Boone Community School District's mission is to foster academic and extracurricular excellence through the Portrait of a Graduate pillars. We are committed to providing every student with rigorous and enriching educational opportunities within a safe, supportive, and collaborative environment. Our goal is to nurture the development of productive, caring, and engaged citizens who are equipped to thrive in a dynamic world. We are not only committed to being an equal opportunity employer, but also actively strives to create a diverse workforce that reflects the demographics of its students and community, prioritizing a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills within its teams. Expect the BEST...Achieve SUCCESS!
Title: Social-Emotional Learning Specialist
Reports To: Building Principal
Work Year: 187 Days
Pay: $25.00 per hour
Pay Period: Direct Deposit on the last day of the month
Position Summary
We are looking for a patient, high-energy, and empathetic SEL Specialist to join our PreK1st grade team. In this role, you will help at-risk students towards achievement of successful classroom participation.
Your mission is to facilitate, model, teach, and reinforce the foundational social skills that allow students to thrive.
Key Responsibilities
1. Targeted Small-Group Intervention
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Identify and facilitate small-group sessions for students with "lagging skills," focusing on conflict resolution, confidence-building, and cooperative play.
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Coach students on practical "in-the-moment" strategies, such as how to take an appropriate break, join a peer group, or share materials.
2. Collaboration & Support
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Collaboration: Support student success and consistent systems for behavior intervention.
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Team Participation: Actively participate in school-based support teams (e.g., MTSS) to identify and address student needs.
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Intentional Co-regulation: Serve as a calm, grounded presence for students navigating "big emotions" or the fallout of significant life events, helping them return to a state of safety and readiness.
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Skilled Response: Apply trauma-informed techniques to de-escalate crises, ensuring safety and dignity.
3. Whole-Group SEL Instruction
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Co-design and deliver engaging, age-appropriate lessons to PreK, Kindergarten, and 1st-grade classrooms. Working closely with instructional and behavioral coaches to design instruction and response to students.
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Teach core competencies, including self-awareness, self-control, and emotional regulation through storytelling, role-playing, and hands-on activities.
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Support the implementation and integration of the CharacterStrong curriculum.
4. Modeling & Integration
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Push into classrooms to model SEL techniques for both students and staff, demonstrating how to de-escalate "big emotions" in real-time.
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Promote a school-wide culture of positive self-talk and a growth mindset.
Qualifications & Requirements
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Education: Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Child, Adult, and Family Services, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field. (Transcripts required for evaluation)
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Technical Skills: Proficiency in word processing and digital record-keeping; strong oral and written communication skills.
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Expertise: Preferred experience
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teaching co-regulation strategies
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working with at-risk youth or early childhood populations in a behavioral or educational capacity
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coordinating with outside agencies to connect students and families to resources.
Soft Skills: Exceptional interpersonal skills, ability to maintain confidentiality, and the capacity to manage volatile or stressful situations with professional composure.
Why This Role Matters: For many of our students, school is the first place they learn that they are capable of managing their world. You are the person who gives them the tools to do it!
District Values
Our staff work daily to:
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Value the Uniqueness of All
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Give a Fresh Start Each Day
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Partner with Families
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Develop Positive Character
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Ensure Learning
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Listed below are the essential tasks required for this job.
1. Create instructional resources for use in the classroom and by team members.
2. Prepare, plan, and deliver instructional activities.
3. Create a positive educational learning environment.
4. Develop curriculum and essential standards to meet student learning goals and instructional activities.
5. Prepare lesson materials, grade papers, manage the classroom, and evaluate and give feedback to students.
6. Exercise open and respectful communication with families, co-workers, supervisors, and other school staff.
7. Measure progress and accomplishments of students towards their academic achievements on a regular basis and provide progress reports as required.
8. Create and keep records on attendance, accidents, incidents, and other noteworthy events in accordance with licensing guidelines and program policies.
9. Attend workshops and training, in district and within the state, in order to further advance professional development.
10. Stay abreast with learning strategies and current opportunities for students.
11. Utilize curriculum to incorporate diverse intellectual, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds of the students served.
12. Manage student behavior in accordance with outlined guidelines.
13. Work collaboratively with grade level, subject area, and building teachers to enhance learning opportunities for students.
14. Collaborate with teacher team to contribute to the professional learning and development of themselves and their fellow colleagues
15. Provide a safe, thriving, and respectful environment for all students in the classroom and on the school campus
16. Special Education Responsibilities:
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Assess students' skills and determine their educational needs
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Adapt general lessons to meet students' needs
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Develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for each student with the IEP Team
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Plan activities that are specific to each student's abilities
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Teach and mentor students as a class, in small groups, and one-on-one
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Implement IEPs, assess students' performance, and track their progress
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Update IEPs throughout the school year to reflect students' progress and goals
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Work collaboratively in with general education teachers in support of student IEP needs
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When appropriate co-teach in the general education classroom
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Discuss students' progress with parents, other teachers, counselors, and administrators
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Supervise and mentor teacher assistants who work with students with disabilities
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Prepare and help students transition from grade to grade and from school to life outside of school
16. Perform other duties as assigned.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
Amount of Time
None
Under 1/3
1/3 to 2/3
Over 2/3
Use hands to handle or feel
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.
.
X
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
Amount of Time
None
Under 1/3
1/3 to 2/3
Over 2/3
Reach with hands and arms
.
X
.
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Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
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X
.
.
WEIGHT AND FORCE DEMANDS
Amount of Time
None
Under 1/3
1/3 to 2/3
Over 2/3
More than 100 pounds
X
.
.
.
MENTAL FUNCTIONS
Amount of Time
None
Under 1/3
1/3 to 2/3
Over 2/3
Use Interpersonal Skills
.
.
.
X
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Amount of Time
None
Under 1/3
1/3 to 2/3
Over 2/3
Wet or humid conditions (non-weather)
X
.
.
.
Work near moving mechanical parts
X
.
.
.
Work in high, precarious places
X
.
.
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Fumes or airborne particles
X
.
.
.
Toxic or caustic chemicals
X
.
.
.
Outdoor weather conditions
X
.
.
.
Extreme cold (non-weather)
X
.
.
.
Extreme heat (non-weather)
X
.
.
.
Risk of electrical shock
X
.
.
.
Work with explosives
X
.
.
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Risk of radiation
X
.
.
.
VISION DEMANDS
REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB
No special vision requirements
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Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less)
X
Distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more)
X
Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors)
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Ability to adjust focus
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NOISE LEVEL
Level of noise typical in the work environment for this job
Boone Community School District is an equal opportunity employer. If you have questions or a grievance, contact the BCSD Equity Coordinator Mrs. Jill Janes, [email protected], at BCSD, 500 7th Street, Boone, Iowa 50036; (515) 433-0750.
