What are the responsibilities and job description for the SLIFE (Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education) Transition Support position at Malden Public Schools?
District Overview:
Overview of the Malden Public Schools: The Malden Public Schools (MPS) is a richly diverse school district located within the Greater Boston area and accessible by the MBTA orange line train. Malden’s student body comprises approximately 6,800 students who represent 59 different countries and speak 67 different languages. We have 1 early learning center, 5 K-8 schools, and 1 high school. We are committed to providing high expectations for all learners through rigorous instruction and culturally responsive practices and pedagogy. MPS is a safe, welcoming, and collaborative district where we encourage and embrace a growth mindset. We believe that our diversity is an asset, and we are seeking candidates that reflect, embrace, and contribute to the strengths of our community.
Description:
The SLIFE Transition Support role will provide critical support to our Multilingual Learners (MLs), focusing particularly on Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) and newly arrived students. This role involves ensuring a successful entry into the Malden Public Schools and providing targeted academic, administrative, and family support under the guidance of district specialists and school staff. The creation of the SLIFE Transition Support role was recommended by the MPS SLIFE planning team. This role was determined to be vital for seeing out the vision of identifying and supporting SLIFE students. The role is funded by Title III.
Roles and Responsibilities:
The Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) Transition Support role will be responsible for the following key areas:
- Onboarding and Welcoming:
- Serve as a welcoming liaison for newly arriving students and their families.
- Conduct check-ins with students experiencing attendance concerns.
- Generally check in with and support SLIFE students to monitor their overall adjustment and well-being.
- Assessment and Identification:
- Administer pilot math and literacy SLIFE screeners to identify specific academic needs and support formal identification of SLIFE students.
- Support Language Acquisition Team (LAT) Facilitators with other duties as assigned.
- Academic Support:
- Provide targeted academic support by pushing into classrooms with students who are dually identified (e.g., MLs who also receive special education services).
- Provide targeted academic interventions including foundational literacy instruction and foundational numeracy instruction for SLIFE students.
- Family Outreach and Support:
- Support with general parent interviews and outreach efforts to support formal identification of SLIFE students.
- Specifically conduct SLIFE family interviews to gather essential background information and facilitate communication between the school and home.
- Collaboration and Professional Growth:
- Collaborate with ML teachers, classroom teachers, and other specialists to align student support.
- Participate in training sessions provided by the district or grant.
- Participate in other related tasks as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Experience working with children in urban education and/or a diverse setting
- Collaborative and strong interpersonal skills
- Growth mindset and willingness to accept feedback
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experienced teacher, tutor, or paraprofessional. ESL licensure preferred.
- Familiarity with administering student screeners or diagnostic assessments.
- Understanding of the unique needs of Multilingual Learners and SLIFE students.
- Proficiency in Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Spanish, Chinese, and/or Arabic.
Reports to: Building Principal, Director of Multilingual Education
Hours and Salary: Up to 19 hours per week at $28 per hour
Funding Source: Title III Grant
Start Date: Immediately
End Date: Approximate ending of the 2025-26 school year
Position Type: Part-Time
Salary: $28 Per Hour
Timeline:
Phone Interviews: Conducted on a rolling basis beginning on January 5, 2026
Applicants will hear within two weeks of their interview about next steps
Job will begin on or after January 20, 2026