Behaviorist

 

MONTVILLE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Office of the Superintendent
January 18, 2022
 
 
 

UNAFFILIATED POSITIONS

 
NOTICE OF VACANCY 21-22 #29
 
 
POSITION AVAILABLE
 
Behaviorist up to 32.50 hours per week
Tyl Middle School
 
Works student hours/school days per school calendar
 
Persons who are interested in the above position must apply via AppliTrack on the Montville Public Schools Website www.montvilleschools.org (Career Opportunities link).  Open until filled.
           
Behaviorist
Department:  Special Education
Reports to:    Principal, Special Services Program Leader, special education teacher, and/or Director of Special Services
 
SUMMARY OF POSITION:
 
Under the direct supervision of the special education teacher, provides a behavior management for students with disabilities and/or behaviorally disordered students.  Actively participates in the management of students’ problematic behaviors in an effort to decrease these behaviors and increase skill acquisition for those students with neurological and/or other related disabilities.
 
SCOPE:
 
Behaviorist provides one-to-one interventions and activities related to a student at school with the following goals of service:  to stabilize the student in his/her environment, to prevent out of district placements, and allow the student to remain in the least restrictive setting.  Specific interventions/supports include but are not limited to the use of:  immediate behavioral redirections and reinforcements, emotional support, time structured activities, time out strategies and, as a last resort, restraint.  Supervisor’s direction determines nature of specific daily duty.
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Illustrative, not inclusive):
 

• Responds to crisis situations to support school personnel in efforts to stabilize the student when in crisis.
• Implements appropriate behavior intervention and behavior supports in a consistent manner appropriate to the individuals’ plan.
• Implements behavioral intervention plans to replace specified maladaptive behavior(s) with alternative acceptable behaviors.
• Collaborates with staff members who are responsible for implementing the behavioral intervention plan and serves as a conduit of information to immediate supervisor.
• Participates in PPT meetings as deemed necessary.
• Develops progress notes describing student’s behavior and how that student is responding to treatment goals.  (May involve graphing on computer.)
• Works closely with the Interdisciplinary Team.
• Completes required documentation:  observations; behavior data, collection and charting within the school environment and does not take files/data home.
• Attends trainings as determined necessary.
• Develops with school team members, including school psychologist and social worker, ways to provide positive behavior supports and services to students.
• Maintains strict confidentiality.  Any pictures or videotaping is done after consent from parent/guardian and is solely for the educational purpose of the individual student.  No posting or reproduction is allowed.
• Adheres to all district policies.

 
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
 

• Ability to understand oral and written communication;
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret behavior intervention plans and Individual Education Plans (IEPs);
• Ability to convey concerns/questions to immediate supervisor.
• Ability to write incident reports and anecdotal observations of student behavior;
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from administration, staff and parents;
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with unpredictable variables in various situations where only limited knowledge may exist;
• Ability to understand the function of a student’s behavior and use given strategies to de-escalate behaviors rather than escalate;
• Ability to implement behavioral plans based upon the needs and abilities of students to whom assigned;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, peers and parents; and
• Ability to recognize and report hazards and apply safe work methods.

 
WORKING CONDITIONS:
 

1. Physical Demands:

      The Behaviorist position is physically demanding.  The actions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is continuously required to sit, stand, walk, run, talk or hear.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, and the ability to adjust focus.  The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with other staff.  The position requires physical stamina and body strength (medium/heavy exert force 30-100 lbs.) to potentially restrain acting-out students.
 
2.   Environmental Conditions:
      The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.  The individuals currently holding this position perform additional duties and additional duties may be assigned.  The Behaviorist works on a daily basis with students who have the potential or proclivity toward serious acting-out behaviors which may be aggressive.
 
 
3.   Sensory Demands:
      Many of the behaviors may include screaming, yelling or vulgar language which tends to be loud. Close physical proximity is necessary.
 
REQUIREMENTS
 
Minimum of a high school diploma and be at least 18 years of age.
Non-violent Crisis Prevention Certification preferred.
1 Year of experience with Autism, emotional disturbance, or brain injury populations is highly preferred.
Clean Criminal Background
Must be able to provide minimum (2) Professional References
Ability to work with computer programs.
Mandatory reporter training within one month of hire.
 
 
Executive Order 13D; Conditions of Employment
Prior to extending an offer of employment (or entering into a contract for in-person services) MUST require that any covered worker is:

• Fully vaccinated against COVID-19; or
• Has received the first dose and has an appointment for the second dose or has received all doses but is still within 14 day post-vaccination period OR;
• Has a medical or religious exemption

 
 
 
This institution is an equal opportunity provider