Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 330,000 students in 600+ schools and employing nearly 36,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

Safety is among the top priorities at Chicago Public Schools, and the Office of Safety and Security has implemented a comprehensive system that includes trained staff, protocols, programs, and policies to keep students and staff safe before, during, and after school.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Security Team Leader, the Climate Team Officer is responsible for the overall safety and security of the school. This position is a part of the Climate team, which plays a critical role in the school’s culture and climate. The Climate team is actively involved in the progressive discipline system and supplements the on-site security team as the first line of defense to defuse and de-escalate student misconduct and/or serious incidents. The Climate team is, by design, a highly mobile supplemental security team designed to move rapidly between multiple work locations across the city of Chicago.

The Climate Team Officer will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Supplement the existing security team at various locations as directed by the Security Team Leader.
• Support the school’s efforts to create a restorative culture among the student body that shifts the focus away from punishment to restoration
• Actively respond to fights or other issues in the school that threaten the safety of students, staff and guests, by utilizing the Safety Care skills up to and including momentary physical intervention if warranted by the safety risk
• Fulfill duties associated with the post assigned as part of the school’s comprehensive security plan; Maintain an orderly post and remain at the post at all times unless otherwise directed by a supervisor
• Conduct assigned Hall Sweeps
• Report unusual activity or suspicions of safety issues to the Security Supervisor or administration in a timely fashion.
• Assist with the organization and distribution of student lockers and locker searches
• Monitor school grounds and school entrances via foot or mobile patrol to ensure only authorized personnel and authorized visitors access the school; Redirect or escort unauthorized persons from property
• When assigned to the main entrance, ensure all guests follow visitor protocol and triage visitor requests
• Actively participate in professional development training to ensure ongoing growth and to advance skills
• Monitor the student entry and dismissal process to ensure safety
• Build positive and professional relationships with students and leverage those relationships to establish and maintain productive and safe learning environments and common areas
• Exercise dignity and respect when interacting with students at all times
• Lead efforts to de-escalate inappropriate student behaviors
• Restore order and discipline wherever deployed.
• Serve as a primary participant in emergency response during crisis situations including but not limited to fire, tornado and active shooter incidents
• Support District meetings including Board Meetings and school-level meetings as directed by supervisor
• Identify challenging and disruptive behaviors that may jeopardize the culture and climate of the school environment.
• Identify indications of intimidation and dangerous activity within the school
• Provide assistance to CPS and CPD personnel as needed
• Monitor student body for indications of impending violence and immediately communicate such indications
• Diffuse threats/conflicts requiring Climate Team presence
• Work to meet school’s goals for reduction of incidents of serious misconduct
• Increase stakeholders’ perception of a safe school climate and culture
• Strict adherence to CPS Office of Safety and Security Accountability Standards

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Climate Team Officer must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent

Experience Required:

• Minimum of two (2) years of highly successful, related experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Must be able to stand for long periods of time (up to 8 hours) and quickly ascend/descend stairs.
• Knowledge of basic methods of providing site security and safety
• Experience with technology systems utilized by CPS for school safety processes (i.e. camera systems or entry screening systems)
• Ability to work with adolescents in maintaining a positive and safe school culture
• Ability to read and adhere to written and oral instructions
• Work proficiently as a member of a team: Effectively collaborate with colleagues and administration
• Ability to thrive in changing and challenging conditions
• Have an appreciation for cultural awareness and competency and a staunch commitment to continuously develop related insight and proficiencies
• Take accountability for mistakes, and take corrective action to mitigate repeating mistakes
• Ability to multi-task and thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrates sound judgment and ethical practices
• Commitment to social justice and restorative justice practices
• Strong communication skills (Oral, Written & Interpersonal)
• Ability to write incident reports.
• Impeccable attendance and punctuality
• Ability to work a flexible schedule and at various work locations

Other Requirements

• Must have access to a vehicle to travel to any CPS school city-wide
• Successful completion of CPS Security Training curriculum with associated certifications, after hire*
• Successful completion of CPS physical fitness skills assessment, after hire*

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. “Up-to-date” on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters. Unvaccinated staff with an approved exemption must submit to weekly testing.