What are the responsibilities and job description for the Bilingual Attendance & Engagement Specialist position at New Paradigm For Education?
Who We Are
New Paradigm For Education (NPFE) is a non-profit Charter Management Organization (CMO) composed of educational practitioners, community advocates, and business leaders who have dedicated years of service to children. We specialize in maximizing student learning potential through proven education practices and managing all phases of school design, planning, and program implementation. NPFE is on a mission to ensure that all students in Michigan achieve at the highest levels, supporting educational transformation through increased student achievement, fiscal responsibility, and community support.
What You’ll Do
NPFE seeks an Attendance and Engagement Specialist to promote student attendance by monitoring students with excessive or potential attendance problems, enforcing the provisions of the Michigan Code of Truancy and Attendance Law, assisting in the development of prevention/intervention strategies, monitoring student progress, and making referrals for assistance.
Job Requirements
Bachelor’s degree or higher required
Fluent in both English and Spanish (verbal and written) with the ability to effectively communicate, interpret, and translate information for Spanish-speaking students and families
Strong analytical skills to interpret attendance data and develop actionable recommendations.
Experience creating data reports, graphs, dashboards, and presentations.
Knowledge of chronic absenteeism interventions, MTSS, student support systems, and family engagement practices.
Excellent communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities and student cases.
Experience conducting family outreach and home visits preferred.
Commitment to equity, student success, and the removal of barriers to attendance.
Strong computer skills, including proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite
Proficient in Excel spreadsheets
Data Analysis & Strategic Planning
Collect, analyze, and interpret attendance data to identify trends, patterns, root causes, and at-risk student groups.
Create clear data visualizations, dashboards, graphs, and reports to communicate attendance trends to school leaders, teachers, and stakeholders.
Develop and monitor attendance action plans based on data findings and progress-monitoring measures.
Present attendance data and recommendations to school leadership teams to support data-driven decision-making.
Student & Family Engagement
Identify and monitor students with chronic absenteeism, excessive absences, and attendance concerns.
Conduct daily outreach to students and families through phone calls, text messages, emails, and other communication methods.
Conduct home visits as needed to better understand attendance barriers and strengthen family-school partnerships.
Connect families with school and community resources, including social services, transportation assistance, healthcare, counseling, housing support, and other services that address attendance barriers.
Build positive relationships with students and families to increase engagement and promote regular attendance.
Provide Spanish-English interpretation during parent meetings, attendance conferences, student support meetings, front office visits, and other school-related meetings to ensure effective communication between families and school staff.
Assist with translating school communications, attendance notices, letters, and other important documents into Spanish to ensure families have access to information in their preferred language.
Serve as a liaison between Spanish-speaking families and school staff, helping to build trust, strengthen family engagement, and remove language barriers that may impact student attendance and success.
Intervention Development & Case Management
Collaborate with teachers, counselors, administrators, and support staff to develop and attendance goals.
Maintain ongoing case management for identified students and ensure appropriate follow-up implement targeted attendance interventions.
Facilitate attendance review meetings and participate in student support, MTSS, RTI, SST, or Solutions Team meetings.
Assist in developing individualized attendance improvement plans and monitor progress toward and documentation.
Collaboration & Leadership Support
Meet regularly with teachers, school leaders, and support teams to review attendance data and the effectiveness of interventions.
Provide coaching, recommendations, and resources to staff regarding attendance improvement strategies and best practices.
Support school-wide attendance initiatives, campaigns, incentives, and engagement efforts.
Serve as a liaison between the school and external agencies, including social services, juvenile court services, law enforcement, and community organizations when appropriate.
Compliance & Reporting
Maintain accurate, confidential student records and documentation in accordance with district, state, and federal regulations.
Prepare attendance reports, intervention summaries, and compliance documentation as required.
Monitor attendance policies and procedures to ensure consistency and compliance.
Additional Responsibilities
Support front office operations and school-wide initiatives as needed.
Participate in professional learning related to attendance improvement, family engagement, and student support services.
Perform other duties as assigned by the school administrator.
The Individual
While there is no single formula for a great Attendance Officer, our strongest team members share a few characteristics. They are highly motivated and results-driven, extremely organized with the ability to balance deadlines and multiple workstreams, flexible and adaptable to ever-changing organizational needs and work demands, and possess strong written, verbal, and bookkeeping skills. Above all, they possess an enduring belief in the limitless potential of all scholars and are committed to going “above and beyond” for student success.
If this sounds like you, apply TODAY to join the NPFE team!