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Job Description
Position Type:
Paraprofessionals/Mental Health Practitioner
Date Posted:
7/1/2025
Location:
Denfeld High School
(High-Needs School)
Mental Health Practioner: Den Program
Denfeld High School
40 hours per week/38 weeks per year
Monday-Friday 8:00am- 4:30pm
Starting Pay: $25.41-27.78/hr, increases with experience + Benefits
Join the Duluth Public Schools team, where we work to inspire every student to achieve their potential and prepare students to lead productive, fulfilling lives.
Summary:
Duluth Public Schools is seeking an individual to assist mental health professionals and special education teachers with meeting the educational, emotional, behavioral and mental health needs of special education and nontraditional students. Assist in implementing the academic and treatment plan goals, as documented in the Individual Treatment Plan and the Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Continual Learning Plan (CLP) under supervision of mental health professional. This individual will work as a member of the Behavior Support Team (consisting of Deans of Students, Assistant Principal, PAWS-alternative to suspension program staff) and in conjunction with the coordinator of the Den program to implement restorative practices with students, conduct harm repair conversations and circles, and help students acknowledge the impact from their behaviors and take accountability. Support Attendance Recovery with community building circles and individual student conferencing and planning to facilitate the student having the opportunity to recover lost credits due to excessive unexcused absences
Minimum Qualifications:- Must meet the qualifications of a mental health practitioner.
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must have an associate degree and 6,000 hours of supervised experience in delivering clinical services in the treatment of mental illness for children and adolescents OR a bachelor's degree and 2,000 hours of supervised experience in delivering clinical services in the treatment of mental illness for children and adolescents.
- Meet pre-service and continuing education requirements as specified in MN Stat. 245.4871 and the rules of the Department of Human Services.
- Understanding of de-escalation skills, behavior management strategies, and positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS).
- Understanding of how to effectively intervene and problem-solve in crisis situations. Prefer NCI (Nonviolent Crisis Intervention) trained.
- Understanding of restorative practices, strategies, and approaches to behavior management.
- Understanding of diverse cultural backgrounds (racial, ability, socioeconomic, gender etc.)
- Understanding of mental health, emotional disabilities, trauma-informed practice, and evidenced based social, emotional, and behavioral interventions
- Basic academic knowledge to assist students with math, reading, science and other subject areas
- Ability to effectively problem-solve in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- Being a proactive and productive team player, able to work collaboratively and communicate effectively.
- Ability to effectively and empathetically work with high-risk, special needs, non-traditional students, and emotionally dysregulated students.
- Ability to manage student behavior and emotional dysregulation by utilizing de-escalation techniques and crisis intervention skills as needed and as determined by program training and plan.
- Ability to remain calm and control personal emotions in volatile and evolving situations.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills, including documenting the delivery of services
- Excellent interpersonal and personal care skills.
- Ability to use computers for instructional and data collection and data entry purposes.
- Ability to follow and implement the academic goals, as documented in the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and Continual Learning Plan (CLP) under supervision of mental health and education professionals.
- Ability to interpret and follow the student policy handbook as determined appropriate by the program team and behavior response staff.
Medical/Prescription Drug Plan with Health Reimbursement Arrangement- Single Coverage - District pays 100% of premium (FREE) + contributes $2,612.50 into HRA annually
- Family Coverage - District pays 75% of premium (25% employee contribution) + contributes $5,225.00 into HRA annually
- Single Coverage - District pays 100% of Basic premium (FREE)
- Family Coverage - District pays 25% of Premium
- District provides minimum of $50,000 of life insurance at no cost, employee may purchase supplemental life insurance
- District-provided at no cost to employee
- Employees may elect to contribute on a pre-tax basis to Health Flexible Spending Accounts and Dependent Care Accounts
- The District contributes 7.5% of your total salary in the Public Employees Retirement Association) pension plan.
- Employees may also elect to participate in Tax-Shelter Annuity options.
- Each bargaining unit contract defines time off provisions such as holidays, sick/personal leave, vacation, etc.
If you have any questions, please contact Human Resource at 218-336-8722 or email noncerthr@isd709.org -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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Duluth Public Schools
Show moreDuluth, or Onigamiising in Ojibwe, is the seat of St. Louis County, the largest city in the northern two-thirds of Minnesota, and the fourth largest city in the state. It is located on the western tip of Lake Superior and its city limits encompass 67 square miles of land and nearly 50 square miles of water. It is part of the Twin Ports metropolitan statistical area which includes all of Wisconsin's Douglas County, and Minnesota's Carlton, Lake, and Saint Louis counties which boasts a population of 291,638, ranked as the 170th largest metropolitan area in the United States.
After years of building economic diversity, Duluth is growing into a robust regional economic, medical, aviation, higher education, outdoor recreation and arts center. Duluth has long been recognized as an innovative region that is supported by a wide variety of services and industries, including the largest, farthest inland freshwater port, the Port of Duluth-Superior.
The city also boasts a vibrant arts culture, home to art museums, theater, and numerous festivals throughout the year. It is the home of two colleges and a university whose local sports teams include nationally ranked and championship teams.
Duluth Public Schools offers an excellent, competitive and comprehensive benefits program, which includes medical, prescription drug, dental, life, and disability coverage. A pension plan, tax-sheltered annuities program, flexible spending accounts (FSA), health care savings plan and employee assistance program round out the district’s robust benefits program.
The district pays a significant portion of the premium for medical hospitalization, dental and prescription coverage for employees and dependents and offers Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) funding.
The district also has generous provisions for vacation, holidays, family and medical leave and other types of paid and unpaid leave. The district recently added Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth to our list of paid holidays.
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