Student Support Personnel (1.0 FTE) Starting . JobID: 909. Job Details Date Posted: 4/13/2026 Location: Northern Lights Academy (High-Needs School) Date Available: 08/17/2026 About Northern Lights Academy Cooperative Welcome to Northern Lights Academy! The Northern Lights Academy (NLA) mission is to support children and youth with significant emotional and behavioral needs, as well as those with low incidence disabilities. We provide academic, social and functional skill development, and mental health services to students from the member school districts of The Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative. Our goal is to foster learning, promote independence, cultivate social and behavior skills, work in partnerships with families, and support students to become successful learners in their least restrictive environment, as well as active, productive members of our communities. Position Title Student Support Personnel (Starting SY) Reports To Special Education Director Licensure Required Preferred: Valid License in one or more of the following: School Psychologist or School Counselor in the State of Minnesota (or ability to obtain license in MN) Considered: Social Worker (or ability to obtain license in MN) Objective of the Position The NLSEC desires to hire and retain an experienced and motivated consultant to provide quality student support services to member district and other cooperative staff, in order to enable children to function effectively, learn and progress in an educational setting. Required Qualifications Minimum 3 years experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and students with challenging behaviors, preferably with ages birth-21. Knowledge of evidence based practices in the area of Autism Spectrum Disorder as well as for students with challenging behaviors. Understand and implement special education due process procedures as specified in each of the NLSEC district's Total Special Education Systems Manual. Knowledge and experience conducting Functional Behavior Assessments and developing Positive Behavior Support Plans. Essential Skills, Duties and Responsibilities Maintain organization while traveling between member districts with minimum office time. Establish and maintain positive working relationships based upon mutual confidence and respect. Provide consultation with district staff, parents, and public agencies to implement and maintain services in accordance with special education. Work with a variety of educational teams to plan effective programs/instruction for students with disabilities. Training and experience with ADOS-2 testing procedures. Travel to NLSEC member districts, daycare facilities or other community sites and/or students' homes. Consult with licensed ASD Teacher/Consultant on a regular basis in conjunction with any of the following duties: Organize and present ideas with clarity in written and verbal form. Reevaluate Federal Setting 1 and 2 Students Consult with district staff on selection of Autism Spectrum Disorder evaluation tools and evaluation procedures. Assist teams with student re-evaluations and determine continued need for special education upon request. IEP/IIIP/IFSP Planning for Federal Setting 1, 2, and 3 Students Work with district staff to develop strategies that assist students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in all educational environments. Provide teaching, behavior management, social and sensory accommodation strategies to IEP/IIIP/IFSP teams. Assist IEP/IIIP/IFSP teams to develop student goals/objectives and adaptations. Assist with written IEP input from a licensed ASD teacher when needed. Instructional Delivery of Program for Federal Setting 1, 2 Students Provide consultation to IEP/IIIP/IFSP team members and community agencies that serve students with autism and their families. Assist teams to implement strategies that will assist students with autism to function in all educational environments. Build and maintain collaborative relationships with families and service providers of children with autism. Assist with development of visuals and other learning tools as needed for all students with Autism across the NLSEC. Maintain a current knowledge base related to the identification and education of children with autism. Maintain a current knowledge base related to working with students with challenging behaviors. Provide information and training to district staff on topics related to autism and behavior. Willing to become Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) trainer certified and train a variety of member district staff to be CPI certified. Interagency and Community Relations Assist in the coordination of school and community based services for students and families. Co-facilitate Parent Support Group. Attend weekly ASD Dept. meetings Attend NLSEC staff meetings Attend Region 3 Community of Practice Meetings Other duties as assigned. Salary and Benefits The starting pay for this position is between $49,172 - $71,798 based on Education Minnesota Cloquet Master Agreement. The role offers a wide array of benefits including medical, dental, life, long-term disability, long-term care, an employee assistance program, and retirement contributions. Eligible for paid sick, safe, and personal leave. FLSA Status Exempt #J-18808-Ljbffr