The Center for Children and Families at Florida International University announces Summer Treatment Program positions for elementary-level regular and special education teachers, and for elementary-level art teachers for 2023. The Summer Treatment Program (STP) provides services to children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Conduct Disorder, Oppositional-Defiant Disorder, learning problems, and related behavior problems. 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.
The dates of employment for the Elementary Teacher position are Monday, June 17, 2024, through Friday, August 16, 2024. Elementary Teacher hours of employment are 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Teachers may participate in additional meetings with parents and staff as necessary. The salary for this position is $10,000 for the summer.
During the program, children are assigned to groups that remain constant for the duration of the program. Each academic teacher works with 2-3 groups, and art teachers work with all age groups in the STP-E. 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. Each teacher will supervise a classroom aide who will assist with classroom management and recordkeeping. Teachers will work under the supervision of experienced staff members and will receive regular feedback about their performance.
In the STP-E, children participate in two daily academic periods. Children complete assignments in typical age-appropriate subjects such as arithmetic, reading, and language arts. The classroom activities focus on improving children’s on-task behavior, following teacher directives, and exhibiting appropriate classroom behavior, in addition to providing practice at the children’s current grade level to avoid summer learning loss. Teachers are responsible for determining children’s appropriate work levels by reviewing previous records and by providing preliminary work during the first week of the program. Each week, teachers review children’s performance and make adjustments to maintain a challenging level for each child throughout the summer. Children may also work on a variety of other assignments such as small-group instruction, peer-tutoring activities, or computer-aided instruction. 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.
During the first week of employment, Elementary 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, Aides 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 Center for Children and Families was founded by William E. Pelham, Jr., Ph.D., a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Florida International University The STP has been conducted since 1980 and 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.
The required qualifications for the Teachers are as follows: a Bachelor’s or higher in Education/Special Education, Psychology/Mental Health, social work, or related fields. Current teacher certification is required.
Additionally, participation in the STP 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.
Positions are competitive so interested individuals should apply as soon as possible.
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 Department of Children and Families (DCF).
Temporary Disclosure
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.
Equal Opportunity
FIU is a member of the State University System of Florida and an Equal Opportunity, Equal Access, Affirmative
Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
For a detailed description of the program, and to apply for this position, please visit
https://ccf.fiu.edu/summer-programs/summer-treatment-program/index.html