Support Specialist: Crisis

Specialist Support:
Crisis

Supports each child's instructional program by managing and supporting appropriate classroom behavior of individuals and groups of students in order for students to be successful in the classroom/general education environment. Serves on the school team under the direction of each School Performance Director and the school Administrator. Assists with the implementation of crisis management for any student in the school setting.

Assists staff to employ crisis intervention strategies within the classroom/school setting through job embedded training and direct support to students.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Observes students in their classrooms and other activities to coordinate intervention strategies with school based staff and school community. Facilitates the management of students experiencing emotional crisis including development of behavioral intervention plans.
• Determines/implements appropriate interventions for redirecting behaviorally acting-out children which immediately protects children/staff.
• Implements/documents the established behavioral management system and institutes a repertoire of logical and natural consequences for inappropriate behavior.
• Provides debriefing with child/staff following a crisis and subsequent development of appropriate coping behaviors for the prevention of future crises.
• Assists students in regaining behavioral/emotional control and returning them to their class as soon as they are ready.
• Communicates with regular school-based staff on the status and needs of individual students.
• Provides short-term counseling; identifying and applying a variety of intervention procedures to assist students to change inappropriate behavior.
• Establishes and monitors an effective method of data collection and documentation of student behavior.
• Implements crisis/prevention interventions, employing therapeutic restraint as a last resort if a student exhibits behavior dangerous to self or others, in accordance with AACPS Board Regulations.
• Designs and conducts in-service training to the professional and support staff (teachers, instructional assistants, therapists, and transportation personnel). Keeps current on effective behavior management programs and strategies.
• Performs other related duties as assigned within the same classification or lower.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in education, psychology, social work, or related field of education from a regionally accredited college or university required; or an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities deemed sufficient to prepare the employee to successfully perform the duties of the position.
• One (1) year crisis/behavior intervention experience required; and one (1) year experience in data collection and documentation required; or an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities deemed sufficient to prepare the employee to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

• Knowledge of strategies, techniques, and processes involved in crisis intervention strategies/debriefing.
• Excellent communication and human relations skills to relate effectively with challenging students and with professional colleagues.
• Knowledge of strategies and techniques for de-escalating verbally and physically aggressive children.
• Job requires direct in-person provision of service, therefore punctual, regular and predictable attendance is essential.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work and communicate with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated proficiency with business technology applications (e.g. Video/Web Conferencing, Microsoft Office Suite
  -Word, Excel, Outlook, and/or PowerPoint preferred).

Licenses and Certifications

• Within 90 days, obtain Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certification issued by AACPS/Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) required.

Driving Requirements

• N/A

Career Ladder Requirements

• Two (2) additional years successful experience required.
• Successful completion of twelve (12) hours of coursework or workshops that includes professional learning in the areas of mental health first aid, trauma informed strategies, mindfulness and stress management, restorative practices, social-emotional strategies, or other related topics required.

Eligibility for Consideration for Advancement from Lower Grade to Higher Grade requires:

• Two (2) years continuous successful experience in the position at the Lower Grade level.
• Mastery of all responsibilities and duties of the position.
• Evidence of completion of additional training that may be recommended by supervisor and/or participation in approved professional development programs or courses, approved in advance by the supervisor. Successful completion of a minimum of one professional development within the last two years is required. Successful completion of job specific professional developments identified on…