What Does a Lead Group Instructor Do? Inside Laurel Life’s IBHS ABA Group Program

Working with children in behavioral health does not always mean sitting behind a desk or spending the day in a traditional therapy office.

At Laurel Life, a Lead Group Instructor works directly in an ABA group classroom, helping children build communication, social, emotional regulation, independence, and everyday living skills. At the same time, they help lead and support the classroom team.

The Lead Group Instructor is part of Laurel Life’s Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) and plays an important role in making sure each child’s treatment goals are carried into the classroom throughout the day.

For someone who enjoys working directly with children, supporting a team, solving problems, and seeing progress happen over time, the Lead Group Instructor position offers a mix of clinical work, leadership, and hands-on experience.

What Is a Lead Group Instructor?

The Lead Group Instructor, or LGI, serves as the primary point of contact within an assigned ABA group classroom.

The role combines clinical responsibilities with day-to-day classroom leadership. Lead Group Instructors help guide the classroom schedule, support Group Instructors, implement treatment interventions, monitor progress, review data, and step in when children need additional behavioral or emotional support.

They also help make sure each child’s treatment goals are being carried out consistently throughout the day.

This is not a role where most of the work happens behind a computer. Lead Group Instructors are actively involved in the classroom and regularly move between supporting children, helping staff, reviewing interventions, and keeping the day on track.

One current Lead Group Instructor described the role as constantly moving throughout the classroom, supporting both children and staff, modeling interventions, discussing behaviors of concern, and making sure the environment remains safe and supportive.

What Does a Typical Day Look Like?

No two days are exactly the same, but structure and consistency are important parts of Laurel Life’s ABA group classrooms.

A Lead Group Instructor may start the day by making sure the classroom is ready, reviewing staffing and child assignments, and going over the schedule and planned activities with Group Instructors.

Once the children arrive, the LGI helps the classroom move through the day while staying available to both staff and children.

That might mean helping with a transition, answering a question about a child’s goal, modeling an intervention, reviewing how data should be collected, stepping in when a behavior of concern occurs, or helping a Group Instructor work through a challenging situation.

Lead Group Instructors may also work directly with children by modeling play, communication, coping, social, and independence skills.

One employee explained that good classroom leadership requires a balance between structure and flexibility. The schedule gives children consistency, but the LGI also needs to adjust when a child needs extra support or when the day does not go exactly as planned.

Leading the Classroom While Supporting the Team

Being the classroom lead is not just about telling others what to do.

Lead Group Instructors work closely with Group Instructors throughout the day. They provide guidance and clinical oversight, but they also understand how demanding direct work with children can be.

That may mean discussing interventions, modeling strategies, clarifying treatment goals, helping staff stay on schedule, reviewing data collection, or stepping in so another team member can take a break.

One Lead Group Instructor described the ideal approach as being confident enough to lead while still remaining humble and willing to learn.

Another put it simply:

“Be willing to check your ego at the door.”

Strong classroom leadership depends on teamwork. The Lead Group Instructor needs to be able to make decisions while still listening to the Group Instructors who spend a great deal of time working directly with each child.

Helping Children Build Skills That Matter

The goal of the ABA group classroom is not simply to reduce challenging behavior. Children are also working on skills that can help them communicate, participate, become more independent, and function more successfully in everyday situations.

Lead Group Instructors reported frequently working on communication, classroom routines, transitions, social interaction, emotional regulation, coping skills, and independence.

These skills are supported through Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), individualized treatment planning, structured activities, and repeated practice throughout the day.

The classroom gives children opportunities to practice skills while doing many of the things they would naturally experience with others, including playing, socializing, following instructions, participating in activities, waiting, and moving between routines.

For younger children participating in Laurel Life’s group programming, many of these same skills are also emphasized through the Sprouts ABA-Focused Kindergarten Readiness Program.

What Does Progress Look Like?

One of the most rewarding parts of being a Lead Group Instructor is seeing progress happen over time.

Sometimes that progress is a major milestone. Other times, it is a small moment that represents weeks or months of practice.

One Lead Group Instructor recalled working with a child who had been learning to use a communication device. After a lot of modeling and practice, the child independently used the device to communicate that they wanted an activity to continue.

Another employee described the excitement of seeing a child independently request to use the restroom and successfully complete the routine without assistance for the first time.

For staff, moments like these can represent much more than one successful task. They can show growth in communication, independence, social interaction, coping, or daily living skills.

Employees also highlighted the opportunity to share meaningful progress with families as one of the most rewarding parts of the position.

Assessment, Data, and Treatment Planning

Although much of the job is hands-on, the Lead Group Instructor also has important clinical responsibilities.

LGIs collect and review data, help make sure interventions are being implemented correctly, complete assigned treatment plan and Functional Behavioral Assessment updates, and use assessment information to guide treatment.

Depending on the child’s needs, the program may use evidence-based assessments and skill-building curricula such as PEAK, VB-MAPP, the Denver Model, or ABLLS-R.

The data collected throughout the program helps the team understand whether a child is making progress and whether an intervention may need to be adjusted.

Lead Group Instructors also work with supervisors when larger treatment decisions need to be made. They may also collaborate with outside professionals such as speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists when those services are coordinated for a child.

Working With Families

Lead Group Instructors may also communicate with parents and caregivers, depending on the situation and the child’s treatment team.

That communication might include greeting families during arrival or dismissal, gathering information that could affect the child’s day, or sharing appropriate updates about progress.

More detailed treatment discussions may be handled by the child’s supervisor or another member of the clinical team.

The goal is to keep communication open and make sure the people supporting the child are working toward the same goals.

An Active Alternative to a Traditional Desk Job

One theme that came through clearly in the employee survey was how active the Lead Group Instructor position can be.

An LGI may spend the day moving around the classroom, playing with children, helping with transitions, supporting meals, practicing daily living skills, responding to behavioral needs, and assisting with toileting.

Candidates should understand that this is a hands-on position.

One employee noted that the role can include moments that are messy or physically demanding. At the same time, being directly involved is part of what allows staff to become so invested in each child’s progress.

Another Lead Group Instructor described the position this way:

“It’s not the desk job you likely had before or planned you’d have after getting a college education.”

For someone who enjoys staying active, working directly with children, and having variety throughout the day, that can be one of the role’s biggest benefits.

The Seven-Week Program Cycle

Employees also highlighted the structure of the ABA group program as something they value.

The program operates in seven-week cycles followed by a one-week break. Staff described the cycle as providing consistency and predictable expectations while also giving them time to reset before the next round begins.

One Lead Group Instructor said the break helps staff “recalibrate” after seven busy weeks in the classroom.

The current Lead Group Instructor opening is a part-time position scheduled for two days per week within IBHS Group Services. The current posting also notes that additional hours may be available within Laurel Life’s IBHS ABA services for employees who are interested.

Because openings and schedules can change, candidates should review the current job posting for the most up-to-date schedule and employment details.

Training and Support for Lead Group Instructors

Being in a leadership role does not mean working alone.

Employees pointed to supervision, training, and access to clinical leadership as important sources of support.

One Lead Group Instructor specifically mentioned a full-day mock training where staff practiced classroom situations by taking on the roles of children, Group Instructors, and Lead Group Instructors.

Another employee highlighted group supervision for Lead Group Instructors and Sprouts staff as particularly helpful.

Lead Group Instructors can also turn to supervisors when treatment concerns arise or when larger decisions need to be made about a child’s goals or interventions.

Laurel Life uses a trauma-informed approach that emphasizes safety, respect, cultural sensitivity, and positive relationships with both children and coworkers.

What Makes Someone Successful as a Lead Group Instructor?

Employees consistently described the role as one that requires both confidence and humility.

A Lead Group Instructor needs to be comfortable making decisions and leading a classroom while also staying open to feedback and being willing to adjust.

Some of the qualities employees identified as especially important include:

·        Adaptability

·        Confident leadership

·        Humility

·        Strong communication

·        Teamwork

·        Willingness to learn

·        Patience

·        Ability to stay calm when plans change

The role also requires strong awareness. A Lead Group Instructor may be keeping an eye on several children, supporting multiple staff members, monitoring treatment implementation, responding to unexpected needs, and keeping the classroom moving through the schedule all at once.

One employee said one of the biggest surprises after starting the position was realizing just how many things you have to be aware of and manage in a single day.

Why Work as a Lead Group Instructor at Laurel Life?

For the employees who responded to Laurel Life’s staff survey, the children and the team environment stood out the most.

One Lead Group Instructor described the classroom as a consistent team environment where positive relationships with coworkers and seeing children succeed can be extremely rewarding.

Another appreciated being able to focus closely on young children in an active ABA classroom while knowing that supervisors were available when support was needed.

The position gives employees an opportunity to combine behavioral health knowledge with leadership, teamwork, direct interaction with children, and measurable progress.

It is also a role where staff can build meaningful connections with both the children and coworkers they support.

As one Lead Group Instructor shared:

“The more invested you are, the more you will glean from every day.”

Is the Lead Group Instructor Role Right for You?

The Lead Group Instructor position may be a good fit for someone who enjoys being active, wants to work directly with children, feels comfortable taking on a leadership role, and values working as part of a team.

It may especially appeal to professionals with experience in ABA, behavioral health, psychology, social work, counseling, or education who want to use their clinical knowledge in a hands-on setting.

Candidates must meet Pennsylvania IBHS qualification requirements for the position, including applicable education, experience, licensure, certification, or ABA training requirements. Because there are several possible qualification pathways, candidates should review the full posting to see how their background fits the requirements.

Interested in Becoming a Lead Group Instructor?

Explore career opportunities at Laurel Life or view the current Lead Group Instructor job opening and qualification requirements.