2021 Summer Treatment Program (STP) Pre-K Teachers

The Center for Children and Families at Florida International University announces summer positions for Pre-K and Kindergarten regular and special education teachers for 2021.

Applications will be accepted beginning October 2020

To be considered for this position, please visit https://ccf.fiu.edu/opportunities/summer-treatment-program-opportunities-and-training/ and follow additional instructions for submitting applications.

The Center for Children and Families at Florida International University announces summer positions for Pre-K and Kindergarten regular and special education teachers. Teachers will work in a program for children in preschool. Eligible children are recruited from preschool programs in or around Miami-Dade County and are receiving, or eligible to receive, services through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for moderate-to-severe learning and/or behavioral needs. Services are provided at Paul Bell Middle School. The program provides treatment tailored to children's individual behavioral and learning difficulties. The Center for Children and Families is directed by William E. Pelham, Jr., Ph.D., who is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Florida International University. Paulo Graziano, Ph.D., and Katie Hart, Ph.D., are the Program Directors for the STP-PreK and FIU Summer Academy.

The dates of employment for Pre-K Teachers are Monday, June 14, 2021 through Friday, August 13, 2021. Teacher hours of employment are 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with additional meetings with parents and staff as necessary. The salary for the STP-PreK Teacher position is $9,000.

During the program, children are assigned to groups that remain constant for the duration of the program. Each group consists of 10 to 15 children of similar age. Teachers implement an extensive behavior modification treatment program during classroom activities. The program includes feedback and associated consequences for work productivity and classroom behavior, daily and weekly rewards for appropriate behavior, social praise and attention, appropriate commands, and age-appropriate removal from positive reinforcement. Teachers will also be responsible for recording, tracking, and entering daily records of children’s classroom behavior and performance. Teachers will work under the supervision of experienced staff members and will receive regular feedback about their performance.

Lead Teachers in the STP-PreK (children ages 4-6) deliver the treatment components within both classroom and recreational contexts. In addition to implementing the behavior modification system throughout activities, Lead Teachers will assist in the following each day: (1) preparing daily classroom lessons; (2) delivery of an evidence-based reading intervention program; (3) preparing, monitoring, and modifying daily assignments, homework, weekly homework sheet, and weekly classroom newsletter; (4) supervising academic centers (i.e., English/Language Arts (ELA), Math, Science, Writing); (5) providing daily feedback to parents regarding their child’s performance and progress in the program; (6) attending weekly team supervision meetings; and (7) assisting in sports activities as needed (i.e., Soccer, Kickball, Teeball). In addition to the treatment provided in the program, some research is conducted, and teachers are required to follow research protocols that are being implemented in the classroom settings.

Prior to the start of employment, STP-PreK Teachers will be required to read the applicable treatment program manual and to be extensively familiar with behavior modification program and rules and procedures for daily classroom activities. Teachers will be required to memorize, verbatim, the operational definitions for the behavior modification system categories and other related information.Teachers will need to spend a significant amount of time preparing prior to the start of employment.

During the first week of employment, STP-PreK Teachers will participate in a variety of training activities. Training will consist of lectures, slide and video presentations, testing, and daily active role-plays during which staff members will act as Teachers, Counselors, and children during classroom activities and time out. On the last day of employment, Teachers will complete rating scales regarding progress children made in the program and children’s response to treatment. In addition, Teachers will prepare and summarize information to be included in children’s final treatment reports.

The Summer Treatment Program, from which the STP-PreK was adapted, has been conducted at Florida State University from 1980 to 1986; at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic from 1987 to 1996; at the University at Buffalo from 1997 to 2009; and at Florida International University since 2010. The STP was named as a Model Program for Service Delivery for Child and Family Mental Health by the Section on Clinical Child Psychology and Division of Child, Youth, and Family Services of the American Psychological Association. The STP has also been used in clinical trials conducted under the auspices of the National Institute of Mental Health and SAMHSA, and has been named a program of the year by CHADD, the national parent advocacy group for children with ADHD.

Required qualifications for Lead Teachers are as follows: Professional or Temporary Educator Certificate. A Bachelor’s or higher in Education/Special Education or related field is preferred. Candidates are required to have leadership or field experience working/volunteering with young children, tutoring, coaching sports, or leading extracurricular activities (e.g., dance, music, art). Pre-service early childhood, early elementary education, or EBD teachers are strongly encouraged to apply.

Additionally, participation in the STP-PreK requires staff to ensure the safety, well-being and treatment of children and adolescents with mental health, learning, attention and behavior problems.Teachers must be able to visually scan the environment, effectively attend to and hear verbal exchanges between children, provide neutral, corrective feedback on children’s misbehavior (which can include aggression), and provide a consistent, warm, positive climate for children.

All finalists must clear a Criminal Background Check initiated by the Division of Human Resources at FIU before an offer of employment will be made. All finalists must be digitally fingerprinted and cleared by the FIU Division of Human Resource and the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

Applicants are required to complete an online application form and to submit 3 letters of recommendation and an official transcript. There is no cutoff date for applying. Applications received after all positions have been filled will be placed on a waiting list. Positions are competitive so interested individuals should apply as soon as possible.

For a detailed description of the program, and to apply for this position, please visit https://ccf.fiu.edu/summer-programs/summer-treatment-program-pre-k/index.html

Temporary

Required qualifications for Lead Teachers are as follows:

• A Bachelor’s or higher in Education/Special Education or related field.
• Candidates are required to have leadership or field experience working/volunteering with young children, tutoring, coaching sports, or leading extracurricular activities (e.g., dance, music, art).
• Pre-service early childhood, early elementary education, or EBD teachers are strongly encouraged to apply.

The dates of employment for Pre-K Teachers are Monday, June 14, 2021 through Friday, August 13, 2021.

Teacher hours of employment are 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with additional meetings with parents and staff as necessary.

The salary for the Pre-K Teacher position is $9000 for the summer.

• Criminal Background Check
• Fingerprinting Check
• Clearance by The Department of Children & Families

As a temporary employee, you will not be eligible to participate in all employee benefit programs (e.g., paid leave, retirement, or tuition reimbursement).

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), a temporary employee who works on average 30 hours or more per week may be eligible to enroll in health care benefits. As a temporary employee, you are also eligible to enroll in supplemental plans (e.g. dental, vision,) which requires full payment on your part.

Upon completing an assignment, employees may apply for a position on FIU Careers.