Family Engagement Specialist

Family Engagement Specialist

DEPARTMENT: School Improvement

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 190 days

SALARY:  Based on Bulloch County Schools salary/supplement schedule

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

REPORTS TO:  Federal Programs Director and School Principal or designee

JOB CODE:  413

POSITION SUMMARY:

Serves as the liaison between school and parents, relaying the needs of one to the other and ensuring Title I, Part A family engagement regulations are met with meaningful and strategic actions to build parent capacity under this section of the law.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma/GED.

• Three years of experience in a related field.

• Experience and knowledge with computers and fundamental technology.

• Experience working with a diverse group of people.

• Embodies the core values of the district; relational, purposeful, reflective, resourceful, courageous and accountable.

• Must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential function of the position.  When appropriate, reasonable accommodations will be provided to afford persons with disabilities an opportunity to perform the essential functions of the position.

• Must be able to provide a criminal background check with results that adhere to Bulloch County Board of Education Policy GAK(1).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• College degree.
• Experience serving as an advocate for children and parents.
• Knowledge of family engagement research and literature.
• Experience with developing collaborative partners and building relationships with constituents in the community.
• Experience working in Title I schools.
• Understanding of student achievement data.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides opportunities to develop effective family-school partnerships to support student achievement and school improvement.
• Educates teachers and staff on how to communicate and work effectively with parents as equal partners in ensuring the academic achievement of their students and provides technical. assistance relating to family engagement at the local school or district level.
• Helps parents understand the school system so they can become better advocates for their children’s education and expands opportunities for continued learning, voluntary classroom service and school participation.
• Advises parents on how to address issues with teachers and the school leadership staff.
• Develops community collaborations and provides referrals for community based services for families dealing with conditions that impact the academic achievement of their students.
• Collaborates with local, regional, and state organizations to create opportunities to help families understand school academic standards, assessments and academic reports.
• Collaborates with parents, teachers, and the school’s leadership team to develop a family friendly school climate.
• Coordinates opportunities for parents and volunteers to contribute in positive ways towards student achievement and recognize their contributions.
• Collaborates with other family engagement professionals such as parent mentors and early education school transition coaches or other designees.
• Promotes parents as partners by involving them in the decision making process regarding parent and family engagement activities and school improvement.
• Provides workshops, classes and activities for parents at their local school on a regular basis and maintains a school parent resource center.
• Recruits volunteers from the community to host various workshops and classes to speak directly to parents.
• Provides school engagement materials such as event calendars, brochures, educational resources, videos and digital and social media.
• Conducts professional learning training with faculty and staff to determine schools needs and discuss purposeful administration of effective strategies in family engagement.
• Creates opportunities for parents who have limited English proficiency, a disability or are underrepresented because of social economics or racial barriers to participate in education initiatives.
• Develops, analyzes and distributes the results of annual evaluations to the school’s leadership team and/or Federal Programs Director as well as other stakeholders.
• Maintains excellent records of all parent and family engagement activities, reports, surveys, evaluations, funding, annual program evaluations, and communications to parents.
• Attends all meetings and training for Family Engagement Specialists and takes part in professional learning opportunities at the local, regional, and /or state level with proper authorization and stays informed of the most current parent and family engagement requirements and guidance as described in Section 1116 of the Every Student Succeeds Act.
• Ensures the school or district’s parent and family engagement program remains in compliance with all state and federal guidelines.
• Performs other duties as requested. 

PERFORMANCE FACTORS: 

• Light Work:  Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.  If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of force greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated light work.
• Interaction with Others:  Ability to maintain, on a regular and consistent basis, relationships that are characterized by high expectations, teamwork, and collaboration.  Ability to be flexible relative to daily routines.  Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to the differences among diverse populations.
• Concentration:  Ability to maintain workflow and thought processes in the presence of frequent distractions.  Ability to ignore irrelevant sights or sounds and intrusive thoughts or stimuli.  Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously with only few or no errors.
• Stressful Circumstances:  Ability to produce quality work when short or unexpected deadlines are presented.  Ability to adjust work processes without incident when new and unexpected directions are given relative to a project that may be in process.  Ability to maintain composure and not compound a situation when interacting with persons who may be angry, demanding or otherwise less than polite.
• Independent Judgment:  Ability to complete work tasks without being given precise directions relative to work steps or the final project.
• Organizational Skills:  Ability to establish priorities, simultaneously manage multiple tasks; and deliver a quality work product by a designated deadline.
• Public Contact:  Ability to communicate professionally and effectively, both verbally and in writing, with superiors, colleagues, parents, and other individuals within and external to the school system.  Ability to demonstrate professionalism while interacting with others and to maintain constructive working relationships.
• Attendance and Dependability:  Ability to report to work at the scheduled time and to seldom be absent from work.  Demonstrate prompt and regular work attendance.  Process appropriate paperwork to authorize absences in accordance with school system procedures.  Ability to complete work in a timely, accurate manner and to be conscientious about work performance.

EVALUATION: Performance will be evaluated annually by the Superintendent or designated supervisor in accordance with Policy GBI - Evaluation of Personnel.

Job descriptions are designed and intended only to summarize the essential duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and requirements for the purpose of clarifying the general nature and scope of a position's role.  Job descriptions do not list all tasks an employee might be expected to perform.