Behavioral Support Specialist- Educational Support Professional- Nahant, MA

Johnson Elementary School- Nahant, MA

.48 Part-Time Behavior Support Specialist (Educational Support Professional)

Johnson Elementary School is seeking a compassionate, collaborative, and proactive Behavior Support Specialist (Educational Support Professional) to join our dedicated team. This is a part-time position designed to support students'' behavioral, social-emotional, and self-regulation needs while fostering inclusive learning environments.

At Johnson Elementary, we believe every child can succeed when provided with the right supports. This ESP supports as a Behavior Support Specialist playing an important role in implementing positive behavioral interventions, helping students develop self-regulation skills, and collaborating with educators to create safe, supportive, and engaging classrooms.

This position is ideal for individuals pursuing careers in education, psychology, applied behavior analysis (ABA), counseling, social work, or special education and offers valuable experience working within a collaborative elementary school setting.

Responsibilities

The Behavior Support Specialist will:

• Provide direct behavioral and social-emotional support to students individually and in small groups.
• Implement positive behavior supports and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) under the direction of school administration and the special education team.
• Assist students in developing self-regulation, coping, problem-solving, and social skills using evidence-based practices.
• Support students during transitions, classroom instruction, lunch, recess, and other school activities as needed.
• Assist students in utilizing the school''s regulation space appropriately and proactively.
• Collect behavioral data and document observations to support student progress monitoring and IEP implementation.
• Collaborate with classroom teachers, special educators, related service providers, and administrators to ensure consistent implementation of behavioral supports.
• Reinforce the school''s PBIS expectations of Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible.
• Utilize trauma-informed, restorative, and strengths-based approaches when supporting students.
• Assist in de-escalating challenging situations while maintaining student dignity and safety.
• Participate in professional development and required trainings, including Safety Care or comparable behavioral crisis prevention training.
• Maintain confidentiality and demonstrate professionalism in all interactions with students, families, and staff.
• Coordinate and oversee the Johnson School Regulation Space ("Zen Den"), ensuring the environment is used safely, consistently, and in accordance with school procedures to support student self-regulation, emotional well-being, and successful return to learning.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Principal.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience working with children in educational, childcare, therapeutic, or recreational settings.
• Demonstrated ability to build positive relationships with students.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.
• Ability to remain calm, patient, and solution-focused while supporting students with varying behavioral and emotional needs.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including supporting students safely during behavioral escalation when necessary.
• Safety Care, CPI, or comparable behavioral support training (must be willing to complete this training if you aren't already certified).
• Successful completion of all required background checks - CORI and Fingerprinting

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate''s or Bachelor''s degree in Education, Psychology, Special Education, Social Work, Applied Behavior Analysis, Human Services, or a related field.
• Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification or willingness to obtain certification within a year.
• Experience implementing behavior intervention strategies or working with students with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, emotional disabilities, or other diverse learning needs.
• Knowledge of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), trauma-informed practices, restorative practices, and social-emotional learning.

Why Johnson Elementary School?

Johnson Elementary School is a small, close-knit learning community where relationships matter. Our educators work collaboratively to ensure every student feels safe, valued, and successful. The Behavior Support Specialist will be an integral member of a dedicated team committed to inclusive practices, positive school culture, and student well-being.

This is a part-time position .48 (approx 19 hours a week) with compensation in accordance with the Educational Support Professional collective bargaining agreement. This position is equivalent on the payscale to all ESP skilled positions. There are no health benefits with this position.