Classroom Therapist II Job – Friendship Academy

Posted on July 6, 2026

The Watson Institute is hiring a full-time Classroom Therapist at Friendship Academy, a special education school for children ages 5 to 21 located 4 miles east of Pittsburgh, PA. This position will work Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

We are currently hiring for the 2026-2027 school year!

Learn more about what it’s like to work at the Watson Institute!

Employment Type: Full-time

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

255 S. Negley Avenue | Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Classroom Therapist Job Responsibilities

The Classroom Therapist II is responsible for overall management of the classroom milieu and is also responsible for assisting and implementing the academic program.

• Offer tutorial assistance in academics
• Model how to follow the teacher’s directions
• Model communication skills by providing clear directives and appropriate voice tone
• Maintain emotional control in the face of stressful situations and request help when needed
• Assist in transitioning students to the appropriate classroom
• Escort students to the bathroom and monitors the student until they return to the class
• Is cognizant of the whereabouts of students assigned to the classroom at all times and requests help as needed from the crisis desk
• Complete late cab duty as scheduled
  
  

The Classroom Therapist II is responsible for implementation of the school-wide behavioral support system (Watson Financial) and monitoring of student goals.

• Collect and record behavioral data on each student daily.
• Complete progress notes on a daily basis prior to the start of the next school day
• Give feedback to the students on areas of strength and needed improvement.
• Evaluate the communication skills and behavioral strengths and weaknesses of a new student and participates in the development of a Functional Behavioral Assessment, Behavior Intervention Plan and/or Individual Behavior Contracts for identified students.
• Communicate changes in the Behavioral Intervention Plan, Treatment Plan, and Behavior Support System to team members
  
  

The Classroom Therapist II is an active member of the mental health team and participates in regularly scheduled treatment team meetings.

• Attends treatment team and is prepared with hard data from progress notes, behavior plans, and the behavioral support systems
• Complete progress notes daily that document clinical interventions as prescribed in the treatment plan
• Continually collaborates with the social worker providing feedback on the effectiveness of treatment interventions
• Participates in the development of the treatment plan
• Responsible for documentation of time-outs and behavior reports
  
  

The Classroom Therapist II is responsible for the safety of the group.

• Requests help as needed from the support and/or clinical staff
• Maintains the environment and reports potential safety issues
  
  

Performs other duties pertinent to the job as directed by the Program Supervisor.

• Responsible for reviewing e-mail on a daily basis
• Requisition supplies for program activities
• Maintenance of a positive physical environment in the classrooms
  
  

Other duties as assigned

Classroom Therapist Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling, Sociology, Social Work, Psychology or a very closely related field is required
• Related work experience is strongly preferred
• The essential functions of the job described require the ability to exert moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of bending, stooping, squatting, reaching, kneeling, crouching and brisk walking, and which may involve lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and material of moderate weight (40 pounds)
• Ability to use the strategies of Comprehensive Crisis Management and Ukeru to physically support students for their safety and the safety of others.
• Current Act 34, 114 and 151 clearances required
• Pre-employment medical examination, including a tuberculosis test required
  
  

Job Benefits

• Access to Tuition Reimbursement to pursue further education and advanced degrees.
• Qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
• Ongoing professional development through continued education opportunities, training, and direct staff support
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage, and additional voluntary benefits
• 403b retirement plan with employer contributions and match after 1 year of employment
  
  

Apply Now!