School Safety Officer SY 25-26

The School District of Philadelphia; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 34,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

The School District of Philadelphia is seeking a full-time School Safety Officer to ensure the safety and welfare of students, faculty, and staff in schools. This role involves patrolling school premises, overseeing access points, and establishing a supportive learning environment. Ideal candidates should demonstrate strong communication and de-escalation skills, be at least 21 years old, and possess a high school diploma. Start date for this position is anticipated as August 18, 2024.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 21 years old at appointment.
• Valid Pennsylvania license to operate a motor vehicle is required.
• Knowledge of school and social service resources preferred.

Responsibilities

• Ensures safety of students, faculty, and staff.
• Monitors entrances and oversees building access.
• Builds positive relationships with the school community.

Skills

De-escalation techniques

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Standard security equipment

Job description

This is a full-time, School Police Association of Philadelphia (SPAP) union-represented role. This position is considered a 10-month role, meaning you would follow a schedule with summers off.

Hiring for this role requires candidates pass background checks. Work location assignments are made by School Safety Operations based on the needs of the District. New Officers do not select their work location and will be given a school assignment after successfully completing new School Safety Officer training.

The starting salary for new School Safety Officers is currently $34,526 for this 10-month role. This position is eligible for overtime pay.

The Office of School Safety is currently hiring for the start of the 2025-2026 school year, with an anticipated start date of August 18, 2024. Any new Officer training that takes place before the start of the school year is compensated in addition to the annual salary for this position.

The School District of Philadelphia is committed to becoming the fastest improving District in the country and transforming the educational opportunities it offers to our city's more than 200,000 students. The District seeks leaders who have a passion for working with schools and communities

who are committed to ensuring all students achieve. Serving a population as diverse as ours requires creativity, commitment and vision.

Will you join us?

Job Summary

Ensures the safety and welfare of students, faculty, and staff, as well as school grounds. The School Safety Officer (SSO) will work with the Office of School Safety and school administrators to identify procedures that will help create a campus environment that is safe, supportive, and conducive to

learning.

Essential Functions

• Provides security for all School District facilities, including extracurricular activities and some Saturday activities; patrols school grounds and perimeters on foot or in a vehicle; reports unsafe conditions.
• Oversees building access by monitoring all entrances and visitors.
• Builds positive relationships with students, faculty and staff, and the surrounding community to establish a safe and supportive learning environment.
• Exhibits ethical and professional behavior; ensures that students are always treated with dignity and respect.
• Responds and investigates incidents and disturbances with efficiency; defuses and de-escalates misconduct or inappropriate student behavior.
• Completes, organizes and submits incident reports in accordance with departmental procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.

NOTE : An applicant who does not meet the minimum education or work experience requirements listed above may be considered if, at the sole discretion of the Talent Office, they have a unique combination of education and work experiences that indicates potential for success in this role.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Demonstrated knowledge of :

• the methods to address challenging situations courteously, tactfully and with respect for the rights of others / emphasizing de-escalation.
• available school and social service resources such as the Diversion Program and Philadelphia Youth Court.
• the practices utilized to gain the confidence and respect of students and faculty.
• the methods to build positive relationships with students, staff and the community.

Demonstrated ability to :

• work with children and adolescents.
• understand basic principles of child development and trauma.
• be committed to restorative justice practices.
• interact with others of diverse races, cultures, ages, genders and socio-economic backgrounds.
• recognize and address implicit biases and stereotypes.
• analyze situations quickly and objectively to determine an appropriate course of action.
• complete and organize incident reports.
• lift objects weighing up to 20 pounds.
• have dexterity of hands and fingers to perform duties including driving a vehicle and using standard security equipment.
• have visual field and depth and color.
• be agile and bend at the waist, kneel and crouch.
• sit, stand and walk for extended periods of time.
• understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• cultivate working relationships with students, parents, families, community organizations and school administrators.

Additional Requirements for the Bilingual Specialty

Demonstrated ability to :

• speak English and the required foreign language fluently.
• read and write English and the required foreign language.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

The School District of Philadelphia provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, disability, pregnancy, marital status, gender identity, or genetic information.

Please refer to Board Policy 348 for further information regarding the District's commitment to Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices.

Certificates / Licenses

• Valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania license to operate a motor vehicle at the time of appointment and during tenure of employment.

Conditions of Employment

For All Specialties

• Candidates must be at least 21 years of age at the time of appointment.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
• Successful completion of a training program provided by the School District of Philadelphia is a requirement for continued employment.