Certified Behavior Specialist bei Ellensburg School District 401

POSITION: Certified – Behavior Specialist 1.0 fte  (Temporary through the 2026-2027 school year)

LOCATION: Ellensburg High School

REPORTS TO: Director of Student Supports/EHS Principal

* The position's continuation is contingent upon the renewal of a grant after the 2026-2027 school year. 

Purpose Statement 

The job of Behavior Specialist was established for the purpose/s of assisting students with academic learning by providing strategic services that identify and address the social-emotional and environmental issues that interfere with the educational Process. Working with parents, teachers, administrators, and community based resources, the Behavior Specialist implements strategies that promote students’ positive school adjustment. 

Essential Functions 

• Attends in-services, meetings and required trainings (e.g. blood borne pathogens, first aid, CPR, secure training, required coursework    for certification, professional development, etc.) for the purpose of receiving information on new and/or improved procedures, as  well as complying with requirements for continued certification and licensure. 
• Collaborates with school staff and administrators for implementing strategies to promote student learning which ensures school, district and/or state objectives are achieved. 
• Collects and interprets data for analyzing student behavioral, social, and adaptive needs, which guide the appropriate  approach for addressing students’ functional goals. 

• Conducts classroom observations for evaluating student behavior, progress, and situations, as related to individual developmental and educational goals, taking appropriate action to maintain safety, and for making recommendations. 
• Conducts routine home visits for the purpose of accessing situations, providing parenting support, providing information and establishing communication and positive connections between parents and the school/district. 

• Coordinates with community agencies for providing positive intervention support within the home and school. 
• Determines and helps implement appropriate therapeutic strategies for the purpose of effecting changes in behavioral and social interactions of students and their families and establishing effective relationships. 
• Facilitates in-service training for certificated and classified staff as well as parents for providing education and information in regards to discipline, positive behavioral supports, and other mental health issues, including proper procedures for the identification and referral of students with mental health concerns. 
• Identifies, assesses, and evaluates academic challenges through an analysis of factors, which affect student adjustment (e.g. home, school and community) for identifying social and environmental issues that are interfering with educational progress and/or implementing students’ objectives. 
• Maintains a variety of manual and electronic files and/or records for providing up-to-date written reference and audit trail while complying with regulatory requirements and established guidelines. 
• Maintains connections and serves as a liaison between medical providers, the mental health community and the District, as well as provides appropriate consultation for the purpose of providing support for students and families which aid in the progress of students’ functional, behavioral, developmental and educational goals. 
• Participates as a member of the IEP, building student support teams and Care Corps. In addition, provides support and guidance for students with significant behavioral, for developing interventions and for promoting students’ well-being and academic success. 
• Prepares written materials (e.g. reports, memos, letters, etc.) for the purpose of documenting activities, providing written reference, and/or conveying information. 
• Presents crisis intervention strategies for providing behavioral management techniques, which assist in establishing positive and effective relationships with students. 
• Provides support with Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA) for conveying information, which assists in the development of treatment strategies and Behavior Intervention Plans that ensure the functional needs are addressed, educational goals and objectives are implemented and student deficiencies are remediated. 
• Serves on school-based and system-wide committees for addressing educational issues, adjustment challenges, safety issues and program development for students. 
• Supports school psychologists and behavior specialists with evaluation needs for determining student need for special education services while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements and established guidelines. 

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities 

SKILLS are required to perform single, technical tasks with a need to occasionally upgrade skills in order to meet changing job conditions. Specific skill-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include experience with working in schools, specifically the ability to focus on family and social factors that detrimentally affect academic experiences and outcomes preferred; bilingual preferred. 

KNOWLEDGE is required to perform basic math, including calculations using fractions, percent’s, and/or ratios; understand written procedures, write routine documents, and speak clearly; and understand multi-step written and oral instructions. Specific knowledge based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include Working knowledge of social theories and practices, knowledge of community resources. 

ABILITY is required to schedule activities and/or meetings; often gather, collate, and/or classify data; and use job-related equipment. Flexibility is required to work with others in a variety of circumstances; analyze data utilizing defined but different processes; and operate equipment using standardized methods. Ability is also required to work with a diversity of individuals; work with a variety of data; and utilize job-related equipment. Some problem solving may be required to identify issues and select action plans. Problem solving with data requires independent interpretation of guidelines; and problem solving with equipment is limited to moderate. Specific ability-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include ability to build and maintain professional helping relationships, ability to relate and communicate with diverse populations and groups, ability to assess situations. 

Responsibility 

Responsibilities include, working under direct supervision using standardized procedures; providing information and/or advising others; and operating within a defined budget. Utilization of some resources from other work units is often required to perform the job's functions. There is a continual opportunity to have some impact on the organization’s services. 

Educational/Vocational Preparation Occupational Certificates/Licenses

• Washington State teaching certificate or ESA certificate appropriate to assignment. 
• Master’s degree in job related area, such as Applied Behavior Analysis, School Psychology, Social Work or Education preferred.
• Valid Board Certified Behavior Analyst certificate preferred. 
• Must qualify to work in the proximity of children under the conditions of a WSP/FBI background check 

Acknowledgment                                                                                                                                                                                      

• This Job description is intended to provide an overview of the requirements of the position. As such, it is not necessarily all-inclusive, and the job may require other essential and/or nonessential functions, tasks, duties, or responsibilities not listed herein. The District reserves the right to add, modify, or exclude any essential or nonessential requirement at any time with or without notice. Nothing in this job description, nor by the completion of any requirement of the job by the employee, is intended to create a contract of employment of any type.                                                                                                             
• Full time positions are 7 hours per day for 180 days. 
• Applicants interested must follow the application procedures carefully.  Consideration will only be given to fully completed application files.  Minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Ellensburg School District encourages workforce diversity and complies with all state and federal laws prohibiting unlawful discrimination.

BENEFITS: 

• Health insurance benefits for employees working 630 hours or more per year include medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability plans through the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB). 

School employees | Washington State Health Care Authority 

• Retirement benefits provided through the WA State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS). 
• State of Washington: Department of Retirement Systems

• Full time positions are 7 hours per day for 180 days - Less than 1.0 full time salary pro-rated 180 Day Employees - Paid leave benefits to include 12 days of sick leave and 3 personal leave days
•  Salary based on the current EEA salary schedule

Ellensburg School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator, Rhonda Schmidt, 509-925-8011, [email protected] ; Civil Rights Coordinator, 509-925-8007, [email protected]  1300 East Third Avenue, Ellensburg, WA 9