Instructional Support Specialist, Intensive Behavior Intervention

Simi Valley Unified School District; Simi Valley, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Simi Valley Unified School District is seeking an Instructional Support Specialist, Intensive Behavioral Intervention (IBI), to assist teachers, therapists, and counselors with implementing IBI services for students on site or in home programs.

This role trains and mentors IBI Instructional Assistants, coordinates schedules, and ensures fidelity of ABA-based interventions such as DTT, social stories, and TEACCH.

Qualifications

• Requires an Associate's degree in early childhood development, psychology, speech pathology or equivalent and one year experience working with special education students which involved IBI/ABA techniques.
• A Bachelor's degree in early childhood development, psychology, speech pathology or equivalent discipline is highly desirable; incumbents with this education may be assigned as Instructional Support Specialist, IBI at salary range 80.
• Requires a valid California drivers license.
• Completion of SVUSD Intensive Behavior Intervention (IBI) certification training or equivalent training/certification.
• Certification requirements (NCPI, first aid, CPR) within six months of employment.

Responsibilities

• Assists teachers, therapists, and counselors with administration of Intensive Behavior Intervention services and tutoring to students.
• Trains, coaches, and shadows less experienced instructional assistants; coordinates schedules for IBI Instructional Assistants.
• Provides input on student performance and progress using IEPs; maintains confidentiality and privacy of student information.
• Intervenes with students in core academic and vocational skills; utilizes ABA techniques and related instruction methodologies (DTT, social stories, PRT).
• Maintains records and organization of student program notebooks; supports in-service trainings and meetings.
• Ensures safety and orderly environment; may cover in absence of IBI Instructional Assistant.
• Prepares instructional materials and clerical tasks; supports teachers and specialists with data collection.

Skills

Mentoring

Coaching

Staff training

Communication with teachers/parents

Education

Associate's degree in early childhood development or related

One year experience with special education students involving IBI/ABA

Bachelor's degree desirable

Job description

To create a list of eligible candidates for filling current permanent and temporary (part-time) assignments for the duration of the list, up to six months. Permanent positions are typically 10-month, part-time roles (6.25 hours per day) based at school sites in Simi Valley, California.

The information included in the Work Experience section of the application will determine whether applicants meet minimum qualifications.

Please make sure you include ALL current and previous employment in the Work Experience section of the application and complete ALL fields.

Class specifications are

Class specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

Summary

Assists teachers, therapists, and counselors with administration of Intensive Behavior Intervention services and tutoring to students in a school, home, or other setting. Trains and serves as a mentor to Special Education and IBI Instructional Assistants. Performs role of team leader, and provides modeling, coaching and shadowing to IBI Instructional Assistants.

Distinguishing Career Features

The Instructional Support Specialist, Intensive Behavioral Intervention, is the second and senior paraprofessional level, requiring advanced specialization in behavioral intervention and the demonstrated ability to train others and coordinate IBI therapy programs. Specialists will demonstrate sufficient competency to train and mentor others, and implement and supervise applied behavior analysis, discrete trial teaching, pivotal response training, social stories, PECS, and TEACCH.

• Under the direct supervision of a behavior specialist, certificated teacher and/or other certificated personnel, works on an in-depth basis with individual students with exceptional needs to implement intensive behavioral intervention to selected students one-on-one or in small groups for core academic skills.
• Provides support to therapists and specialists by implementing visual, behavioral, social, and/or communications strategies that enhance student performance and behavior. Administers special drills to reinforce learning. Facilitates social skills training programs.
• Trains, coaches, and shadows less experienced instructional assistants. Assesses intervention workload, and coordinates or sets up schedules for IBI Instructional Assistants. May cover absence of IBI Instructional Assistant when substitutes cannot be placed.
• Keeps appropriate records for teachers, including those on computerized student information and grading systems. Builds, organizes and maintains individual student program notebooks. Assures privacy of student information.
• Intervenes with individual students in core academic and vocational skills. Prepares and may develop age-grade appropriate instructional aids and exercises to support the behavior intervention and subject matter being taught.
• Participates in consultations with parents and staff on IBI therapy interventions for students on site and in home programs. Attends Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) meetings as necessary to observe the connection between therapy and educational goals.
• Provides input to therapists, specialists, and teachers on student performance, progress, and behavior. Alerts teacher and resource staff to any special problems or information concerning students. Assists to develop and evaluate individual and group educational goals and objectives; participates in meetings as assigned.
• Exercises constant supervision of children; observes, monitors, controls and redirects behavior of students within approved procedures. Uses appropriate discipline in accordance with grade level, student's ability to understand discipline and approved procedures. Uses approved techniques for responding to students whose behavior may elevate to self-injurious or physically aggressive acts, including spitting, pinching, biting, hair-pulling, kicking and hitting. Develops and uses incentives as positive reinforcement. Reinforces behavior modification techniques determined by the teacher or other allied professionals.
• Documents student progress and performance using the individualized education plan as a guide. Records information in formats that support further evaluations.
• Assists special program administrative staff with the preparation and presentation of in service training sessions. Assists in organizing meetings and participates in meetings to share information about the IBI programs.
• Prepares and maintains a variety of files and records, including data collection, for classroom or assigned program.
• Assists in maintaining order among students in the classroom and school grounds. Assures safety of students following health and safety rules. Assists and supervises individual and groups of students in moving from place-to-place in an orderly manner, (i.e. school bus to classroom, classroom to restroom, lunch room, on playgrounds, on field trips and co-curricular activities).
• When working with severely disabled students, may be required to assist students with certain medical and hygiene functions.
• Must observe confidentiality. Must be discrete in responding to student behaviors whenever possible.
• Remains up-to-date in the knowledge of IBI approaches through attendance at on-going in-service trainings, workshops and seminars sponsored by the District, Ventura County SELPA or other acceptable, approved agencies.
• Assists in maintaining a neat and orderly environment that supports learning. Performs a variety of classroom and program related clerical services such as maintaining charts and records, preparing and storing instructional materials and equipment, copying materials, operating office machines, including computer, copier and other audio-visual equipment.
• Performs other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position.

• Education and Experience

Requires an Associate's degree in early childhood development, psychology, speech pathology or equivalent discipline and one year experience working with special education students which involvedIBI/ABA techniques or implementingIBI/ABA programs. Additional related experience may substitute for some higher education based on two years of experience for one year of college.

*A Bachelor's degree in early childhood development, psychology, speech pathology or equivalent discipline is highly desirable. Incumbents hired into this classification, and who have completed (and provided proof) of this level of education will be assigned as an Instructional Support Specialist,IBIat salary range 80.

• Licenses and Certificates

Requires:

• A valid California driver's license.
• Completion of the SVUSD Intensive Behavior Intervention (IBI) certification training (including successful completion of extended mentoring program), or equivalent training/certification.

Employees must fulfill the following certification requirements within six months of employment in a regular position (and maintain valid certification):

• Completion of Non-Violent Crisis Prevention and Intervention (NCPI) training or equivalent.
• Valid first aid and CPR certification.

• Knowledge and Skills

The position requires: Working knowledge of the principles and practices of age appropriate child development and guidance applicable for an educational setting. Working knowledge of autism and other developmental disabilities. Working knowledge of the principles of applied behavior analysis and specific instruction methodologies such as, but not limited to, discrete trial teaching, social stories, and pivotal response training. Working knowledge of the subjects taught in the District schools, including arithmetic, grammar, spelling, language and reading, with sufficient competency to assist students with individual or group studies. Basic knowledge of teaching and instruction methods. Knowledge of document requirements for special education students and programs. Knowledge of and skill at using personal computers, audiovisual, and other equipment to support learning, record information, and send communications. Well-developed human relation skills to work productively and cooperatively with teachers, students, and parents in formal and informal settings, conduct in-service training, to exercise extreme levels of patience when conveying information to students having difficulty with verbal and written communications, and demonstrate sensitivity to the special needs of students. May require competency in a second language.

• Abilities

Requires the ability to: Assist teaching staff with the implementation of instructional goals and activities, assessing the needs of individual students and developing instructional support techniques and materials to meet those needs. Work with students who have severe developmental delays and behavior problems. Apply principles of positive reinforcement, applied behavior analysis, and discrete trial teaching. Manage students who act out verbally and physically. Interact with teachers, parents, and specialists in order to carry out assigned duties. Oversee students, administer assignments and tests, and perform general clerical tasks. Work with and demonstrate sensitivity to a diverse population of students and parents. Relate positively to students in a teaching/learning environment in a way that builds confidence, recognizes and works on learning disabilities and barriers. May require competency in a second language or basic competency in sign language.

• Physical Abilities

Requires the ability to perform in an office, and indoor and/or outdoor learning environment engaged in work of primarily a sedentary to a moderately active nature. Requires near visual acuity to read and write printed materials and computer screens. Requires hearing and speech ability for ordinary and telephonic conversation, to speak to individuals and groups, and to hear sound prompts from equipment. Requires ambulatory ability to: move about office, classroom/laboratory, school grounds or other learning environment, to tutor, assist with presentations, and reach work materials. Requires sufficient manual and finger dexterity to demonstrate teaching aids, to point out important words/figures to students, and to operate personal computers. Requires the ability to lift, carry, push, and move supplies, equipment, wheelchairs, etc., of light to medium weight on a regular basis, and heavy weight with assistance or labor saving equipment.

• Working Conditions

Work is performed indoors and outdoors with some exposure to health and safety considerations from physical labor and exposure to body fluids.

Individuals protected by the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) may request accommodation if needed. In order for appropriate arrangements to be made for testing, your request must be received at the time your application is submitted. If special arrangements are not requested at the time the application is submitted, it is understood that no special accommodations are required. Documentation on the need for accommodation must accompany your request.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Simi Valley Unified School District is committed to providing equal opportunity for all applicants for employment. The application, examination, and selection process shall be free from unlawful discrimination, including discrimination against an individual or group based on race, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital, pregnancy, or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or genetic information; a perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics