GARRARD COUNTY SCHOOLS

Job Description

CLASS TITLE:  Autism & Behavior Specialist

REPORTS TO:  Director of Special Education

EXEMPT STATUS:  Exempt                            

APPROVED: October 19, 2023  Order #70

BASIC FUNCTION:

To plan, develop, and monitor a variety of behavioral support service delivery options to meet the needs of children with disabilities:

• Assist with facilitating functional behavioral assessments (FBAs) and developing behavior intervention plans (BIPs).
• Participates in the development through Admission and Release Committee (ARC) meetings, individualized education programs (IEP) and consults with and/or trains staff, administrators, parents and others.
• Provide continuous progress monitoring (data analysis) related to behavior intervention plans and other evidence-based practices for students with disabilities.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:                

• Ability to work with students with disabilities at all grade levels and abilities.
• Attend Individual Education Program (IEP) meetings as an active participant.
• Provide professional development to teachers and paraeducators, administrators, parents and other stakeholders, including topics such as FBA/BIP, evidence-based practices related to autism, Individualized Education planning and a variety of other related topics.
• Assist teachers/school teams with strategies and interventions for students with challenging behaviors that may be in the referral process.
• Responsible for monitoring and supporting the most extreme behaviors through direct support in a classroom/school setting.
• Assess student abilities using various assessment tools to analyze areas for growth. The assessments will allow for plan development that is individualized to assist students.
• Willingness to support core teams and be trained in board approved safe crisis management procedures and processes.
• Selects and attends professional development as required by the State and District.
• Maintains all professional certifications and licensure requirements.
• Willingness to provide clinical supervision to peers (i.e. Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst).
• Fulfill requirements necessary for billing Medicaid, as appropriate (i.e., complete required documentation for Medicaid billing).
• Maintains regular attendance.
• Consult with special education teachers in developing individual student goals and accommodations.
• Ability to conduct Functional Behavioral Analysis (FBA).
• Analyze situations and provide guidance to administrators and teachers on an effective course of action based on individual student needs.
• Ability to assess a student's capacity for remaining safe at school; offer guidance and work with a team to develop a plan for safety.
• Provide input for individual student Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs).
• Ability to make recommendations to family about outside therapy services (individual and/or family).
• Assure compliance with federal, state, and district policy, administrative procedures, and negotiated agreements as applicable to assignment.
• Ability to work independently.
• Prioritize, plan, and organize work to meet schedules and timelines.
• Demonstrate a positive attitude and as a positive role model for staff and students.
• Must demonstrate a desire to see all students learn and succeed.
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communication.
• Protect confidential information.
• Perform related duties as assigned by the Director of Special Education.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

                                                            KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Psychological assessment.
• Consultation methods and practices.
• Psychological practices, procedures and equipment.
• Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.
• Technical aspects of field of specialty.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Basic public speaking techniques.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Work is performed while standing, sitting and/or walking
• Requires the ability to communicate effectively using speech, vision and hearing
• Requires the use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations
• Requires bending, squatting, crawling, climbing, reaching
• Requires the ability to lift, carry, push or pull light weights

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s Degree in special education, school psychology, applied behavior analysis, or autism
• Experience working with children/students with disabilities
• Three (3) years experience in related field
• Preferred: Board Certified Behavior Analyst with current licensure by Kentucky Applied Behavior Analyst Licensing Board

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Valid Kentucky driver’s license

SALARY

• Contract per hour
• Full-time if available