Behavioral Health Specialist(Day School Johnstown)

Pressley Ridge; Johnstown (Cambria County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance with HSA employer-mat

Prescription coverage

Dental and vision plans

Wellness incentive program

Free life insurance

Paid holidays and sick time

Job summary

Pressley Ridge is seeking a Behavioral Health Specialist to collaborate with teachers on individualized academic and behavioral programming. You will participate in IEP planning, develop SSPs, and implement SEL-based lesson plans to support student growth.

The role emphasizes supervision, data-driven progress, and collaboration with the classroom team to ensure safe, engaging learning environments.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, counseling, education or other childcare field.
• Requires proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL) within two years of employment for the School for the Deaf.
• Requires a valid state driver’s license, safe driving record, and current vehicle insurance.
• Experience in behavior management preferred.
• Clearances: State Police, FBI, Child Abuse Clearances, and Mandated Reporter training.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Special Education Teacher to implement and review IEPs for each student.
• Collaborates with the classroom team to support students across content areas via individual, group, and experiential interactions.
• Develop, implement and review Student Support Plans (SSP) with the classroom team.
• Develop and implement classroom/behavioral management system with the team.
• Create daily group and individualized lesson plans using SEL curriculum and materials.
• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and update the SSP quarterly as needed.
• Provide weekly behavioral data to SET and progress on SEL.
• Deliver in-service training and communicate insights from data clearly.

Skills

Behavior management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, education or related childcare field

ASL proficiency within 2 years for School for the Deaf

Valid state driver’s license with safe driving record and current insurance

Job description

Pressley Ridge Benefits

The well-being of our employees and their families is important to us. At Pressley Ridge, we strive to provide the most competitive and comprehensive employee benefit programs that are affordable and help you and your family achieve and maintain your best possible health.

• Medical coverage available with a Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer match
• Prescription coverage
• Dental and vision plans
• Patient advocate and Medicare specialists available at no cost
• Dependent Care Flexible Savings Account
• Wellness incentive (up to $250)
• 403b with up to 9% employer give/match
• Free life insurance and AD&D
• Paid sick time (up to 15 days)
• Paid holidays including a birthday holiday
• Tuition reimbursement (if applicable)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Position Summary

The Behavioral Health Specialist (BHS) is responsible for collaborating within the classroom team in the development, implementation, and monitoring of effective, individualized academic and behavioral programming for students.

Essential Roles And Responsibilities

• Quality Educational Programming
  • Collaborate with the Special Education Teacher in the implementation and review of the Individualized Education Plans (IEP) for each student.
  • Collaborates with the classroom team to support students in all content areas as well as areas specified in IEP through individual, group, and experiential interactions.
  • Develop, implement and review Student Support Plans (SSP) in collaboration with the classroom team.
  • Develop and implement a classroom/behavioral management system in collaboration with the classroom team.
  • Develop and implement daily group and individualized lesson plans for each student utilizing provided social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum and supplemental materials.
  • Demonstrates cultural sensitivity.
  • Review and update the Student Support Plan (SSP) quarterly (or more if needed).
  • Complete SEL lesson plans weekly and provide progress on social-emotional learning.
  • Provide SET with behavioral data weekly.
• Communication
  • Provide in-service/training programs to other educational programs as needed or directed.
  • Draw insight from data and communicate those insights in context.
  • Effectively communicate information from data, by avoiding jargon, and using basic terms.
  • Participate in all regularly scheduled in-service programs.
• Professional Development
  • Periodically attend local, state, or national conferences and workshops to enhance knowledge areas.
• Supervision
  • Receive supervision.
  • Receive supervision from and actively communicate with supervisor on an ongoing basis throughout the week by phone, email, written message and when possible, in person regarding program matters.
• Leadership
  • Serve on program committees as needed or directed.
  • Directly always supervise students.
• Documentation
  • Complete Summary of Daily Progress (SDP) notes daily.
  • Utilize technology to create graphs of student data.
• Risk Management and Safety
  • Follow designated program policy regarding the documentation of critical incidents.
  • Follow procedures for all physical contact with students.
  • Follow procedures for student illness and injury, including arranging necessary medical care, accordingly, informing appropriate persons of the situation, and documenting the injury/illness and actions taken.
  • Assist other staff, as needed, in interventions (TCI, Ukeru) to protect students and staff from injury.
  • Detect and remediate any potentially dangerous environmental conditions (e.g. broken glass) accordingly.
  • When transporting students, maintain safe driving procedures.

Essential Qualifications

• Education/Certifications/Licensure:
  • Requires a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, counseling, education or other childcare field.
  • Requires proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL) within two (2) years of employment for the School for the Deaf.
  • Requires a valid state driver’s license, safe driving record, and current vehicle insurance.
• Experience:
  • Experience in behavior management preferred.
• Clearances Required by Applicable Regulations:
  • State Police
  • FBI
  • Child Abuse Clearances
  • Mandated Reporter-Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse training certificate and/or statement

Working Conditions

• Physical Demands:
  • This position requires operating a keypad device 25% of the day and electronic/office equipment 50% of the day. Fingers, thumbs, hands, wrists, elbows, legs and feet are all routinely used throughout the day. The lower and upper torso is used 75% of the day. Employee must meet minimum requirements for hearing, speech, and vision. For positions in the School for the Deaf, hearing and speech are not requiredbut ASL proficiencyis (see qualifications above). Walking is required 75% of the day. Standing occurs 75% of the day. Sitting happens 25% of the day. Reaching above the shoulder as well as bending and twisting are performed 25% of the day. This function routinely lifts 15 pounds, 4 times per day. The maximum lift is 10 pounds, 4 times per day. The position requires the ability to implement physical interventions and meet the physical demands of TCI. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Mental Demands:
  • Continually handles diversity of problems.
  • Frequently performs multiple tasks, make quick decisions, concentrate, and handle distractions that interfere.
• Environmental Factors:
  • Environmental demands require this position in schools and community.
• Working Hours:
  • Hours dependent on school schedule. Flexibility to meet student needs.
  • PRSD is on a 12-month schedule. PRSA and Day Schools are on a 10-month/ school year schedule.