Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Intervention Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Intervention Coordinator is responsible for planning, delivering, and monitoring targeted academic and behavioral supports for students (or clients) who require interventions beyond universal instruction. The coordinator leads the MTSS/RTI process, ensures fidelity to individualized intervention plans (including IEP/504 accommodations where applicable), collaborates with teachers and external providers, interprets progress-monitoring data, and continuously refines strategies to accelerate learning and social-emotional growth. This position balances direct service, program management, and data-driven decision making to maximize measurable outcomes.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Special Education Teacher (K-12)
School Counselor or School Social Worker
Behavior Interventionist or Paraprofessional

Advancement To:

Director of Student Support Services
MTSS/Intervention Program Manager
Director of Special Programs or Behavioral Health Services

Lateral Moves:

School Psychologist
Program Coordinator (e.g., Attendance, SEL, Family Engagement)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design and implement tiered intervention plans (Tier 2 and Tier 3) that align with MTSS/RTI frameworks, evidence-based practices, and district/school goals to improve student academic and behavioral outcomes.
Conduct comprehensive intake assessments and functional behavior assessments (FBAs) to identify root causes, baseline performance, and individualized objectives; translate assessment findings into measurable intervention goals.
Manage a caseload of students requiring targeted interventions, maintain up-to-date documentation, and ensure fidelity to individualized intervention plans and timelines.
Coordinate and facilitate regular multi-disciplinary team meetings (including teachers, administrators, parents, school psychologists, and outside providers) to develop, review, and adjust intervention strategies and progress monitoring schedules.
Develop, administer, and interpret progress-monitoring tools (curriculum-based measures, behavior frequency charts, standardized screeners) and use data to modify intervention intensity, duration, and methodology.
Create and maintain individualized intervention plans integrated with IEP/504 plans where applicable; ensure interventions adhere to legal and regulatory requirements.
Train and coach classroom teachers, instructional aides, and paraprofessionals in evidence-based intervention techniques, fidelity monitoring, and data collection procedures to build staff capacity and sustainability.
Serve as the primary liaison between school, family, and community partners to coordinate wraparound services, external referrals (mental health, speech, OT), and transitions in service delivery.
Develop and deliver professional development sessions focused on RTI/MTSS implementation, data-driven instruction, behavior management, and culturally responsive interventions.
Implement positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) strategies, create behavior intervention plans (BIPs) when needed, and monitor outcomes to reduce disciplinary incidents and improve school climate.
Monitor and report on quantitative outcomes (growth percentiles, benchmark scores, behavior incident reductions) to administrators and stakeholders; prepare clear, actionable progress reports for families.
Oversee the referral process for special education evaluations and alternative support services, ensuring timely documentation, communication, and compliance with district timelines.
Maintain confidentiality and accurate records of student services, complying with FERPA, HIPAA (where applicable), and district policy.
Evaluate the effectiveness of intervention programs through program audits, outcome analysis, and recommendations for continuous improvement and resource allocation.
Coordinate transitional supports for students moving between grade levels or programs, ensuring continuity of intervention strategies and documentation transfer.
Support crisis prevention and de-escalation efforts by implementing individualized safety plans, training staff in crisis protocols, and coordinating emergency responses as needed.
Develop and manage intervention-related resources and materials (toolkits, data trackers, intervention curricula), and maintain inventories for classroom and school distribution.
Advocate for students' needs within larger systems, contributing to policy development, equity initiatives, and efforts to close achievement gaps.
Collaborate with data teams to build and maintain dashboards, trackers, and data visualizations that enable timely decision-making at classroom and administrative levels.
Establish clear thresholds and referral criteria for interventions, ensuring equitable access to services and consistent application across classrooms and schools.
Facilitate parent education workshops and individualized family conferences that explain intervention methodology, progress metrics, and home-based support strategies.
Lead targeted pilot programs and special initiatives (e.g., summer intervention programs, reading labs, social-emotional learning cohorts) and measure impact to inform scale-up decisions.
Supervise and mentor intervention staff, tutors, and instructional coaches; participate in hiring, performance evaluation, and workload allocation.
Prepare grant applications, reimbursement claims, and budget proposals for intervention programs; monitor grant deliverables and ensure fiscal accountability.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and produce executive summaries and visualizations for school leadership and district stakeholders.
Contribute to the organization’s intervention strategy, participates in steering committees, and helps define long-term goals and KPIs for student support services.
Collaborate with curriculum and assessment teams to align intervention materials with classroom instruction and curriculum pacing guides.
Participate in school improvement planning and integrate intervention priorities into broader instructional plans and resource decisions.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of best practices, research, and policy changes related to interventions, special education law, and behavioral health; share findings with staff through briefs and trainings.
Support the development and maintenance of online repositories (Google Drive, LMS) for intervention protocols, data templates, and professional learning resources.
Assist with scheduling and logistics for screening windows, progress-monitoring cycles, and parent-teacher meetings to ensure efficient program operation.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep knowledge of MTSS/RTI frameworks, PBIS, and tiered intervention models.
Experience conducting Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA) and developing Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP).
Proficiency with progress-monitoring tools and academic screeners (e.g., DIBELS, AIMSweb, MAP) and the ability to interpret results.
Familiarity with special education processes, IEP/504 plan development, and compliance requirements.
Data literacy: strong ability to collect, clean, analyze, and present intervention data using Excel, Google Sheets, or data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
Case management and documentation skills using student information systems (SIS) and case-management platforms (e.g., PowerSchool, Infinite Campus, SWIS).
Competence in designing and delivering adult learning and coaching models for instructional staff.
Crisis intervention and de-escalation training, including knowledge of safety planning and restraint/behavior protocol policies.
Grant writing and basic budget management experience for program funding and resource allocation.
Ability to create accessible materials and reports for families and diverse stakeholders, including multilingual supports.

Soft Skills

Strong verbal and written communication skills for clear parent, staff, and leadership interactions.
Excellent stakeholder management and collaborative teamwork with educators, clinicians, and community partners.
High emotional intelligence, empathy, and cultural responsiveness when working with students and families from diverse backgrounds.
Problem-solving and analytical thinking to interpret complex data and make timely intervention decisions.
Organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple caseloads, priorities, and deadlines with attention to detail.
Leadership and coaching skills to mentor staff, lead meetings, and drive program improvements.
Resilience and adaptability to respond to changing student needs, policy shifts, and resource constraints.
Confidentiality and professional ethics in handling sensitive student information.
Facilitation skills for running effective meetings, case conferences, and parent workshops.
Time management and project coordination skills to manage screening windows, reporting cycles, and program timelines.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Special Education, School Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, Education, Rehabilitation Services, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Special Education, School Psychology, Educational Leadership, Counseling, Social Work, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), or a related discipline.
Certifications such as Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), or relevant state credentials are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Special Education
School Counseling / Educational Psychology
Social Work / Community Human Services
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Educational Leadership / Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–7 years of progressively responsible experience in school-based interventions, special education, case management, school counseling, or behavioral health settings.

Preferred:

Minimum 3 years managing MTSS/RTI processes or coordinating interventions across classrooms or schools.
Experience working with diverse learners, multi-disciplinary teams, and successful measurable outcomes in academic or behavioral improvement.
Demonstrated experience with data-driven decision making, staff training/coaching, and program evaluation.