Student and Community Engagement Specialist

Student and Community Engagement Specialist, 8.0 hrs/day (1.0 FTE), Full Time, Permanent


POSITION SUMMARY:
This position is responsible for promoting greater cultural understanding and collaborative efforts within the district to strengthen community ties with the district. Serves as the district community liaison and cultural/linguistic broker in numerous capacities to increase family engagement and support students within various school settings to increase academic and social achievement for students. The incumbent provides vocational specific instructional and non-instructional support to teachers, students, and families and is responsible for monitoring and assisting individuals or groups of students without supervision. Provides comprehensive academic support services, social services, and activities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Incumbents must have successful experience in working with culturally diverse families and communities, or have otherwise demonstrated a commitment to strengthening engagement of a diverse community and skill in communicating with a diverse population.

• Proficient bilingual skills if position is linguistically specific, to and from English, in the language(s) specified in the announcement. Meets the District assessment of bilingual skills in the required language(s).
• Two years of post-high school education preferable leading to an Associate's Degree. At the discretion of the District, highly related and comparable experience may be substituted for all or part of the two years of college/university education.
• Three (3) years' experience working with students or community members from culturally specific historically underserved populations and/or bicultural experience.
• Experience working and/or learning within a local public school system and state statutes.
• Knowledge of the value of education, and understanding of the beliefs and practices with the targeted cultural group.
• Ability to communicate effectively both in written and spoken form with parents, caretakers, school staff, administration staff, and public.
• Ability to facilitate discussion across cultures for the purpose of understanding and resolving student, family, and school issues.
• Demonstrated understanding of culture and the impact the culture may have on the education of students and the ability of parents to be engaged in the education of their children.
• Understands the strengths and needs of the target group, school district and school.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the structure, function and culture of school.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidence and understand student information privacy rights.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
 

• Experience in community outreach, advocacy, developing leadership, socio-political consciousness and social/emotional support.
• Knowledge of the school system in a host country of the students.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (depending on specific assignment):
 

1. Establish an inclusive and collaborative environment to assist parents, from culturally specific groups, effectively navigate the public school environment for the benefit of students.
2. Build community networks by establishing regular meetings, organizing family engagement opportunities and connecting community partnerships to families and school communities.
3. Develop and maintain trusting relationships between the district/school and parents/students by serving as a resource to community partnerships and conducting home visits as required.
4. Share cross-cultural information between culturally specific groups and district staff to facilitate understanding and communication with the purpose of welcoming and engaging students and families in schools and school activities.
5. Develop educational materials about the district or school to assist parents, and community members in learning about school systems, including website presence, while monitoring trends/themes that inform the district response.
6. Collaborate with school administrators, teachers, counselors and social workers and other school staff to identify and address student academic, behavioral and social needs including attendance and engagement.
7. Maintain a data tracking system to monitor student progress, provide instructional support in various group settings, schedule student check in and meetings and build positive trusting relationships to re-engage and maintain learning.
8. Provide information and guidance on implementing equity initiatives including Restorative Practices.
9. Actively participate in creating a safe environment through supervision of students by observing needs and challenges of students and engaging administration when needed.
10. Oversees student behavior and safety and takes steps to intervene when students are not in control, not in the proper location, or may be in dangerous or unsafe situations.
11. Demonstrate leadership skills, including the ability to facilitate groups of adult learners and students, build relationships with community, and manage conflict when necessary, using Restorative Practices to move a group forward.
12. Assist through projects, communications, and meetings to improve relations between cultural communities and educational institutions.
13. Model and mentor breaking down bias, prejudice, and other institutional barriers including being a resource addressing racial and biased incidents.
14. Attend meetings at various schools and community locations, traveling within the district and larger metropolitan community using private transportation.
15. Participates and applies appropriate training as it relates to the position.
16. Works in a flexible schedule according to need and at the discretion of the supervisor to meet the needs of families, students and community members. Performs other duties as assigned.

Performs other duties as assigned.

The North Clackamas School District strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of our staff and students. We foster equity and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our qualifications described.  If you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of this position, or how this would be determined, please feel free to contact Human Resources to discuss your application. Preference will be given to those applicants with work or lived experience with culturally, linguistically, and racially diverse communities.