Behavior Specialist (SY 25-26)

ABOUT MERIDIAN PCS

Meridian is a PreK-8th grade school located in Washington DC’s vibrant U Street Corridor. Our mission is to inspire a passion for learning in our students and to help them build their self-confidence and self-respect through academic achievement. As one of the oldest public charter schools in the city, our campuses support about 600 racially and ethnically diverse students from all wards of Washington, DC. Approximately 25% of our students are English language learners (multilingual learners). One-third of students live in the surrounding neighborhood and approximately 50% live in Ward 1. Meridian’s elementary PreK-5th grade campus is located in DC’s vibrant U Street Corridor. Meridian’s middle school campus, grades 6-8, is located in the Columbia Heights neighborhood.

Meridian draws on the strengths of our neighborhood and our partnerships with community organizations to support our students and families. The city is our classroom; as an emerging EL Education school, we prepare our students to be active citizens and create a better world. Through language learning, a rich and rigorous curriculum, and the schoolwide values of curiosity, respect, resilience, and leadership, we support students in achieving their highest aspirations.

Join us as we continue to take Meridian from good to great! For additional information about Meridian visit mpcs-dc.org.

ABOUT THE POSITION

We are seeking a Behavior Specialist to work with students for the 2025-26 school year. This position is a 10-month, instructional, full-time, salaried position, reporting to the Principal and Assistant Principal. A Behavior Specialist works from 7:45 am - 4:00 pm during the regular academic year. The position may require occasional evening and/or weekend commitments outside of the regular school hours.

A Behavior Specialist at Meridian is directly accountable to the Principal and Assistant Principal for student academic success, maintenance of rigorous school culture, and mission advancement. Behavior Specialists are responsible for the following:

• Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesEmbody Meridian Public Charter School’s vision for school culture, (engaging, enjoyable structured, safe, and motivated to achieve) the organizational elements, and code of conduct;
• Maintain up-to-date student discipline records, identifying trends, and responding appropriately;
• Respond to challenging behaviors in the classroom; implement tiered discipline strategies;
• Implement Tier 2 and Tier 3 behavior interventions.
• Participate in school-wide family engagement activities;
• Participate and facilitate individual student meetings to maximize success during instruction.
• Enter behavior referrals into the behavior tracking system for appropriate grade-levels
• Build and maintain relationships with scholars, colleagues, and parents;
• Work collaboratively with staff to identify students and classes with behavior support needs using school-wide data.
• Identify the function of students’ behavior(s) in order to develop individualized, strength based interventions that will result in positive behavior change.
• Support the Assistant Principal/Principal in working with staff, administrators, and parents in working with students, creating a positive school climate, and helping students develop a positive self-concept.
• Support management of positive behavior support systems and development of intervention strategies. Coordinate these efforts with Administration, teachers and families.
• Support and supervise behavior interventions including detention, in-school suspension, and reward systems, as necessary.
• Complete required documentation of student needs, interventions, and outcomes in accordance with established procedures and guidelines for documenting behavior.
• As necessary, assist in student crises with other members of the leadership team; provide proactive and reactive strategies that can be used before, during, and after escalating incidents; and engage in therapeutic opportunities in crisis situations that provide corrective experiences,
• Support the planning and creation of school-wide student culture events..
• Actively monitor students in a variety of educational environments (e.g. classroom, cafeteria, playground, school grounds, hallways, field trips, etc.) for the purpose of providing a safe and positive learning environment.
• Attend student, grade level, content level, and school meetings as assigned by administration or designee.
• Attend and actively participate in school professional development sessions as assigned by supervisor.
• Report incidents (e.g. fights, suspected child abuse, suspected substance abuse, harassment, violation of school policies, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining personal safety of students, providing a positive learning environment and adhering to school, local, state, and federal policies.
• Respond to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns and/or direct to appropriate personnel for resolution.
• Maintain positive, professional relationships with students, families, and colleagues
• Abide by all local, state and federal policies, regulations, and laws.
• Perform all other duties as assigned by administration.
• Complete duties as assigned which includes lunch duty, arrival, dismissal, and grade-band transitions.

QUALIFICATIONS

Ideal candidates will have the following education and experience:

• Demonstrated ability and passion to work with students and families from diverse backgrounds and special needs;
• Hold at least associate’s degree from an accredited college/university, OR; Completion of two years of full-time study (48-60 semester credit hours or 72 quarter credits) at an accredited college/university AND; At least one year of experience working with students with special needs and/or K-12 classroom support. A bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required
• Possess a commitment to educating students for academic achievement and empowering students to make healthy lifestyle choices;
• Believe in the capacity of every student for high academic achievement and a commitment to creating a highly structured, effective, and fun learning environment;
• Spanish language skills a plus.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Meridian teachers and staff are compensated competitively for their time and have opportunities to earn additional income through leadership opportunities at the school level, offering extracurricular clubs and sports for students, and facilitating tutoring programs. A Behavior Specialist's salary range is $50,000-$55,000.00.

HOW TO APPLY

Do you embody a love of learning? Do you believe in the importance of educating the whole child? Do you want to help Meridian continue to grow from good to great? Apply today!

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

Meridian Public Charter School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The School’s EEO policy prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sex, age, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Meridian PCS prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and will reasonably accommodate applicants with a disability, upon request, and will also ensure reasonable accommodation for employees with a disability. Under this policy, equal employment opportunity is required in recruitment, hiring, training and development, promotion, termination, compensation, benefits, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment as required by applicable law.