Middle School Student Support Specialist (1.0 FTE)

Job Posting: Middle School Student Support Specialist

Organization: Rockford Area Schools           Department: RMS-CES      

 Position: Student Support Specialist            Reports to: Middle School Principal

About Us:  Rockford Area Schools is committed to providing a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment for all students. We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Middle School Student Support Specialist to join our team and make a positive impact on the lives of our students.

Job Summary:

The Middle School Student Support Specialist is responsible for providing academic and behavioral support to middle school students, with a particular focus on students with special education needs and at-risk populations. This role requires a strong understanding of behavior management, de-escalation techniques, restorative practices, positive behavior supports, behavior intervention planning, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). The ideal candidate will have experience working with special education and/or at-risk populations and be able to effectively communicate with students, teachers, and parents.

Key Responsibilities:
Provide direct support to students with special education needs and at-risk populations.
Assist with the resolution of student conflicts, including lower-level bullying and other behavioral issues.
Develop and implement individualized behavior intervention plans (BIPs) to address specific student needs.
Provide academic support to students as needed.
Develop and implement interventions to improve student behavior, attendance, and achievement and share the plan with all stakeholders.
Analyze data to identify areas where students need additional support.
Collaborate with teachers, administrators, and other school staff to provide comprehensive support to students.
Communicate effectively with parents and guardians about student progress and concerns.
Supervise and coach school staff in implementing effective classroom management strategies.
Develop and implement systems to promote positive behavior in school common areas.
Collaborate with school administrators to create a positive and supportive school culture.

Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, or a related field
Experience working with special education and at-risk populations
Strong understanding of de-escalation techniques, restorative practices, positive behavior supports, and MTSS
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to work effectively with students from diverse backgrounds
Strong organizational and time management skills
Ability to think flexibly and adapt to address student needs and respond calmly during crisis situations.

Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s degree in education or a related field
Certification in special education or behavior analysis
Experience with data analysis and intervention development

Physical Requirements:
Frequently requires exertion of up to 10 pounds of force, standing, speaking, hearing, sitting, walking, lifting and repetitive motions.
Occasionally requires exertion of up to 50 pounds of force, stopping, kneeling, running, crawling and crouching.

Contact Information
Paul Warzecha, Principal
Rockford Middle School
paul.warzecha@rockford883.org

$45,093 – $92,423 dependent on qualifications

Benefits:

Bargaining Unit:  Education Minnesota – Rockford , Master Agreement – Rockford
Medical

• Single Coverage – District pays $740 toward premium 

• Family Coverage – District pays $1400 toward premium 

• District contributes $1,000 into HSA – if enrolled in high deductible plan

Dental:  Single coverage – District pays sum that covers premium for employee only

Life Insurance:  District provides $60,000 of life insurance at no cost, employee may purchase supplemental life insurance

Long Term Disability:  District provided at no cost to the employee

Flexible Spending Acct:  Employees may elect to contribute on a pre-tax basis to Health Flexible Spending Accounts and Dependent Care Accounts

Retirement:

• The District contributes 7.25% of your total salary in the Teachers Retirement Association pension plan

• Employees may also elect to participate in Deferred Compensation Plan once continuing rights granted

Title IX
Rockford Area Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any educational program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX, including employment.
All Title IX reports and concerns should be directed to the Superintendent of Schools
More information can be found athttps://www.rockford883.org/district/departments/human-resources/title-ix

Rockford Area Schools A Tradition of Excellence, One Student at a Time!