Position Overview:

Kenneth Gordon Maplewood School (KGMS) would like to acknowledge and thank the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations on whose traditional territories we teach and learn.

KGMS is a Primary to Grade 12 co-educational Special Education School located in the Maplewood neighbourhood of North Vancouver. We provide specialized education that supports students with diverse learning needs. Our school community is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Our academic program is at the heart of what we do, but we realize that students are most successful when supported in their social and emotional growth. We have a team of dedicated counsellors and a Developmental Specialist who work with our education team to support students through their academic journey.

KGMS is recruiting for a Developmental Specialist / Behaviour Consultant to join our Student Services Team.

The KGMS Developmental Specialist’s multidisciplinary role assists parents, teachers, OTs, SLPs, psychologists, and counsellors in creating plans to manage behaviours that affect a student’s learning. The Developmental Specialist works within a multidisciplinary team to provide a comprehensive approach to behaviour management that includes evaluation, observation, education, interventions, and regular monitoring. They may work one-on-one with students and use teaching methods to target specific behaviours and achieve goals such as self-regulation, following classroom routines, and integrating positively into the classroom environment. The Developmental Specialist will work alongside classroom educators to support students, families, and faculty.

Responsibilities:

• Develop caring and supportive relationships with students in the classroom.
• Assist with the emotional and social development of students.
• Conduct behavioural observations of students to determine their strengths and areas of development in social, emotional, behavioural, and learning areas.
• Implement positive behaviour plans designed to help students learn self-regulation skills and target specific areas for improvement.
• Work one-on-one (short-term) with students when necessary.
• Build a strong working relationship with students’ families as well as any other appropriate community stakeholders (e.g., Behaviour Interventionists).
• Effectively communicate with families, providing progress reports.
• Assist teachers with delivering the curriculum in a way that best suits each student’s learning needs.
• Assist in the planning and implementation of the daily schedule and programme.
• Collaborate with teachers to deliver lessons in a variety of ways.
• Participate in staff development and training as determined by administration.
• Assist with the evaluation and assessment of students’ progress.
• Empower families by providing them with skills and techniques to support the positive behaviour development of their children.
• Communicate and collaborate with classroom teachers, admin team members, students, parents, and community support.
• Be an engaged team member in the KGMS community.

Must have knowledge and proficiency in:

• Education on the rationale behind the strategies and interventions used.
• Demystification of characteristics presented by specific diagnoses.
• Identifying and promoting alternative, desired behaviours to replace undesired ones.
• Effective positive reinforcement strategies and reinforcement schedules.
• Supporting students in communicating their needs effectively and engaging in alternative behaviours.
• Observations and analysis of the function of specific behaviours.
• Establishing clear expectations and using consistent language.
• Creating contingency maps that provide individual choice.
• Using visual schedules to improve executive functioning skills.
• Providing self-regulation tools and strategies.
• Developing individualized token economies to build self-esteem and self-awareness.
• Understanding the importance of follow-through and consistency.

The ideal candidate should be:

• Self-motivated, reliable, enthusiastic, and possess excellent communication skills.
• Enjoy working in a highly collaborative educational environment.
• Possess strong oral and written communication skills.

Able to work independently and with autonomy.

Qualifications:

Minimum of 5 years working with children with exceptionalities.
Board Certified with BACB (Behaviour Analyst Certification Board).
Experience working with students in a K-12 setting.
Criminal Record Check – Vulnerable Sector.

SALARY RANGE: $74,902.32 – $94,311.66, depending on education and experience.

Please indicate your interest by sending a resume and cover letter to [email protected].

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce by ensuring a barrier-free work environment. We welcome applications from all qualified job seekers, including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour), persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ (persons of all sexual orientations and genders). If you are an applicant with a disability, we will work with you to make any reasonable workplace accommodations you may need to perform your best work.