Autism Specialist

Specialist

**Job ID**: 4999

**Reports To**:Director, Special Programs

**Salary**:This is a full-time, 12 month position at 232 days with an annual salary range of $78,237.00 to $95,456.00. This is a grant funded position and continued employment is contingent upon grant renewal.

**Job Summary (Primary Purpose)**:

- Support Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and the State Autism Network through the coordination of data analysis and implementation of targeted research-based strategies that will have an immediate impact for serving students with autism.
- Provide assessment, technical assistance, curriculum design, professional development to LEA's focused on advanced behavior support, trauma informed care, research-based interventions, academic achievement, critical thinking, mental health, and physical wellbeing.

**Required Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, & Education/Certificates)**:

- Master's degree
- Special Education teaching certificate or license
- Board Certified Applied Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
- Three years teaching students with autism, conducting Functional Behavior Assessments, and writing Behavior Intervention Plans in a school setting
- Five years leadership position(s) related to programming for students with autism, supervising staff in conducting Functional Behavior Assessments, and writing Behavior Intervention Plans in a school setting

**Preferred Qualifications (years of experience, education, certifications)**:

- Certification in Psychological First-Aid, Behavioral Threat Assessment and AS+K Suicide Prevention
- Multi-lingual

**Special Knowledge and Skills**:

- Specialized training in behavior and behavior coaching in schools
- Advanced behavioral curriculum design to support adult learning and implementation
- Experience leading collaborative teams and facilitating adults
- Experience developing and providing professional development
- Knowledge of best practices in early childhood behavioral intervention
- Experience in program development based on analyzing data effectively to inform necessary change
- Successful experience in effective written and verbal communication, collaboration, and learning from multiple sources paired with the ability to reflect strong leadership capacity
- Demonstrated ability to design, implement and ensure the delivery of products or services
- Effective job-related skills that model the integration of technology resources and tools
- Demonstrated ability to align programs to support high achievement for students with autism
- Demonstrated ability to develop and manage the implementation of complex, multi-phase plans
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in written and oral forms
- Demonstrated effective interpersonal and collaboration skills with both internal and external clients.

**Major Job Responsibilities/Essential Functions**:

- Engage in professional development to maintain knowledge and skills in area of autism
- Assist with planning and implementation of ongoing needs assessment and services for Region 13 LEAs
- Working with LEA special educators and campus leaders; increase the knowledge, skills, and motivation of LEA teams to analyze data relevant to students with autism; identify areas for improvement; reflect critically on end-user input, root causes and potential solutions; create a plan for improvement that includes sustainability of progress; and maintain a cadence of internal accountability
- Provide technical assistance and services as specified by any applicable federal grant that funds this position
- Model instructional practices and student research-based interventions
- Coach others in the implementation of best practices and research-based interventions
- Participate in developing communication networks between Region 13 customer district personnel
- Assist in planning and developing special project activities, e.g., grant proposals, interdepartmental services, demonstration sites, research studies, and other customer-based projects
- Participate as a member of the Region 13 Special Programs Department in analyzing data for all local education agencies within the region related to special education, inclusive of significant dis-proportionality
- Collaborate and actively participate with ESC Region 13 teams across departments and divisions to improve student performance and to meet the established goals and objectives of ESC Region 13 and TEA
- Participate in state level functions related to area(s) of autism
- Serve as a representative of ESC Region 13, displaying courtesy, tact, consideration, and discretion in all interactions with other members of the educational community and with the public
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Director, Academic Services and/or the Executive Director

**Budget Responsibilities**:

- General awareness of department budget and impact
- Responsible for generating funds to partially support the position

**Working Conditions (Physical/Mental Demands & Environmental Fact