Reports to: Principal and Assistant Principal
Employment Status: Full-Time, Exempt
School Division: Preschool–8th Grade, with primary responsibility for K–8
Position Summary
The Student Behavior & Support Specialist is responsible for supporting a safe, respectful, structured, and positive school environment. Working closely with the Principal, Assistant Principal, teachers, counselor, students, and families, the Student Behavior & Support Specialist oversees student discipline, behavior, attendance, and supervision.
The Student Behavior & Support Specialist is expected to be highly visible throughout the school day and to build strong, appropriate relationships with students. The ideal candidate is firm, fair, consistent, approachable, and committed to helping students grow in responsibility, character, and self-discipline. All responsibilities should be carried out in a manner consistent with Merdinian’s Armenian Christian identity, mission, policies, and values.
Primary ResponsibilitiesStudent Discipline and Behavior
- Implement and consistently enforce the school’s student behavior expectations, policies, and disciplinary procedures.
- Respond promptly to student behavior concerns and conduct fair, thorough, and age-appropriate investigations.
- Meet with students to address misconduct, understand contributing factors, and determine appropriate consequences and next steps.
- Assign and oversee consequences, including reflective assignments, detention, loss of privileges, behavior contracts, and other interventions.
- Maintain clear and confidential documentation of disciplinary incidents, investigations, parent communications, consequences, and follow-up.
- Monitor students with repeated behavioral concerns and develop individualized improvement plans when necessary.
- Identify patterns in student behavior and recommend proactive strategies, interventions, or policy changes.
- Support restorative conversations and conflict resolution when appropriate.
- Address bullying, harassment, intimidation, threats, fighting, unsafe conduct, and other serious behavior concerns in accordance with school policies.
- Make recommendations to the Principal regarding suspension, probation, or possible dismissal. The Principal makes final decisions involving suspension or dismissal. The board of directors is ultimately responsible for expulsion.
Student Affairs and School Culture
- Promote a school culture grounded in respect, responsibility, honesty, kindness, faith, and service.
- Build positive relationships with students while maintaining clear professional boundaries and high expectations.
- Help students develop accountability, sound decision-making, conflict-resolution skills, and respect for others.
- Support student leadership opportunities, student activities, assemblies, celebrations, and schoolwide programs.
- Work with faculty and administration to develop programs that strengthen belonging, school pride, citizenship, and student engagement.
- Support students during transitions, including students entering middle school or enrolling during the school year.
- Serve as a visible and approachable member of the administrative team for students and families.
- Assist with student recognition programs that celebrate character, citizenship, improvement, leadership, and positive behavior.
Student Supervision and Campus Safety
- Maintain a consistent administrative presence during arrival, dismissal, recess, lunch, passing periods, assemblies, chapel, and school events.
- Coordinate supervision schedules and help ensure that all student areas are appropriately staffed.
- Monitor common areas, hallways, restrooms, playgrounds, and other student spaces.
- Respond promptly to safety concerns, student conflicts, injuries, or emergencies.
- Assist with emergency preparedness, drills, crisis response, and reunification procedures.
- Provide additional supervision during special events, field trips, athletic activities, and after-school programs as needed.
Faculty and Staff Support
- Partner with teachers to address classroom behavior concerns before they escalate.
- Ensure that disciplinary expectations are applied fairly and consistently across classrooms and grade levels.
- Follow up with teachers after incidents and communicate relevant information while respecting student confidentiality.
- Support new teachers in understanding the school’s behavior expectations and disciplinary procedures.
- Provide professional development or practical resources related to student behavior, supervision, de-escalation, and classroom management.
- Participate in student support meetings and contribute relevant behavioral information.
Family Communication
- Communicate promptly, respectfully, and professionally with parents and guardians about significant student behavior, attendance, or disciplinary concerns.
- Conduct parent conferences with teachers, counselors, and administrators when appropriate.
- Clearly explain the school’s concerns, findings, consequences, expectations, and follow-up plan.
- Listen to family concerns while maintaining school policies and appropriate professional boundaries.
- Keep the Principal and Assistant Principal informed of serious, sensitive, recurring, or potentially controversial matters.
- Maintain confidentiality and accurate records of parent communications.
Collaboration and Administration
- Work closely with the Principal, Assistant Principal, counselor, teachers, and support staff to address students’ academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs.
- Participate in administrative, faculty, student support, and parent meetings as assigned.
- Prepare discipline and student-affairs reports for the Principal.
- Use student data to identify trends and recommend schoolwide supports or interventions.
- Review and recommend updates to the student and parent handbook.
- Assist with student placement, scheduling, enrollment, re-enrollment, and retention discussions when behavior or attendance is a factor.
- Complete other duties related to student life, campus operations, and school administration as assigned by the Principal.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution required; master’s degree in education, school leadership, counseling, or a related field preferred.
- Prior experience working with elementary and/or middle school students.
- Experience in teaching, student services, counseling, administration, discipline, or school leadership.
- Strong understanding of child and adolescent development.
- Demonstrated ability to manage conflict, conduct investigations, and handle sensitive matters with discretion.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong organizational, documentation, and follow-through skills.
- Ability to remain calm, fair, and professional in challenging situations.
- Ability to communicate effectively with students, parents, faculty, and administrators.
- Commitment to confidentiality, sound judgment, and ethical conduct.
- Understanding of California private-school expectations, student safety obligations, and mandated-reporting requirements.
- Willingness to support and uphold Merdinian’s Armenian Christian mission, identity, and values.
Preferred Qualifications
- Administrative or supervisory experience in a school setting.
- Experience developing behavior plans, restorative practices, or student-support systems.
- Familiarity with Armenian culture and community.
- Knowledge of Armenian is beneficial but not required.
- CPR, First Aid, and mandated-reporter training or willingness to complete required training.
Essential Characteristics
The successful Student Behavior & Support Specialist will be:
- Firm, fair, consistent, and compassionate.
- Highly visible, engaged, and present throughout the campus.
- Proactive rather than solely reactive.
- Skilled at building trust while maintaining accountability.
- Able to separate facts from assumptions and investigate concerns objectively.
- Collaborative with teachers and administrators.
- Clear and confident when communicating difficult decisions.
- Discreet and trustworthy with confidential information.
- Committed to helping students learn from mistakes and make better choices.
- Respectful of the school’s faith-based identity and Armenian heritage.
Physical and Scheduling Requirements
- Ability to move throughout the campus and supervise students indoors and outdoors.
- Ability to stand or walk for extended periods.
- Ability to respond quickly during student incidents or emergencies.
- Availability before and after the regular school day and for occasional evening or weekend events.
- Ability to perform all essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
Evaluation
The Student Behavior & Support Specialist will be evaluated by the Principal based on areas including:
- Consistency and fairness in student discipline.
- Quality and timeliness of documentation and communication.
- Visibility and effectiveness of student supervision.
- Relationships with students, families, faculty, and staff.
- Responsiveness to behavioral and safety concerns.
- Contribution to a positive and orderly school culture.
- Professionalism, confidentiality, judgment, and follow-through.
- Support of Merdinian’s mission, Armenian Christian identity, and administrative priorities.
C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School is an equal-opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants in accordance with applicable laws and the school’s religious mission.
Pay: $70,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
