Behavior Specialist

CEO is a Community Action Agency committed to making a positive impact by supporting our customers, colleagues, and community. We are looking for individuals who share and demonstrate our core values of Helping Others, Respect, Accountability, Innovation, and Teamwork. Through our wide range of programs and services, CEO works to meet the diverse needs of the communities we serve.

Overview of Team:

CEO’s Early Head Start/Head Start program creates partnerships and develops opportunities for social and economic growth and empowerment in individuals, families, and communities. We are a federally funded program that provides comprehensive early childhood services to children aged 6 weeks to age 5 and families throughout Rensselaer County.

Position Summary:

CEO is seeking a Behavior Specialist to provide staff with support regarding the behavioral needs, strengths, interventions, progress, and recommendations for children. 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide short and long-term positive management behavior support to classrooms, staff, and children. Directly model how to intervene when a child is displaying challenging behaviors for classroom staff. 
• Utilize positive behavior support strategies and encourage all classroom staff members to do the same consistently. Locate resources for teachers and families relating to child behavior.
• Utilize knowledge of child development to differentiate between developmentally appropriate behavior and behavior challenges. 
• Provide classrooms with supports based on child's individualized special education needs and assist staff with developing strategies for children with special needs. 
• Participate in the collaborative process for developing, monitoring, and modifying behavior plans. Meet with classroom staff and managers to develop, monitor, and modify individual child behavior plans
• Implement child behavior plans with classroom teachers. Demonstrate implementation of individual child behavior plans with classrooms teachers and appropriate center staff. Support classroom staff and children with behavior plans. Review and revisit child behavior plans with teachers and appropriate staff. 
• Maintain a regular schedule of site visits to all CEO center/sites, as assigned. Conduct regular classroom observations of Head Start classrooms to ensure compliance and quality. Provide specialized training, coaching, and support to classrooms. Develop plans for the improvement of classroom functioning as needed.
• Implement and enhance the comprehensive support of Early Head Start/Head Start programming. This position will assist with the implementation of positive behavior support systems, ensure curriculum quality and monitoring, and provide hands on support to classrooms throughout the program.
• Participate in all Education Team meetings.
• Collaborate with ECS management team to ensure recommended services are implemented for children in a timely manner.
• Work in collaboration with program management to support the programs School Readiness efforts.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field (Psychology, Special Education, or Elementary Education)
• Experience working with preschool children with challenging behaviors. 
• Background in Special Education and Behavior Management is preferred.
• Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Special Education or a related field (Psychology, Special Education, or Elementary Education) preferred
• A valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle.
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S without the need for Visa Sponsorship.

Compensation and Benefits information:

• $28-$29 per hour- 35 hours a week
• 10-month schedule (September- June)
• Healthcare, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible spending and dependent care accounts
• Cash payment for waiving health insurance
• Telemedicine
• PTO and Sick time accruals
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Optional 403(b) Retirement Plan
• 12 paid holidays annually
• December, February, and Spring School Break Included in Vacation Package
• Employer sponsored pension plan starting at 5% of salary contribution when eligible
• Eligibility for the Federal School Loan Forgiveness Program

Please note: applicants for this position will be required to complete standard background clearances. We are proud to be an EEO employer. 

Apply: https://www.ceoempowers.org/about/join-us/. Call: 518-272-6012, ext. 284