Behavior Support Specialist

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing, public charter schools providing an outstanding K-12 education in historically under-resourced communities. We have proudly built schools that reflect our student population, with more than 60% of our teachers and staff across our network identifying as a person of color. Uncommon currently manages 52 schools serving more than 20,000 students in six cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark and Rochester. We are proud that Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at five times the rate of their peers nationally. We achieve this by offering strong academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional learning that prepares students for success in college and beyond. 

The Behavior Support Specialist will work with the school’s leadership team to ensure that all students demonstrate dramatic student achievement gains and develop their character and social-emotional skills. This individual will also help lead the school’s efforts to create a positive, structured, consistent, caring, and disciplined school culture.

In addition to the duties set forth below, the Employee agrees that s/he will perform all the other duties that are assigned by his/her supervisors, the school’s Principal and the Principal’s designees, and/or the Board of Trustees, including, but not limited to:

Goals for the Behavior Support Specialist include but are not limited to:

• Model high expectations for student behavior and interactions.
• Support efforts of every student to succeed academically and behaviorally and graduate from college.
• Enforce expectations from the Code of Conduct
• Maintain a focused, serious, and efficient environment for the In-School Suspension program.
• Create and support systems that prevent misbehavior, as well as intervene and correct misbehaviors as they arise to prevent escalation.
• Collaborate with the DOS to develop plans for students with repeated struggles to meet expectations.
• Refer students to the Social Worker (via email and CC DOS) if/when reports are made that require SW intervention.
• Motivate and coach students to meet expectations by leveraging personal relationships while also maintaining strong professional boundaries and a clear line between adult and student.

Specific Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Manage the In-School Suspension classroom daily, including communicating with teachers, accepting and processing send-outs, addressing misconduct and communicating with families.
• Distribute and monitor work that students are completing during In-School Suspension.
• Collecting work for students with Out of School Suspensions and manage the pick-up/delivery with students.
• Manage Lunch Detention.
• Manage Early-Release Program for Detention based on Kickboard.
• Manage Extended Detention Notifications.
• Assist DOS when no students are in ISS.
• Meet weekly with DOS for feedback, goal-setting, coaching/practice, collaboration and problem-solving of discipline issues and concerns.
• Utilize Kickboard and Microsoft Excel to manage behavioral data of students.

• Passionate commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools and investment in our vision for being an anti-racist organization.
• Unwavering belief in high academic and behavioral expectations for all students.
• Exceptional time and task management skills.
• Ability to persevere despite uncertainty and unexpected obstacles.
• Relentless drive to empower students academically and personally.
• Self-motivation, desire to be a great teammate, and a strong sense of personal responsibility.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and strong interpersonal skills with students, parents, colleagues, and community members.
• Ability and desire to implement feedback from school leaders and colleagues. 
• Required Experience:
  • Bachelor’s degree is required

Our people are what makes us Uncommon.  We believe our compensation philosophy and benefits should reflect our values—equity, transparency, and clarity—to enhance our ability to attract and retain talent and reward their expertise.  Our staff receive best-in-class training, coaching, and support to develop and operate mission-driven schools that provide a high-quality education to our students and families.

Compensation for this position: Most candidates who meet job description requirements will receive an offer of $19.19-$20.76 per hour. The starting compensation for this role is between $19.19 per hour to $24.80 per hour. The starting pay will depend on various factors including but not limited to relevant professional experience, education, certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools. To receive an offer at the top of the range, candidates will need significant experience in a directly aligned role.  Because we value staff tenure in a role, we do not currently cap salary ranges for current staff members. 

Other Benefits:

• Generous paid time off inclusive of sick time and school breaks (spring, winter, and summer) + additional sustainability half days throughout the school year
• Extensive, best-in-class training and development  
• Choice of 3 comprehensive health insurance plans
• Pre-tax flexible spending and health saving accounts
• Financial planning & wellness
  • 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
  • 529 college savings program
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness application assistance
  • Financial  planning tools and assistance
• Dependent Care FSA, back up childcare and daycare discounts
• Paid leave of absence 
  • Fully paid parental leave
  • Fully paid medical leave
  • Additional paid Short Term and Long Term Disability insurance 
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building an exceptional team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. We also strive to ensure an inclusive community by creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email [email protected].