Arlington Public Schools
Location
Arlington, Virginia
The Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) provides direct behavioral support, crisis intervention, and consultation across school settings. They develop intervention plans and collaborate with staff to implement these plans effectively.
Candidates must have a Doctoral or Master’s degree in a relevant field and at least five years of experience working with children or adolescents with behavioral and emotional needs. Current certification as a BCBA or BCBA-D is also required.
Arlington Public Schools (APS) announces an opening for the position of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Essential functions: ● Develops and provides evidence-based therapeutic interventions for students
● Conducts functional behavioral assessments (FBAs)
● Develops Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs)
● Analyzes and tracks behavioral and other data to evaluate intervention effectiveness and recommend adjustments
● Responds to acute behavioral, emotional, and mental health crises occurring in school settings.
● Supports team with completion of suicide risk assessments, threat assessments, safety planning, and behavioral health evaluations as appropriate.
● Provides de-escalation, crisis stabilization, and brief therapeutic intervention for students.
● Assists in determining appropriate levels of care.
● Participates in re-entry and transition planning for students returning from hospitalization, alternative placements, or crisis events.
● Supports students impacted by trauma, grief, family instability, substance use, self-harm behaviors, anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns.
● Collaborates with parents/guardians to connect families with school and community resources.
● Collaborates with administrators, school counselors, psychologists, nurses, teachers, and special education staff regarding student behavioral concerns.
● Participates in multidisciplinary student support teams, manifestation determination meetings, IEP/504 meetings, and threat assessment processes as appropriate.
● Provides consultation and training to school staff on trauma-informed practices, crisis response, and behavioral intervention.
● Assists schools in developing division wide prevention and intervention strategies to improve student well-being and school climate.
● Coordinates wraparound services and support continuity of care for students and families.
● Participates in community-based and division-wide crisis response initiatives, emergency planning, and interdisciplinary collaboration efforts.
● Serves as an active member of the RISE Team
● Supports Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
● Designs and delivers professional development to APS staff professional development related to:
o Positive behavior supports
o Crisis prevention and intervention
o Trauma-informed practices
o Functional behavior assessment
o Data collection and progress monitoring
o Classroom behavior management
● Maintains timely and accurate case documentation, risk assessments, service records, and referral information in accordance with APS policies and related implementation procedures, Federal and state regulations, FERPA, and adheres to professional and licensing body ethical standards.
● Enrolls in and maintains appropriate credentials for Medicaid billing; completes Medicaid billing within department timelines
● Prepares reports and maintains data related to crisis response activities and student outcomes.
● Ensures behavioral services align with IDEA, Section 504, FERPA, and applicable Virginia regulations.
● Performs other duties as assigned
Required knowledge, skills, and abilities
● Strong knowledge of child and adolescent development, behavioral health disorders, and evidence-based crisis intervention practices
● Experience conducting FBAs and developing BIPs in school settings.
● Knowledge of crisis prevention, de-escalation strategies, and trauma-informed practices.
● Knowledge of culturally responsive, and restorative practices
● Ability to remain calm and effective in high-stress situations
● Strong collaboration, communication, and conflict resolution skills
● Ability to build positive relationships with diverse students, families, and staff
● Knowledge of special education processes, mandated reporting requirements, and school safety procedures
● Strong behavioral assessment skills
● Experience providing staff training and behavioral coaching.
● Specialized training in evidence-based practices (e.g., CBT, trauma-informed care)
● Experience with MTSS, PBIS, and threat assessment models
● Effective collaboration with multidisciplinary teams
● Commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices
● Excellent human relations, problem solving, as well as oral and written communication, including report writing, skills
● Ability to use computer technology in an administrative and educational setting to manage meetings and all aspects of work assignments
● Doctoral or Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, Special Education, Psychology, or related field.
● Minimum of three (5) years of experience working with children or adolescents with behavioral and emotional needs.
● Current certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D).
● Eligibility for or possession of appropriate Virginia licensure/certification.
based on the 26/27 pay plan.
Arlington Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer It is the policy of the Arlington School Board, as stated in Policy G-2.30, Employee Relations – Equal Employment Opportunity - that “Employment opportunities shall not be restricted, abridged or otherwise adversely affected on the basis of race, national origin, creed, color, religion, gender, age, economic status, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, genetic information, gender identity or expression, and/or disability.”
Market context
In Virginia, behavior analyst roles in school settings are typically driven by demand for staff who can support students with behavioral and emotional needs and work closely with educational teams. These positions are competitive because employers often look for advanced graduate training, BCBA or BCBA-D certification, and substantial experience with children or adolescents. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then tailor your application to highlight school-based behavior support, assessment, and collaboration experience.
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