School Safety Program Specialist

Position: SCHOOL SAFETY PROGRAM SPECIALIST
Arizona Department of Education

The Arizona Department of Education is a service organization committed to raising academic outcomes and empowering parents.

SCHOOL SAFETY PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Job Location:

School Safety Program Section

Phoenix Location

Posting Details:

Salary: $70,000 - $72,000

Grade: 21

Closing Date: 03/04/2026

Job Summary:

* The School Safety Program is established within the Department of Education to support, promote, and enhance safe and effective learning environments for all students by supporting the costs of placing school resource officers, school safety officers, juvenile probation officers, school counselors and social workers on school campuses in accordance with Arizona Revised Statute 15-154. The program currently funds more than 950 positions at schools across Arizona and serves diverse populations, including tribal members.

* This position will collaborate with site-based interdisciplinary teams and work to educate and support internal and external stakeholders regarding the successful implementation of the School Safety Program. Additionally, the position will help provide programmatic support and technical assistance to districts and schools across diverse geographical areas, and will partner with government, higher education, and community-based organizations to develop support for the School Safety Program.

* Occasional in-state and out-of-state travel is required for this position.

The Arizona Department of Education currently utilizes a hybrid work environment, with up to two days of remote work (contingent upon business needs). Candidates should apply with ability and willingness to work in-office up to five days per week as business needs necessitate.

Job Duties:

* Assist in design and facilitate engaging professional development workshops and training for education leaders, school counselors, school social workers, school resource officers, school safety officers, and juvenile probation officers funded through the School Safety Program (workshops may be in-person or web-based)

* Provide School Safety Program participants technical assistance with program requirements and implementation of school safety teams, student support, and other best practice strategies for school safety

* Review grant applications to ensure the program is implemented appropriately, per Arizona Revised Statute 15-154

* Monitor programs for grant compliance

* Assist in developing and completing any administrative and monitoring reports

* Engage in a high degree of collaboration with ADE program areas to help coordinate their activities with those of the School Safety Program and other state plans and initiatives, and participate in agency divisional, unit, and team meetings and working groups

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge in:

* Adult learning techniques, methods, and instructional strategies

* Campus prevention, intervention, and intervention strategies

* Evidence-based practices in school safety

* Fundamentals of program design, development, implementation, and evaluation

* Methods and techniques of curriculum development, application, and evaluation

* State laws and polices pertaining to school safety programs and initiatives

* Multi-Tiered Systems of Support

* A Bachelor's degree in Behavioral Health, Public Health, Social Work, School Counseling, or Criminal Justice or related field, or equivalent experience to substitute for the degree, is required.

Skills in:

* Training adult learners

* Facilitating meetings with diverse stakeholders and program staff

* Communicating effectively with educators, administrators, state agencies, law-enforcement personnel, and the public

* Public speaking

* Problem-solving techniques, including root-cause analysis

* Organization

* Time-management, and multiple project/task management

* Interpersonal communication

* Conducting presentations

* Oral and written communication

* Intermediate skill in using Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams

* Planning and conducting webinars

* Facilitation of conference call meetings

Ability to:

* Operate successfully in a team environment

* Work independently and be a self-starter

* Understand state laws and policies pertaining to the School Safety Program (ARS 15-154)

* Guide and support Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and schools in designing, implementing, and evaluating effective school safety systems and social wellness interventions

* Absorb highly technical and specialized knowledge related to school safety

* Research and draw meaning from public laws and rules

* Identify and create connections between the School Safety Program and other federal, state, and local programs and initiatives

* Effectively communicate and collaborate, interpret information, and make decisions

* Provide great customer service and technical support to internal and external customers

Selective Preference(s):

Preference will be given to those applicants with:

* A Master's degree

* ADE School Counselor or Social Worker Certification and/or Licensure

Pre-Employment Requirements:

*…