Character Specialist: Uplift Grand Primary School

Mission Statement:
Uplift's mission is to create and sustain public schools of excellence that empower each student to reach their highest potential in college and the global marketplace and that inspire in students a life-long love of learning, achievement, and service in order to positively change their world.

Primary Purpose:
The purpose of the Character Specialist is to provide support to campus personnel and scholars regarding scholars' emotional intelligence, character, and conduct at their assigned Uplift Education school. This role requires deep content expertise in promoting positive student conduct by implementing research-based intervention strategies within the Network's Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) including, Response to Intervention (RTI), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and Restorative Practices. The Character Specialist coordinates and provides direct TIER I – TIER III behavioral intervention, support, and de-escalation and leads Level II & Level III conduct investigations for students with challenging or complex conduct in general education.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Coordinates, develops, and maintains scholar conduct management programs and systems, anchored in Character Education, Restorative Practices, SEL, Classroom Management, and research-based intervention programs. Analyzes data and trends, collaborates with campus leadership on school culture and provides staff training.
• Participates in the Student Support Team (SST) at assigned school through a Response to Intervention model.
• Assists with the development and implements Network Multitiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) to provide effective conduct interventions at assigned school.
• Serves as case manager for scholars facing significant conduct challenges in general education. Coordinates care and programming with other key stakeholders and staff, including parents, teachers, school leaders, counselors, health services staff and other faculty.
• Serves as Character Development and Conduct Specialists champion for assigned school and facilitates character education, conduct investigations, restorative practices, while also coaching all stakeholders on restorative techniques and character development.
• Consults with school staff on designing and implementing scholar support plans and provides coaching on implementing these plans in the classroom environment.
• Assists scholars with reflection time anchored in a restorative practices and social-emotional learning perspective, allowing students the opportunity to repair harm they may have caused to the school culture, environment, or relationships.
• Facilitates positive re-entry meetings with scholars, family, and school staff.
• Monitors the effectiveness of scholar support plans and SST process and makes suggestions as necessary.
• Analyzes school discipline data and uses it to drive effective responses to intervention strategies and tiered supports for all scholars.
• Interprets and disseminates information from Uplift Education's Central Management Office related to State and Federal law, and Board Policy, as it pertains to the Code of Character, Conduct and Support and behavior intervention.
• Provides support and professional development to assigned school and community with respect to issues related to student behavior, character development, and campus culture.
• Consults with the school leadership team on providing proactive and reactive scholar conduct management strategies in accordance with the Uplift Education Code of Character, Conduct, and Support. Maintains consistent and thorough scholar contact/intervention documentation utilizing the network data system(s).
• Attends ARD/IEP meetings for students with, or in need of, a behavior intervention plan when requested.
• Attends all CMO directed professional development sessions and meetings in-person or virtual.
• Leads Level 2 and Level 3 investigations and provides the leadership team with suggestions on interventions/consequences based on the findings of the investigation.
• In charge of completing PEIMS forms to maintain State Reporting compliance.

Other Responsibilities:

• Performs other duties as assigned within contract hours.
• Collaborates with peers, teachers, non-instructional staff, and campus leadership.
• Actively participates as a member of the school leadership/support team.
• Complies with all network and campus routines, board policies and federal and state laws.
• Demonstrates and models professional demeanor, resourcefulness, and effective communication strategies with diverse groups.
• Works independently without day-to-day supervision, maintaining regular and punctual attendance in the workplace.
• May be asked by CMO leadership to provide network assistance outside of assigned campus.

Education, Experience, and/or Certification(s)

• Education Requirements: Bachelor's degree required, concentration in a related field of study, Social Work, Counseling, Criminal Justice, Sociology, or Psychology preferred.
• Experience Requirements: Required professional experience includes a deep knowledge of mental health techniques, behavior intervention, skills development, and a belief in the effectiveness of Restorative Practices, SEL, Character Development, and evidence-based intervention techniques. Required three years of classroom experience as a teacher of record.
• Certification Requirements:  Must be a certified teacher in Texas or be in an accredited teacher preparation program to achieve certification within one year of hire.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Communication Skills: Candidates must demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills; have the ability to remain calm and clear in communication while dealing with adversity and stress on the job; and be able to create and generate high-quality strategic reports and progress reports.
• Bilingual Skills: Fluency in Spanish is preferred.
• Technology: Candidates must be fluent in the Microsoft Office suite of tools and other technology applications required for this role.

 
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or listen. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and use stairs. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Employee must be able to travel to multiple school locations within the DFW area in one workday. Employee must be able to maneuver within a school building and inside a crowded classroom. Employee may be required to work outside during inclement weather for brief periods of time.
 
Work Environment: 
The environment requires close proximity to other employees, frequent interruptions, and extended periods of time viewing a computer screen, and noise levels from moderate to high. There may be activity from other employees and students of distracting nature.  The role will require occasional travel to school sites and other locations; current driver's license and reliable transportation required.

Starting Salary: $60,000

Application Procedure:
Apply online
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Uplift Education is an equal employment opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state or local law.