Reports to: Director of School Psychological Services
Employment Status: As assigned on board-approved contract
FLSA Status: Exempt
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Valid Ohio Educational Aide Permit
- Experience working with behaviorally at-risk children preferred
- Experience implementing a Discrete Trials Training program preferred
- Successful completion of BCI/FBI background checks
- Meet NCLB requirements for paraprofessional status
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
Under direct supervision, assists in the development and implementation of behavior intervention plans; implements curriculum for children in the Little Feats Autism Project; monitors, documents and reports on student progress; provides case management; participates in on-going training and staff development activities
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (The below list is not ranked in order of importance.)
- Ensures safety of students, taking all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials and facilities
- Implements specific behavior intervention plans/Discrete Trial Training programs
- Implements curriculum in the pivotal classroom and the integrated preschool class
- Implements a wide range of behavioral strategies (e.g. time out, manual restraint, required relaxation, response cost, overcorrection, crisis intervention etc.)
- Implements positive reinforcement strategies (e.g. primary, tactile, verbal, social, activity, etc.)
- Maintains a continuous system of documentation/information collection to measure individual student progress toward academic and behavior goals
- Maintains a positive, structured learning environment
- Assists agency personnel as necessary to provide support services to students
- Meets with team members on a regular basis
- Completes written reports as assigned by the administration in an accurate and timely manner
- Regularly communicates and documents contacts with various agencies and individuals involved with providing support services
- Assists in the process of transitioning students to less restrictive programming and/or educational environments
- Demonstrates skill in prevention and redirection of disruptive behavior and crisis management techniques
- Assumes responsibility for professional growth and development remaining current in the literature and best practices that inform the field
- Participates in crisis management training as arranged and assumes responsibility for periodic updates
- Participates in on-going professional development opportunities
- Has ability to physically intervene with children (e.g. lifting, carrying, physically guiding)
- Has ability to maintain composure under adverse conditions (e.g. verbal abuse, physical assault, spitting, etc.)
- Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance
- Maintains required license(s)
- The employee shall remain free of any alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substance abuse in the workplace throughout his/her employment at the Center.
- Serves as a role model for students in how to conduct themselves as citizens and as responsible, intelligent human beings
- Helps instill in students the belief in and practice of ethical principles and democratic values
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Performs all other duties as required or requested by the Superintendent
ADDITIONAL WORKING CONDITIONS:
Assigned to specific students located in elementary school and/or the Little Feats Program housed at the Starlight Center. The position will require providing services in multiple locations as needed throughout the school year. Due to the challenging behavioral needs of the assigned children, there may be some exposure to verbal and/or physical abuse.
The staff member is determined to be at Category 1 regarding exposure to bodily fluids including blood, human tissue, or bodily fluids and must make "universal precautions" a standard operating procedure.
KNOWLEDGE OF:
- Basic knowledge of board policies and procedures; thorough knowledge and understanding of human behavior, learning, behavior analytic principles, autism; complete understanding of program goals and operational procedures
- Written composition and technical writing, record keeping, planning and organization, student performance evaluation, academic/life skills intervention, behavioral intervention strategies, crisis management techniques, collaboration, and public speaking
ABILITY TO:
Implement the appropriate academic and behavioral intervention strategies; work with a broad range of students and personnel including school administrators, parents/guardians, teachers, counselors and other agency personnel; work independently and demonstrate self-initiative; manage time and impose structure as needed; organize and maintain a learning environment; manage disruptive students; mobilize resources and use a variety of intervention strategies
EQUIPMENT OPERATED:
Typical school technology as well as assistive technology (e.g., communication devices, etc.)
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Dates of the work period will be stated in the employment contract
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION:
The Behavior Technician will be evaluated by The Director of Psychological Services or his or her designee in accordance with the procedures identified by law and including the standards established by the organization. The employee will be given a copy of the evaluation instrument and standards in advance and he or she will be expected to conduct a self-evaluation and establish a minimum of one goal annually to advance knowledge, skill and/or ability in a job related area.
The Muskingum Valley ESC Governing Board is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, or disability. This job description identifies general responsibilities and is not intended to be a complete list of all duties performed. The incumbent will be required to follow the instructions and perform the duties required by the Service Center. This document is subject to change in response to student demographics, staffing factors, funding variables, modified operating procedures, program/curriculum changes, and unforeseen events.