Board Certified Behavior Analyst - Special Education

• Forbes named Mesa Public Schools in their list of 2024 Best Employers in Arizona.
• East Valley Tribune names Mesa Public Schools as Best Place to Work in East Valley for multiple years.

Job Summary:

The Board Certified Behavior Analyst provides consultation to special education teams for behavioral, environmental, and instructional support to develop strategies and interventions to maximize student achievement in the least restrictive environment. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Conducting functional behavior assessments (FBA) to identify the causes and functions of challenging behaviors
• Developing and administering skills assessments to evaluate clients’ current abilities as well as monitoring progress and adjusting interventions as needed
• Designing individualized ABA treatment plans tailored to the needs of clients, often in areas such as communication, social skills, daily living skills, and behavior reduction
• Ensuring programs are aligned with evidence-based practices and ethical standards
• Training and supervising Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), paraprofessionals, or other team members in the delivery of ABA interviews
• Establishing systems for accurate data collection and analyzation skills to measure behavior changes
• Educating and training caregivers, family members, and other support systems to generalize skills across settings
• Adhering to the Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts established the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)
• Assists with other assigned duties as appropriate to the area of assignment and Mesa Public Schools

Required Qualifications: 

• Graduate degree (master’s or doctoral) in: Behavior analysis, education, psychology
• Special Education certificate
• BCBA approved course sequence in applied behavior analysis
• Minimum five years of successful classroom teaching experience
• Working knowledge and experience of district, state, and federal special education rules, regulations and procedures
• Supervised fieldwork

Skills & Competencies:

• Models the attributes and skills of the MPS Portrait of a Graduate
• Demonstrates commitment to the MPS Promise that every student is known by name, served by strength and need, and graduates ready for college, career and community
• Strong understanding of ABA principles, methods, and techniques as well as knowledge of reinforcement systems, data collection, and analysis
• Conducting Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) to identify the causes of challenging behaviors
• Progress monitoring to evaluate intervention effectiveness and modify as needed
• Knowledge of state and federal laws related to special education (IDEA, Section 504, IEPs, and BIPs)
• Effectively explaining ABA principles to diverse audiences, including educators, parents, and administrators
• Balancing caseloads and managing multiple tasks in a dynamic school environment
• Advising school leadership on best practices for behavior management

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

• Primarily based on one or more school campuses, including special education and general education classrooms
• May involve travel between multiple schools within the district
• Participate in team meetings, Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, and staff training sessions.
• May encounter emotionally charged environments due to student outbursts, conflicts, or high stakes problem-solving
• Work during school hours, with occasional after-school or evening meetings or training sessions.
• May experience a fast-paced environment with frequent changes based on student or school needs.
• Frequently move throughout school buildings and grounds, including walking, standing, bending, or crouching.
• Ability to lift and carry materials or equipment up to 20-30 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.