Student Safety Coach - Department of Student Services - 2026-27 School Year Only

About the role

Albemarle County Public Schools is seeking a Student Safety Coach to collaborate extensively with school staff and students to promote educational equity and maintain a positive school environment. The successful candidate will be responsible for student safety by providing positive behavior and social-emotional interventions, crisis prevention and intervention, emergency support services, and managing building security for staff, students, and visitors.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an advocate for educational equity for all students and families, with a particular emphasis on equity in behavior, safety planning, and response
• Proactively identify and make recommendations to reduce safety risks and liability, prevent and manage workplace violence and improve school-community relations relating to safety
• Coach, direct, and receive feedback to inform staff in times of crisis/physical intervention while following IEPs or Personalized Learning Plans
• Respond to crisis situations, triage, and / or call 911, EMS, and or Crisis Team as directed by administrators, as needed
• Develop positive relationships with all students in the building
• Promote and reinforce positive student behavior
• Debrief problematic behavior with students by using a non-punitive, non-adversarial, trauma-informed model of care / problem solving
• Be knowledgeable of specific disabilities and individual learning characteristics, including IEPs, 504s, and Personalized Learning Plans
• Collaborate with staff in observing, recording, and charting behaviors
• Collaborate with staff to manage crises, problems, and behavior management
• Participate in professional activities and meetings that may include but are not limited to IEP, School Based Intervention Team, Threat Assessment and School Safety Liaison Team meetings, as needed
• Provide active supervision to students in the hallway, lunchroom, and recreational areas
• Observe and draft observation notes on incidents that occur within the building or facility, including documenting / reporting damage to property via available technology applications
• Lead/support students and staff during restorative practices
• Work with other Student Safety Coaches to communicate and problem solve situations together that occur through the school day
• Follow district procedures and policies
• Follow and fulfill daily documentation requirements, which may include but is not limited to paper-based forms, or computer or web-based electronic applications
• Help create and maintain a working relationship with the local police and fire and rescue departments
• Coordinate in the development and implementation of action plans to provide a safe environment and immediate response to imminent threats of violence, criminal incidents, emergency medical incidents, vehicular accidents, and others
• Coordinate with school administrators to process serious violations of the codes of school conduct which include but are not limited to narcotics, tobacco, or alcohol
• Conduct, document and report findings of inspections, reviews and audits of buildings, grounds, and student and staff procedures (i.e. drills) to ensure security and safety through compliance with State and local codes and regulations
• Respond to fire and burglar alarms
• Coordinates with staff, police, and emergency personnel in handling emergencies or disruptive situations for which school administration has determined warrants the intervention of law enforcement or emergency personnel
• Notify the school administration or, if circumstances warrant, law enforcement or appropriate emergency personnel of any emergency, incident, or potentially dangerous situation for which police, and/or appropriate emergency personnel may be needed
• Assist administration and staff with home visits, as needed
• Supports students, school, and division with efforts to prevent and address truancy

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in psychology, counseling, social work, law enforcement, criminal justice, or related field or any combination of related education or experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree
• One year of related experience required
• Successful completion of the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services School Security Officer Training and Certification is required after 24 months of employment
• Possesses a valid driver’s license by his or her state of residence to operate a motor vehicle
• Must be eligible to transport students in a vehicle

Skills

• Knowledge of de-escalation techniques
• Holds and restraints, always relying on least restrictive interventions
• Trauma informed practices
• Restorative practices
• Basic First Aid, required
• Principles, practices, and techniques employed in establishing and maintaining building security
• Ability to operate a variety of security and safety equipment including fire extinguishers, mobile phones, school security camera systems, and hand-held radios
• Effectively communicate, orally and in writing with individuals and through mass communication
• Effectively work with students, parents, and staff of diverse ethnic/racial and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Understanding childhood trauma and effectively work with students in a trauma sensitive school environment
• Demonstrate problem solving and responsible decision-making
• Observe and detect unusual occurrences or behavior
• Communicate bilingually in Spanish and English, is preferred

Working Conditions

Work is typically performed in a school setting with some work in an office setting. Exposure to stressful situations, such as demanding students, visitors, public. There is regular involvement with professional partners, evaluators, school principals, administrators, staff, and community members. Frequent need to motivate, establish rapport, gain support, persuade or influence individuals and groups. Requires extensive walking, standing, running and frequent heavy lifting and pushing.