Intervention Specialist - OALA - School Year 2026-2027

At Ocean Avenue LEARNing Academy, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to feel safe, connected, successful, and hopeful. We serve students with emotional and behavioral disabilities through highly individualized educational programming designed to build self-regulation, emotional awareness, academic engagement, social skills, resilience, and positive life outcomes.

About the Role

We are seeking compassionate, patient, and dedicated Intervention Specialists (Paraprofessionals) to join our multidisciplinary team. This is more than a support position—it is an opportunity to help students overcome challenges, build coping skills, strengthen relationships, and experience success both in and out of the classroom.

Why Join LEARN?

• Make a meaningful difference every day by helping students develop the emotional, behavioral, social, and academic skills needed to navigate challenges, build confidence, and achieve success.
• Be part of a collaborative team working alongside experienced educators, social workers, behavior specialists, school psychologists, clinicians, and administrators who share a commitment to student growth and well-being.
• Receive ongoing professional training in:
  • Trauma-informed and healing-centered practices
  • Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS)
  • Emotional regulation and co-regulation strategies
  • De-escalation and crisis prevention techniques
  • Restorative practices
  • High-leverage instructional practices
  • Relationship-based interventions
  • Data-informed decision making
  • Social-emotional learning and skill building

Responsibilities

• Support students in developing emotional regulation, coping, problem-solving, and social interaction skills.
• Build strong, trusting relationships that foster student engagement, belonging, and growth.
• Implement individualized behavioral, social-emotional, and academic supports aligned with student IEPs and treatment goals.
• Utilize proactive strategies to prevent escalation and support positive student behavior.
• Assist in implementing Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs), safety plans, and individualized behavior supports.
• Support students during challenging moments through co-regulation, de-escalation, and therapeutic communication techniques.
• Reinforce positive behaviors and help students successfully navigate conflicts and social situations.
• Collect behavioral and academic data to support instructional and intervention decisions.
• Facilitate student participation in classroom instruction, counseling activities, school programs, and community-based learning opportunities.
• Partner closely with teachers, social workers, psychologists, behavior specialists, and families to ensure consistency of supports.
• Help create safe, structured, predictable, and engaging learning environments where students can thrive.
• Model emotional regulation, respectful communication, problem-solving, and perseverance.
• Participate in ongoing professional learning and coaching opportunities.
• Utilize approved crisis intervention and physical management procedures following successful completion of required training when student safety requires intervention.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree, completion of at least 60 college credits, or a Bachelor's Degree; or a high school diploma and ParaPro certifications required.
• Experience working with children or adolescents preferred.
• Experience supporting individuals with emotional, behavioral, mental health, or trauma-related needs preferred.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to student confidentiality, professionalism, and ethical practice.

Skills

You are someone who:

• Believes every student can learn, grow, and succeed regardless of past challenges.
• Understands that behavior is communication and approaches students with empathy, curiosity, and compassion.
• Builds authentic relationships while maintaining clear boundaries and high expectations.
• Remains calm, flexible, and solution-focused during challenging situations.
• Values teamwork, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Demonstrates patience, consistency, and emotional resilience.
• Enjoys supporting students who require individualized behavioral and emotional supports.
• Understands the importance of structure, predictability, and positive reinforcement.
• Uses creativity and problem-solving to help students overcome obstacles.
• Is committed to fostering dignity, belonging, accountability, and hope.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to actively support students throughout classroom, community, recreational, and vocational environments.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds when necessary.
• Ability to complete and maintain competency-based crisis prevention and intervention training.
• Ability to implement approved physical management procedures when necessary to maintain safety.
• Ability to maintain situational awareness and respond appropriately during behavioral or emotional crises.