Assistant: Student Advocate - Arundel Middle - Anne Arundel County Public school

JOB SUMMARY
Performs school-based duties supporting the goal of maintaining a safe and orderly environment. Assists the administration, guidance, and teaching staff with student-teacher and student-student conflicts. Work involves engaging students outside classrooms and being alert to the climate and tenor of the school in order to serve as an early signal to school administration regarding student discipline and school safety. Monitors student activities and intervenes as appropriate to deescalate student disruptions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists teachers and the administration in maintaining the flow of traffic in the building. Monitors all areas outside the classroom where students tend to congregate, including hallways, bathrooms, cafeteria (breakfasts and lunches), parking lots, and outside areas. Monitors entrances and exits, as directed. Monitors students during school via cameras and computers, as directed. Supports a safe school environment by monitoring hot spots in the community.
• Participates in behavior modification activities for students, as directed. Escorts students to and from classrooms, as directed. Assists students to regain their self-control and helps them to transition from classrooms to office and back as necessary. Uses Intervention techniques to help students deescalate, including non-violent crisis intervention. Seeks assistance, when necessary, if student behavior becomes violent or disruptive. Conducts after school administrative detentions, Saturday School, and other alternative to suspension programs, as requested.
• Communicates with student families through conferences and phone calls, as directed. Serves as contact for student and parent referrals. Liaison between parents and the community and school.
• Assists the administration in gathering information for investigations. Assists the administration when responding to teachers requesting assistance with students in need. Ensures that all required forms and procedures are completed and that adequate records are maintained on students.
• Participates in planning activities with other staff.
• Assists at athletic events, as assigned hours.
• Supports the schools Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) programs by knowing and enforcing the rules of behaviors outside the classroom and providing positive rewards when students behave appropriately.
• Mentors a caseload of students and monitors grades and attendance of identified students, as directed. Monitors peer mediations, as directed. Monitors improvements in student performance and provides positive feedback. Supports students in adhering to the Code of Student Conduct, including the dress code, athletic events, cell phone policy, and anti-bullying/harassment policies. Supports the school attendance goals by calling identified students when absent and assisting students when tardy.
• Serves on the County Crisis Team in order to assist other schools that might have a student crisis/disruption, as directed.
• Participates in on-going professional development and training.
• Performs other related duties as assigned within the same classification or lower.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education

• High School Diploma or Equivalency Certificate required.

Experience

• None

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

• Ability to develop rapport with young people.
• Skill in deescalating aggressive behaviors.
• Ability to exercise considerable patience, courtesy, tack, and good judgment in working with students, teachers, administrators, fellow employees and parents.
• Prefer training and/or experience working with youth.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work and communicate with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated proficiency with business technology applications (e.g. Video/Web Conferencing, Microsoft Office Suite -Word, Excel, Outlook, and/or PowerPoint preferred). For new permanent secretarial/clerical/technician hires, a minimum score on a pre-employment assessment is required.

Licenses and Certifications
Employee must retain active licenses, certifications, and enrollment as a condition of employment.

• Hold or be eligible for Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certification issued by AACPS/Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) preferred; or
• Hold or be eligible for Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) Certification issued by Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc preferred.

Driving Requirements

• N/A

CAREER LADDER REQUIREMENTS

Qualification Requirements for Employment in Higher Grade as a New Hire or Transfer requires:

• Two (2) additional years successful experience required.
• Achievement of Registered Behavior Technician Certification or Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certification required.

Eligibility for Consideration for Advancement from Lower Grade to Higher Grade requires:

• Two (2) years continuous successful experience in the position at the Lower Grade level.
• Mastery of all responsibilities and duties of the position.
• Achievement of Professional Certification, License or evidence of course completion in pursuit of such certification or license, if applicable.
• Evidence of completion of additional training that may be recommended by supervisor and/or participation in approved professional development programs or courses, approved in advance by the supervisor. Successful completion of a minimum of one professional development within the last two years is required. Successful completion of job specific professional developments identified on the job description, performance evaluations and/or the supervisor’s documented recommendation are required.
• Achievement of identified goals as they relate to the needs of the district and as established by the supervisor.
• Consistent maintenance of an effective and orderly work environment.
• Consistent compliance with general office procedures such as standards contained in the AACPS Employee Handbook; demonstration of discretion and excellent customer service; regular and punctual attendance; and building dress code, including wearing AACPS ID badge.
• Above Satisfactory overall job performance for the two most recent consecutive years of Performance Ratings.
• Letter of Recommendation written by the supervisor.

Additional Requirements for Advancement from Lower Grade to Higher Grade requires:

• Achievement of Registered Behavior Technician Certification or Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certification required.

LEADERSHIP ROLE

• N/A

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS
The physical demands and working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

• Standing: between 1/3 and 2/3 percent of the time
• Walking: between 1/3 and 2/3 percent of the time
• Sitting: under 1/3 percent of the time
• Keyboarding: between 1/3 and 2/3 percent of the time
• Talking: between 1/3 and 2/3 percent of the time
• Hearing: between 1/3 and 2/3 percent of the time
• As required by the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Vision
The vision demands with correction described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• No special vision requirements

Work Environment
Location

• Office, school or similar indoor environment: over 2/3 percent of the time

Noise Level

• Moderate: between 1/3 and 2/3 percent of the time

Weight & Force
Lifting and carrying requirements

• None:

Travel Requirements

• N/A

JOB INFORMATION

ORGANIZATION

HR JOB INFORMATION