Classroom Therapist II Job – Friendship Academy

The Watson Institute; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition Reimbursement

PSLF eligibility

Professional development

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

403b retirement plan

Job summary

The Watson Institute is seeking a Classroom Therapist to support students with mental health needs in a school setting. The role focuses on managing classroom milieu, academic support, and behavioral interventions to promote student safety and learning.

Responsibilities include tutoring, modeling appropriate behavior, data collection, and collaboration with the mental health team. This full-time position offers professional development and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in counseling, sociology, social work, psychology or related field is required.
• Related work experience is strongly preferred.
• Ability to perform light physical work including bending, stooping, reaching, and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to use crisis management strategies to physically support students safely.

Responsibilities

• Manage classroom milieu and support the academic program.
• Offer tutorial assistance in academics and model following directions.
• Model clear directives and appropriate voice tone in communication.
• Maintain emotional control in stressful situations and seek help when needed.
• Assist in transitioning students to the appropriate classroom.
• Escort students to the bathroom and monitor until return.
• Maintain awareness of student locations; request help from crisis desk as needed.
• Complete late cab duty as scheduled.
• Implement Watson Behavioral Support System and monitor student goals.
• Collect and record behavioral data daily; complete progress notes.

Skills

Related work experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in counseling/sociology/social work/psychology

Job description

Classroom Therapists at Friendship Academy provide therapeutic support for students with mental health difficulties. Apply today!

Classroom Therapist Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling, Sociology, Social Work, Psychology or a very closely related field is required
• Related work experience is strongly preferred
• The essential functions of the job described require the ability to exert moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of bending, stooping, squatting, reaching, kneeling, crouching and brisk walking, and which may involve lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and material of moderate weight (40 pounds)
• Ability to use the strategies of Comprehensive Crisis Management and Ukeru to physically support students for their safety and the safety of others.
• Current Act 34, 114 and 151 clearances required
• Pre-employment medical examination, including a tuberculosis test required

Classroom Therapist Job Responsibilities:

The Classroom Therapist II is responsible for overall management of the classroom milieu and is also responsible for assisting and implementing the academic program.

• Offer tutorial assistance in academics
• Model how to follow the teacher’s directions
• Model communication skills by providing clear directives and appropriate voice tone
• Maintain emotional control in the face of stressful situations and request help when needed
• Assist in transitioning students to the appropriate classroom
• Escort students to the bathroom and monitors the student until they return to the class
• Is cognizant of the whereabouts of students assigned to the classroom at all times and requests help as needed from the crisis desk
• Complete late cab duty as scheduled

The Classroom Therapist II is responsible for implementation of the school-wide behavioral support system (Watson Financial) and monitoring of student goals.

• Collect and record behavioral data on each student daily.
• Complete progress notes on a daily basis prior to the start of the next school day
• Give feedback to the students on areas of strength and needed improvement.
• Evaluate the communication skills and behavioral strengths and weaknesses of a new student and participates in the development of a Functional Behavioral Assessment, Behavior Intervention Plan and/or Individual Behavior Contracts for identified students.
• Communicate changes in the Behavioral Intervention Plan, Treatment Plan, and Behavior Support System to team members

The Classroom Therapist II is an active member of the mental health team and participates in regularly scheduled treatment team meetings.

• Attends treatment team and is prepared with hard data from progress notes, behavior plans, and the behavioral support systems
• Complete progress notes daily that document clinical interventions as prescribed in the treatment plan
• Continually collaborate with the social worker, providing feedback on the effectiveness of treatment interventions
• Participates in the development of the treatment plan
• Responsible for documentation of time-outs and behavior reports

The Classroom Therapist II is responsible for the safety of the group.

• Requests help as needed from the support and/or clinical staff
• Maintains the environment and reports potential safety issues

Performs other duties pertinent to the job as directed by the Program Supervisor.

• Responsible for reviewing e-mail on a daily basis
• Requisition supplies for program activities
• Maintenance of a positive physical environment in the classrooms

Other duties as assigned

Job Benefits:

• Access to Tuition Reimbursement to pursue further education and advanced degrees.
• Qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
• Ongoing professional development through continued education opportunities, training, and direct staff support
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage, and additional voluntary benefits
• 403b retirement plan with employer contributions and match after 1 year of employment