Community Partnership Coordinator

Job Summary:  

• Serve as the Homeless Education (McKinney-Vento) Coordinator, responsible for implementing and managing programs in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to ensure appropriate identification, enrollment, and support services for students experiencing homelessness, including access to educational resources and stability supports.
• Additionally, serve as Executive Assistant to Central Administration and Student Registration Coordinator, managing key administrative functions including correspondence and electronic communications between district and school administrators, staff, families, community members, and students. This role is responsible for enrolling, transferring, and maintaining student records for Westerly Public Schools, as well as ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality of all student data and records.
• The position may also create and generate reports, develop documents as needed, and provide support to instructional and administrative staff. This role requires strict adherence to confidentiality, professional discretion, and data integrity at all times.

Responsibilities:

• Work with community based programs to support families of students with securing living assistance (ie, heat, rent, food, electricity, etc…)
• Transportation of students to and from school who are unable to secure transportation as an only remaining option in accordance with district policy.
• Document and provide clear objective information as needed
• Ability to engage with families in a calm, non threatening manner using an appropriate de-escalation when necessary.
• Awareness of and sensitivity to cultural differences.
• Adherence to confidentiality and maintaining dignity of students and families.
• Engage families with respect and understanding of their cultural and personal values.
• Collaborate with school personnel and external agencies to identify homeless children and youths through outreach efforts and coordination.
• Facilitate the enrollment of homeless children and youths in schools within the Local Education Agency (LEA) and ensure they have equal opportunities to achieve academic success.
• Ensure that homeless families, children, and youths can access educational services, including Head Start programs, early intervention services under Part C of IDEA, and other preschool programs managed by the LEA.
• Provide referrals to necessary services such as health, dental, mental health, substance abuse, and housing services for homeless families and youths.
• Inform parents or guardians about educational opportunities and related services available for their children, and create meaningful opportunities for their active participation in their children’s education.
• Distribute information about the educational rights of homeless students in accessible locations such as schools, shelters, public libraries, and soup kitchens, ensuring the information is presented in an understandable manner.
• Educate parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youths about available transportation services, including transportation to and from the school of origin, and assist them in accessing these services.
• Offer professional development and support to school personnel to enhance their ability to address the needs of homeless students.
• Ensure unaccompanied youths are enrolled in school, provided with opportunities to meet State academic standards, informed of their independent student status under the Higher Education Act, and aware of their right to receive verification of this status from the local liaison.
• Provide reception support to central administration
• Enroll, withdraw and transfer new and returning students and returning students to WPS
•  Maintain record of homeschooled students, homeless students, out of district students and all student address changes
• Facilitate Kindergarten Registration including but not limited to creation and distribution of flyers and notification of community through neighborhood pre-schools, social media, websites, news, etc.
• Assist Administrator with communication of important administrative details.
• Must maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion regarding work related issues and activities.
• Produce final versions of correspondence from written drafts or verbal instruction.
• Obtain and maintain in an organized, electronic file system for easy recovery as needed data and information, and the production of special and routine reports as required.
• Greet and screen visitors using the building security system, providing responses to inquiries whenever possible.
• Open, organize and review correspondence, memoranda, statements, forms and records for content and compliance with district policies and administrative protocols and procedures.
• Operate a wide array of software and office equipment including but not limited to, Microsoft Office (most current version), Google Suite, Frontline, Skyward, various web-based products and all standard office machines.
• Networking in the community with local providers.
• Any other responsibilities under the direction of the Assistant Superintendent

Qualifications:

• Experience:
• A thorough knowledge of office methods, practices, procedures and terms;
• A thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and the ability to utilize new databases with minimal instruction;
• A thorough knowledge of Business English;
• A high degree of skill in composing and transcribing correspondence, minutes and reports;
• The ability to gather information, maintain records and produce reports electronically;
• The ability to independently manage a wide range of administrative details;
• The ability to exercise a high degree of initiative and good judgment;
• Working knowledge of a variety of automated office equipment;
• The ability to use that equipment to communicate effectively and professionally;
• The ability to understand, follow and communicate complex written and verbal instructions;
• The ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other departments, public and private organizations, department personnel and the public at large;
• The ability to recognize and respond to organizational issues and priority setting situations.
• Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field preferred. 
• Relevant coursework in Education, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Public Administration, or a related field, providing a foundation in educational systems, social services, and community engagement.
• Or, any combination of education and experience that shall be substantially equivalent to the above education and experience.
• Certification: 
• Hold an active, valid driver’s license with the ability to readily obtain a chauffeur’s endorsement upon hire.

Salary : $65,000 - $75,000