Alternative Education Specialist

Purpose and Scope:

The position works under general supervision independently developing work methods and sequences.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Plans, coordinates and implements comprehensive services for students at risk for emotional/behavior disabilities.
2. Identifies and maintains cooperative working relationships with resources and agencies providing services and treatment for children with behavioral issues.
3. Creates individualized intervention plans for assigned at-risk students.
4. Attends planning meetings of involved teachers, social workers, therapists and clinical psychologists; plans and facilitates parent support groups.
5. Observes students within the parameters of the classroom/school environment that have been referred because of disruptive or unusual behavior; suggests environmental changes for teachers to institute and implements interventions for students as needed.
6. Provides professional development and assistance to teachers of students with emotional/behavioral disabilities in order to strengthen classroom management ability, including but not limited to teaching positive behavior support and verbal de-escalation skills; collaborates with specialists in other areas to provide comprehensive assistance to teachers and staff members.
7. Responds to crisis situations in a safe and caring manner; provides individual and group behavioral, academic and personal counseling as needed; facilitates character education groups.
8. Gathers information/data to support periodic and special reports documenting activities for areas of responsibility; maintains accurate and up-to-date student attendance and progress records.
9. Conducts parent conferences with the student, teacher and parent present and communicates by telephone with parents daily.
10. Regularly substitutes in classrooms for teachers as needed; monitors students while on school grounds.
11. Performs clerical/administrative tasks such as preparing reports and correspondence, entering and retrieving computer data, sending and receiving faxes, receiving and sending e-mails, answering the telephone.
12. Attends or conducts staff or other professional meetings to exchange information; attends professional classes, workshops or conferences to improve professional skills and maintain certifications as required.
13. Performs other related duties as assigned or directed.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or other related field and two (2) years of related experience, or equivalent combination of education, training, or experience.

Degree Equivalency Formula:

Bachelor’s Degree= 4 years plus required years of experience.

Master’s Degree= 2 years plus required years of experience. Where Master’s degrees are required, years for Bachelor’s Degrees must be included.