El Puente seeks a dedicated and socially conscious Attendance Coordinator to join our Community School team. The position will utilize El Puente’s model for youth leadership and community development to nurture the next generation of leaders

The Attendance Coordinator works collaboratively with staff at MS 50 El Puente Community School, a middle school in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The Attendance Coordinator is responsible for developing an attendance work plan based on the shared vision of MS 50’s Leadership Team and other school staff that targets students who are challenged by attendance. This includes planning events that promote high attendance and managing a data-driven attendance incentive program and creating events to celebrate school accomplishments while developing an engaging school culture. They will also recruit young people to become El Puente members and help them develop their expertise in educational, racial, and environmental justice issues.

This position reports directly to the Community School Director. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, flexible, team-oriented environment, and is motivated by challenges. They will be able to manage multiple priorities and create systems to improve MS 50’s attendance improvement efforts. They will be able to build relationships with young people and their families, create collaborations, have a passion for social justice, and understand how movement and community-building work take place through liberatory, meaningful interactions and co-learning with youth members and their families.

Who we are:

Founded in 1982, El Puente is a youth-centered organization that uses the arts and education to advance social and environmental justice. Its mission is to inspire and nurture leadership for peace and justice, working as a human rights institution in NYC and Puerto Rico with national and international impact. El Puente creates community-led movements of self-determination through a holistic leadership and membership program model, as a high-impact youth and community development organization. As a staff member of El Puente, the Attendance Coordinator is expected to uphold and work within the mission, philosophy, and principles of the organization.

El Puente integrates its activities and community campaigns within its six Youth Leadership Centers, and its nationally recognized public high school, the El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice. Organizing in North Brooklyn, Puerto Rico, and beyond, El Puente is at the forefront of community & youth development, and as such, initiates social policy locally and nationally.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist in establishing and creating an environment that responds to the needs of students and families, while building a culture that focuses on high student attendance and academic achievement.

• Complete daily attendance outreach, including communicating with parents of students that were late to school and absent that day

• Proactively engage and build relationships with students, encouraging them to attend school.

• Attend Monthly District Attendance Meetings

• Facilitate bi-weekly attendance team meetings which identify trends for school population and create goals and implement strategies to ensure young people are in school

• Work closely with Assistant Principal and Community School Director (CSD) to enhance the school’s culture

• Coordinate student needs with services, programing, and resources that surrounds each person with the social and emotional supports that adds enrichment for the students with attendance and academic challenges.

• Coordinate Success Mentor Program which includes recruiting, supervising and training mentors to address students who experience severe chronic absenteeism

• Identify needs of Success Mentoring Program and provide additional resources and trainings internally and externally

• Work closely with New Visions Student Sorter system including regular contact with New Visions liaison

• Attend weekly grade team meetings

• Attend bi-weekly CARE Team meetings

• Coordinate and lead home visits with parent coordinator and/or district attendance teacher

• Coordinate events to celebrate and increase attendance monthly

• Attend weekly El Puente directors and coordinators meetings along with other meetings and trainings

• Execute regular community resource assessments to determine what services are available for students and their families.

• Complete necessary data entry as required in data systems.

• Hallway supervision during transitions

• Help coordinate and manage Extended Learning Time programming

• Support with social media management/communication

• Support with any promotion of the school in open houses and middle school fairs

• Represent El Puente and MS 50 at public events, meetings, coalitions, rallies, and press conferences, as needed

• Attend scheduled organizational training, including the annual El Puente all staff retreat in September.

• Additional duties as assigned.

• Experience developing adolescent services and programming. School setting preferred.

• Experience with program coordination, event planning, resource connection, and referral coordination with adolescents

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to engage, build relationships, and demonstrate empathy with adolescents

• Strong organizational skills and ability to coordinate multiple tasks and responsibilities

• Capacity to work independently and collaboratively with staff members

• Ability to work efficiently and effectively under pressure

• Possess a strong belief in people's ability to grow and change; forge a mutually respectful partnership with students and their families.

• Ability to set boundaries and maintain the role of practitioner and to intervene appropriately.

• Computer proficiency, and database management a requisite

• Bilingual in spanish and english preferred

• Be able to work irregular hours including evenings and weekends

• Demonstrated skills to build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders and communities.

COVID-19 considerations:

All new hires must submit proof of vaccination.

Location:

This is a full-time position based in Brooklyn, NY.

Schedule:

Generally Monday through Friday. Workdays and hours may shift depending on scheduling needs; the typical schedule will be 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Salary and Benefits:

$45k annual salary and benefits package, including health and retirement.

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Week paid in observance of holidays - December 24th through January 1st

Wellness Week (full pay) - Last week of August

Eleven paid holidays

El Puente is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a staff that reflects the communities we serve. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, DREAMers, as well as members of the LGBTQIA communities.