Behavioral Specialist

Position Type: Classified
Work Schedule: School year; hours determined by assignment
Reports To: Building Principal

Position Summary

Payette School District is seeking applicants to support students for the 2026-27 school year. The Behavior Specialist provides academic, behavioral, social-emotional, functional, and supervisory support to students in a variety of school settings including education classrooms, special education programs, in-school suspension, academic intervention, school-based work experiences, career and technical education, electives, common areas, and other student-support settings.

The Behavior Specialist works under the direction of building administrators and certified staff to implement established instructional activities, behavior supports, individual student plans, and school expectations. Assignments and responsibilities may vary during the school day and may be adjusted based on student, building, and District needs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Duties may vary by assignment and student needs and may include, but are not limited to:

Establish and maintain positive, professional relationships with students.
Support a safe, respectful, structured, and productive learning environment.
Reinforce classroom, schoolwide, and individualized behavioral expectations.
Implement positive behavior supports, intervention strategies, and de-escalation techniques as directed.
Assist students in developing self-regulation, communication, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills.
Recognize signs of escalation and respond according to student plans and District procedures.
Provide supervision and support in classrooms, intervention settings, and other assigned locations.
Assist students in understanding and completing teacher-assigned academic work.
Reinforce academic, communication, functional, behavioral, and employability skills introduced by certified staff.
Provide guided practice and individual or small-group assistance under the direction of a certified teacher.
Support student organization, use of schedules, assignment completion, and classroom participation.
Assist students with educational technology, assistive technology, visual supports, task analyses, and communication systems.
Implement applicable IEP accommodations, behavior intervention plans, safety plans, and other student-support plans as directed.
Encourage students to work as independently as possible and use the least intrusive level of prompting necessary.
Support students in various educational settings and school environments..
Assist students with independent-living, vocational, social, and functional activities when assigned.
Support students in practicing workplace behaviors such as punctuality, following directions, task completion, work quality, communication, and accepting feedback.
Supervise students assigned to structured intervention or in-school suspension settings.
Help students reflect on behavior, repair harm, complete assigned work, and prepare to return successfully to the classroom.
Follow administrator direction regarding student supervision and disciplinary placement; do not independently assign or modify disciplinary consequences.
Collect and record academic, behavioral, functional, and IEP-related data as directed.
Maintain accurate records of student attendance, participation, work completion, behavior, level of assistance, and other assigned information.
Report student progress, concerns, safety issues, and significant incidents promptly to the appropriate teacher or administrator.
Assist with arrival, dismissal, meals, transportation transitions, school activities, and other supervisory assignments.
Assist students with mobility, hygiene, feeding, personal care, or other daily needs when assigned, appropriately trained, and required by the student’s plan.
Maintain student confidentiality and comply with FERPA, District policy, and professional expectations.
Participate in required meetings, training, and professional development.
Follow District policies, building procedures, emergency plans, and safety requirements.
Work collaboratively with teachers, administrators, counselors, special education staff, related-service providers, paraprofessionals, families, and other employees.
Perform other duties reasonably related to student support and the employee’s assignment.

Qualifications

Required:

High school diploma or equivalent
Ability to work effectively with elementary-age students
Ability to follow direction from licensed staff
Ability to maintain confidentiality
Ability to meet the physical demands of the position

Highly Qualified Requirement (ESSA):
Candidates must meet federal and state “highly qualified” paraprofessional requirements by holding an associate degree or higher, completion of two years of postsecondary education, or successful passage of the ParaPro Assessment (Para-Professional Praxis certification test).

Preferred:

Experience working with children in a school or childcare setting
Experience supporting students with academic, behavioral, or special needs
Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this position, the employee may be required to stand, walk, sit, bend, or kneel for extended periods and assist with student supervision or mobility consistent with assigned duties.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided, in accordance with applicable state and federal law, to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Terms of Employment

Salary and benefits in accordance with the Payette School District classified salary schedule
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of:
- Criminal background check
- Fingerprinting
- Required district training

Equal Opportunity Employer

Payette School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Position open until filled. All recommendations for hire are tentative offers. Employment is contingent upon board approval and successful completion of a federal background check and drug-free workplace pre-employment screening (if required for the position). Any applicant convicted of any of the felony crimes enumerated in Section 33-1208, Idaho Code may not be hired, and any applicant convicted of any felony offense listed in Section 33-1208(2), Idaho Code shall not be hired. Regular attendance is an essential function of this position.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should apply through the Payette School District employment portal.