Student & Family Specialist

Job Posting:  Student & Family Specialist

Reports to:  Building Administrator

Position Overview:

Pinckney Community Schools is seeking a dedicated Student and Family Specialist to plan, coordinate, and conduct student support groups to make optimal use of the education experience. Pinckney is in Livingston County, known for its suburban-rural mix and a draw for nature lovers with its parks, lakes, and trails.  The ideal candidate will have a passion for fostering student success and creating a welcoming environment for students and families.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Provide problem-solving service to students and their families through individual, group, and community social work methods (i.e CBT, Trauma Informed, Grief and Loss, DBT, etc), so as to enable those served to cope with problems adversely affecting the ability of students to make optimal use of the education experience.
2. Serve as liaison between the school, the home, and the community in building and maintaining positive relationships.  Advocates for students and families to have equal opportunities and access to appropriate educational programs and services.
3. Coordinate and develop resources within and outside the school system for use by students, their families, and school personnel.  Developed and distributed an all-inclusive Community Resource List available to families.  Some resources included on that list are: Housing, Mental Health, Vision, Dental, Tutoring, Medical, Transportation, etc.
4. Collaborate with principals, teachers, and other school personnel to improve the use of existing school programs and procedures, as well as to plan and implement new programs and procedures related to the educational, social, and emotional needs of students.
5. Provide education about and support to students and families on destructive behavior which include but not limited to substance use, self-harming behavior, eating disorders, sexual promiscuity, teen pregnancy, and homelessness.
6. Consult with school staff on situations which adversely affect the personal, social-emotional, and academic development of students.  
7. Plan, conduct, and participate in professional development opportunities for school personnel on various preventive and intervention strategies to assist students and their families.
8. Provide classroom instruction to students on various social issues such as bully-proofing, conflict-resolution, effective communication styles,etc.
9. Work a flexible schedule in order to conduct home visits as needed, conduct workshops and presentations, and provide individual student and family support as needed.
10. Provide workshops to parents, such as Love and Logic training sessions, Say Yes to No, Executive Functioning, etc to parents and families at times conducive to our community.
11. Serve as a member of a team which provides support and assistance to new students/ New Student Welcome Group.  Connect with new families regarding transition.
12. Serve as the high school representative on the Pinckney Community Schools Social Emotional Support Network (SESN).  This network supports the emotional needs of students, families, staff and district members in case of an emergency (death of student or staff, natural disasters, man made disasters, etc.  Provide crisis intervention services to students when psychological, emotional and behavioral issues negatively impact learning.
13. Provide mental health education (anxiety, depression, suicide prevention, etc) in classes to students and presentations to parents district wide regarding themes stated above.
14. Provide classroom education sessions to students regarding Executive Functioning Skills, Time Management techniques, Stress Reduction, Setting Healthy Boundaries with Peers, Risk Reduction education and techniques, etc
15. Serve as a representative on the PCHS School Improvement Team.  Participates in the assessment of the school climate and culture.  Identifies environmental issues that may interfere with student development, learning, and school success.
16. Identify problems and situations interfering with the ability of students to make optimal use of the educational experience.

Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Social Work or similar field or Michigan counseling licensure.
• Demonstrated successful work experience in addressing social and emotional needs of children and families, including the ability to problem-solve and facilitate interventions.
• Ability to design and implement preventive and intervention strategies to assist students, families, and staff.
• Excellent communication skills, including empathic listening, speaking and writing skills, and the ability to work with individuals, lead groups and provide training to parents and staff.
• Demonstrated strong ability to build and maintain healthy student relationships.
• Knowledge of community resources available to families and schools and ability to facilitate access to resources where needed.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills, and flexibility to deal with crisis situations.
• Commitment to professional growth and continuous improvement.
• Ability to meet confidentiality standards.
• Ability to make effective presentations to staff, students, families and community.

 Preferred

• Substance abuse education/prevention experience.
• Experience in addressing various mental health issues in student and families.

Application Process:  Interested candidates should submit the following materials:

• A cover letter outlining your qualifications and vision for the role.
• A current resume.
• Copies of transcripts, certifications, and relevant credentials.
• Apply via the website www.pinckneypirates.org/jobs

Compensation & Benefits:  Per the Pinckney Community Schools PEA agreement

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, walk and stand. The employee is occasionally required to bend and or twist at the trunk more than the average person. The employee is continuously repeating the same hand, arm or finger motion many times. The employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds such as books and teaching material. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distant vision and the ability to adjust

focus. The ability to travel to other buildings is required. The position requires the individual to sometimes work irregular or extended work hours and meet multiple demands from several people.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTABILITY:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is quiet to loud depending upon the activity in the particular part of the day. Occasionally the employee may be required to be outdoors for a short period of

time, and therefore subject to varying weather conditions, for purposes of accomplishing the essential functions of this job.

FUNCTIONS OF POSITION DESCRIPTION:

This position description has been prepared to define the general duties of the position, provide examples of work and to detail the required knowledge, skills and ability as well as the acceptable experience and training for the position. The description is not intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the duties of employees under supervision. The Pinckney Community School District retains and reserves any and all rights to change,

modify, amend, add to or delete from any portion of this description in its sole judgment. This position description is not a contract for employment.

The employee shall remain free of any alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substance in the workplace throughout his/her employment in the District.

The Pinckney Community School District is an equal opportunity employer, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.