-starter who takes initiative and demonstrates leadership skills.
• Ability to lift 40 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Provide preventative and responsive interventions for high-need students.
• Establish and uphold consistently high expectations for student behavior.
• Collaborate on school-wide incentives and execute monthly incentive plans.

Skills

Strong relationships with families

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Ability to influence and motivate others

Demonstrated skill in de-escalating conflict

Strong judgment and decision-making ability

Education

Para-educator level certification

Job description

Behavior Support Specialist – KIPP Harmony Academy

Join KIPP Baltimore in supporting students, families, and educators as a Behavior Support Specialist (BSS) at KIPP Harmony Academy. The BSS will collaborate with school leaders and classroom teachers to foster a trauma‑informed school community and promote positive behavioral and academic outcomes.

Company Description

KIPP Baltimore, founded in 2002, operates joyful, academically excellent public charter schools and alumni support programming that prepare students with the skills and confidence needed to pursue high‑aspiration pathways. The district enrolls approximately 1,500 kindergarten‑through‑eighth‑grade students at two schools on a shared campus in the former Walbrook High School building in West Baltimore: KIPP Harmony Academy (K‑5) and KIPP Ujima Village Academy (6‑8). KIPP Baltimore is part of the national KIPP Public Schools network, which serves over 175,000 students and alumni worldwide.

Job Summary

The Behavior Support Specialist will provide preventative and responsive interventions for our highest‑need students and their families. In partnership with school leaders and classroom teachers, the BSS will support a trauma‑sensitive environment, promote high expectations, and implement school‑wide disciplinary structures that enhance academic and character outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Behavior prevention and intervention to build a strong school culture.
• Participate in SST and CST meetings relevant to caseloads, as needed.
• Establish and uphold consistently high expectations for student behavior.
• Ensure school‑wide discipline structures effectively support students, families, teachers, and the school; adjust as needed through coaching.
• Collaborate on school‑wide incentives and execute monthly incentive plans.
• Build positive relationships with students, families, and teachers.
• Assist with lunchtime and after‑school procedures as needed.
• Mediates issues between key stakeholders with warmth, empathy, and decisiveness.
• Observe students in classrooms to support teachers in developing intervention plans for students needing services.
• Respond to support students in crisis.
• Plan, coordinate, and support teachers in implementing and monitoring preventative behavior intervention plans.
• Lead discipline initiatives for one grade level.
• Work in close partnership with the school leadership team to meet student needs.
• Develop a trauma‑sensitive school community and maintain high expectations while supporting students who have experienced trauma.
• Build and maintain trauma‑sensitive practices in each classroom.
• Monitor progress against trauma‑related goals to ensure academic improvement.
• Attend training and continuing education relevant to these job duties.
• Lead and support documentation and reinstatement meetings.
• Enter referral data into Infinite Campus and analyze data.
• Participate in arrival and dismissal duties.
• Ensure clear and timely communication to parents about events, initiatives, daily activities, and important issues.
• Co‑lead a lunch block and support timely transitions by monitoring students in the hallways.
• Serve as a full‑time, engaged member of KIPP Baltimore’s staff.

Qualifications

• Evidence of strong relationships with families.
• Unquestioned integrity and commitment to KIPP Baltimore’s mission and growth.
• Professional demeanor and strong self‑confidence.
• Self‑starter who takes initiative and demonstrates leadership skills.
• Ability to influence and motivate others and build strong working relationships with colleagues.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent networking and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptive.
• Strong judgment and decision‑making ability.
• Demonstrated skill in de‑escalating conflict.
• Exceptionally organized.
• Ability to lift 40 lbs.
• Character traits valued by KIPP: zest, grit, hope, love, social intelligence, gratitude, and a sense of humor.

Education and Experience

• Minimum of Para‑educator level certification (48 college credits or Paraprofessional Exam).
• Minimum 3 years of teaching experience (preferred, not required).

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $55,000 – $60,000 (based on experience and qualifications).

Benefits Package:

• Health & Wellness
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
  • Employer‑paid life insurance, short‑term, and long‑term disability coverage.
  • Access to mental health resources and employee assistance programs (EAP).
• Time Off & Leave
  • Paid Time Off (PTO) plus scheduled school breaks.
  • Paid parental leave.
• Retirement & Financial Benefits
  • 401(k) retirement plan with a 4% employer match.
• Additional Perks
  • Bonusly employee recognition program.
  • Access to discounts and wellness perks through our benefits providers.
  • A strong, mission‑driven culture dedicated to educational equity.

Contact & EEO Statement

For more information about this position, please contact Hilarie Yoffe, Recruitment Manager, at [e-mail] or 410‑564‑9241.

Statement of Non‑Discrimination: KIPP Baltimore is committed to the ideal of diversity in its student body and in its faculty and staff. KIPP Baltimore does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, or ethnicity. We are strongly committed to hiring a diverse and multicultural staff and encourage applications from traditionally under‑represented backgrounds.

Employment Type: Full‑time