Behavior Support Specialist - Mesa Center for Success 2026-2027

• Forbes names Mesa Public Schools in their list of Best Employers for multiple years.
• East Valley Tribune names Mesa Public Schools as Best Place to Work in East Valley for multiple years.  

Job Summary:

The position will work intensively with students in a specialized school designed to support them with significant emotional disabilities. The position will provide direct behavioral interventions, crisis intervention, and support to students while facilitating staff training initiatives, including the implementation of the ASPEN training model.

Key Responsibilities:

Behavioral Interventions and Support

• Provides direct behavior support to students, implementing individualized behavior intervention plans (BIPs) and monitoring their effectiveness
• De-escalates dysregulated students using approved crisis intervention techniques, ensuring student safety and minimizing classroom disruptions
• Works closely with classroom teachers and support staff to model and coach appropriate behavioral interventions
• Collaborates with mental health professionals (social workers and school psychologist) to assess and adapt behavioral strategies for students as needed

Crisis Intervention and Student De-escalation

• Responds to behavioral crisis promptly, implementing appropriate intervention strategies to de-escalate students and maintain a safe environment
• Supports staff in handling student behavioral challenges, ensuring that school-wide safety protocols are consistently followed
• Maintains detailed records of student incidents and interventions for data tracking and progress monitoring

ASPEN Training and Staff Professional Development

• Facilitates and trains ASPEN training for staff, focusing on building staff capacity to manage students with emotional and behavioral challenges
• Provides ongoing professional development for staff in behavior management, trauma-informed practices, and de-escalation techniques

Monitoring and Progress Tracking

• Maintains behavioral progress tracking systems to monitor student improvement and the effectiveness of interventions
• Uses data-driven analysis to evaluate student progress on behavioral goals and makes recommended adjustments to intervention strategies to school leadership and teachers
• Regularly participates in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings to provide behavioral insights and input into student goals and plans

Collaborative Leadership and Communication

• Coordinates behavioral support across classrooms and with the broader school community
• Collaborates with administrators, teachers, counselors, and parents to address student needs and develop comprehensive support plans

School-wide Positive Behavior Support

• Assists in the development and implementation of a school-wide positive behavior support system, promoting a safe, structured, and supportive learning environment
• Assists with efforts to ensure that behavioral expectations are clear, consistent, and reinforced throughout the school

Other Duties as Assigned

• Participates in school improvement initiatives and district-level behavioral leadership meetings
• Performs other related duties as required, ensuring the school’s behavioral support framework is cohesive and effective

Required Qualifications: 

• High School diploma or GED required 
• Minimum of 3 years of experience working with students with significant emotional and behavioral disabilities in a school setting
• Experience in applying behavior intervention techniques and crisis management

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Associate’s degree

Skills & Competencies:

• Handling crisis situations with calmness and professionalism
• Ability to build relationships with students and staff
• Fostering a positive, structured, and supportive learning environment for students with emotional disabilities
• Promoting behavioral growth and academic success across the campus
• Strong data analysis skills for progress monitoring and evaluation
• Ability to lead staff training and professional development
• Expertise in behavior management and de-escalation techniques
• Collaborative teamwork to create a safe, supportive learning environment
• Strong analytical abilities and problem-solving skills
• Experience leading cross-function teams in a dynamic environment
• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of computer
• Ability to communicate, both verbally and in writing, clearly and effectively for all levels and types of audiences (technical and non-technical)
• Capacity to work cooperatively with teachers, administrators and other employee groups in an educational setting
• Strong leadership skills with a self-starter attitude and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

• Spends significant time in classrooms, hallways, and other areas monitoring and supporting students
• Frequent face-to-face interactions with students, educators, and families
• May encounter high-stress scenarios, including managing behavioral crises or de-escalating conflicts
• Work is primarily on-site at schools 
• Constant movement between classrooms
• Responding quickly to incidents, emergencies, or behavioral issues
• May deal with confrontations, disciplinary issues, or safety threats
• Requires maintaining composure and professionalism under pressure
• Patrolling large campuses or responding to incidents
• Occasionally lifting or restraining students (if trained and necessary) up to 100 lbs

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: 

Mesa Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination. The District strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Applicants and employees may contact Human Resources to request reasonable accommodations needed to perform the essential functions of this position.