This is a 1.0 FTE grant funded position. This position is a non-administrative district level position staffed during the regular staffing process. The specific assignment/building are determined annually and ongoing renewal is based on funding availability.

Start Date: 8/12/2024

Work Schedule: 186 days per school year (prorated depending on start date)

Salary: MCEA Salary Schedule - minimum starting salary of 45,718; please inquire re: possible maximum salary via email: brutynjm@midlandps.org

Position Description:

The Student Support Specialist (SSS) will coordinate and provide integrated student support at the school and district level. The SSS is responsible for providing direct mental health therapy, social-emotional, behavioral, and wellbeing student services and supports, as well as further developing partnerships internally and externally, and supporting the enhancement of the multi-tiered system of supports to address the needs of the whole child (cognitive, physical, behavioral, social, emotional) in an efficient and effective manner.

Job Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Guide and provide services, supports, and interventions to identified students individually, in small groups, and within classrooms based on need
• Collaborate with school-based and district level teams to develop systems and identify student needs, set goals, plan evidence-based interventions, provide services, and progress monitor
• Support district and school-wide implementation of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports, with a primary focus on Tiers 2 and 3, and utilize and promote data-based decision making to adjust both universal and individualized programming and supports as needed
• Communicate with parents/guardians as necessary and provide parent coaching and learning opportunities
• Collaborate with external agencies to support student needs and continue to develop external partnerships and connect families with services
• Regularly and systematically collect, enter, and report student data; and use data to inform decisions that support whole child learner outcomes individually, school-wide, and district-wide 
• Be a part of the district and school-based initiatives focused on desired outcomes including alignment to the school and district improvement plan and service to the MPS Inclusion & Diversity and Social-Emotional Learning team
• Engage in ongoing professional learning

Qualifications:

The SSS must have successful experience providing student behavioral, social-emotional, mental health, and wellbeing services, supports, and interventions. A qualified SSS will have demonstrated a consistent record of excellence and exemplary knowledge of evidence-based interventions, aspects of the whole child framework, trauma-informed practices, restorative practices, a multi-tiered system of supports, and behavioral intervention.

Requirements:

One of the following:

• Licensed master’s level social worker
• Limited licensed master’s level social worker
• Licensed master’s level professional counselor
• Licensed master’s level school social worker
• Limited licensed master’s level school social worker
• Licensed master’s level psychologist
• MDE credentialed master’s level School Psychologist
• Board certified behavior analyst (BCBA)

Expectations of a Student Support Specialist:

• Exhibit strong communication skills and engage individuals and teams to build collaborative relationships; including community partners
• Maintain communication and collaboration with school staff, administrators, and MTSS Coordinator in order to achieve desired student outcomes
• Ability to implement and provide mental health therapy and interventions to support student success
• Support the use of data-driven decision making
• Possess specialized knowledge and skills to appropriately identify, assess, and provide intervention to students
• Willingness to engage in ongoing learning and adapt for alignment to evidence based practices
• Have an outcomes-driven approach and objectively analyzing systems, infrastructure, and individuals in the spirit of feedback and continuous improvement
• Exhibit strong organizational and time management skills
• Maintain all required documentation in a timely manner including required Medicaid documentation
• Follow all legal and ethical requirements and guidelines and maintain the highest level of confidentiality