2025-26 Behavior Specialist-High School

About Us:

Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools (www.freedomprep.org) is a network of PreK-12 free public charter schools serving students in Memphis, TN, and Birmingham, AL. Our mission is to prepare all students in grades PreK-12 to excel in college and in life. Since our founding in 2009, we have grown from a class of 96 sixth grade students to now serving over 1950 students across multiple campuses. In 2024, we expanded into Birmingham, AL, starting with grades K-1, with plans to grow to a K-5 campus. 

At Freedom Prep, we are committed to transforming education for students across the South, ensuring they have access to high-quality educational opportunities that empower them to thrive. Over the past 15 years, our students have consistently exceeded both local and state averages in math and have surpassed local benchmarks in English Language Arts on state assessments. Our mission is guided by three core beliefs: every child deserves the right to a high-quality public education, character development is essential to student success, and exposure to diverse opportunities builds the confidence and skills needed to excel in college and in life.

At Freedom Prep, we cultivate a structured, academically rigorous environment that fosters excellence in core subjects, promotes advanced academic skills, and encourages students to embody the core values of Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Excellence, and Community.

Position Summary:

The Behavior Specialist plays a critical role in promoting a positive and inclusive school environment by supporting students with behavioral challenges. This position focuses on prevention and intervention strategies, providing direct behavioral support to students, collaborating with families and educational staff, and ensuring students placed in In-School Suspension (ISS) or behavioral support programs continue academic progress and develop positive behavioral skills.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, monitor, and adjust individualized Behavior Intervention

• Plans (BIPs) based on Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs)

• Coordinate, supervise, and provide instructional and behavioral activities for students in ISS or on behavioral referral

• Support academic progress for students in behavioral programs by coordinating assignments with classroom teachers and offering tutorial assistance

• Conduct classroom and school-based observations of students exhibiting disruptive or unusual behaviors and recommend environmental or instructional modifications

• Provide direct intervention and support to students with emotional or behavioral needs, including crisis response and de-escalation

• Collaborate with teachers, administrators, counselors, clinicians, and families to ensure consistent behavioral strategies and interventions are implemented

• Offer professional development and coaching to staff on effective classroom management techniques, trauma-informed care, verbal de-escalation, and positive behavior supports

• Lead or participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, including IEP and 504 plan development, to address student behavioral needs

• Maintain accurate documentation, including behavior plans, interventions, progress reports, and required administrative records

• Facilitate planning meetings and contribute to school-wide initiatives such as PBIS and restorative justice practices

• Respond to crisis situations safely and supportively, helping students reintegrate into classroom environments

• Support school-wide transitions (arrival, dismissal, lunch, classroom changes) to maintain positive behavioral expectations

• Stay current on best practices in behavior management, social-emotional learning, and student support services

• Perform clerical and administrative duties related to behavioral services, such as preparing reports and entering data

• Attend staff meetings, workshops, and professional development to maintain certifications and improve skills

• Maintain the school culture of high academic and behavioral expectations through ongoing reflection and collaboration

Qualifications:

Education: 

Bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, social work, special education, counseling, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred.

Experience: 

Minimum two years working with students with behavioral challenges in a school or similar setting.

Certifications: 

• Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or other relevant certification preferred.

• Strong knowledge of behavior management principles, FBAs, BIPs, and trauma-informed practices.

• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to build positive relationships with students, staff, and families.

• Proficiency in data collection and analysis to inform and improve behavioral strategies.

Work Environment:

• School-based position with frequent student interaction and collaboration with multiple stakeholders.

• Flexibility to move between classrooms and school settings.

• Occasional crisis intervention and de-escalation may be required.

We are excited that you are inspired or called to learn more about our mission, values, and potential opportunities. We’d encourage you to explore a few additional resources about us, the recent investment for what’s possible, and why you should consider our community as a place for you to become a part of. We are one of the few networks that centers the whole person and their needs to thrive and support themselves and their families in the South.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION: At Freedom Prep, we prioritize transparency in everything we do. We believe that open communication fosters trust and collaboration. As part of this commitment, we make our salary scales available online for you to view, ensuring clarity and fairness in our compensation practices. You can view our compensation scales on our website. Please click HERE to be redirected.

Check out some of the unique and rare benefits here, including but not limited to: 

-Paying higher, scaffolded teacher salaries from Year 1 to retirement stage

-Zero dollar monthly premium options, including holistic options such as chiropractic or acupuncture care (TN ONLY)

-Focus on staff well-being and collective care through our Adult Social-Emotional Learning

-Support in obtaining licensure

OUR COMMITMENT: Freedom Preparatory Academy is actively seeking to build an experienced team of educators. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin. We are an equal opportunity employer.

Salary : $40,000 - $60,000