QUALIFICATIONS:

Applicants must hold an Associate’s Degree or have completed a minimum of 60 college credit hours, though a Bachelor’s Degree is preferred. Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is required. The ideal candidate will have strong verbal and written communication skills in both languages, along with considerable knowledge of community organizations and social service agencies that serve families and children in Hopewell. A minimum of three years of experience working with diverse families is preferred. Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite and strong public speaking and presentation skills are essential. The candidate should demonstrate the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with staff, families, and students from diverse backgrounds, and to work collaboratively with culturally, socially, and economically diverse populations. Additionally, the candidate should have excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities, along with strong conflict resolution skills to handle adverse situations constructively. The ability to work independently and experience with data compilation and analysis are also required.

SUMMARY:

The Bilingual Family Engagement Liaison is a division-wide position responsible for building the capacity of schools to authentically engage our Limited English Proficient (LEP) families, whose primary language is Spanish, as well as our English Learner (EL) and migrant students. The Liaison’s primary role is to develop family engagement systems and activities that create strong partnerships to support teaching, learning, student achievement and school improvement. This position will work under the direction of the division administration in conjunction with school administration and staff to create a welcoming environment that values parents/guardians as full partners in the education and development of their children. The Liaison will serve as a bridge between school and home by building trustful relationships and fostering understanding grounded in equity-based solutions.

GENERAL DUTIES (May not include all duties performed)

• Organizes family engagement activities/events that address areas of interest and need for families, such as: understanding district & school policies/procedures (e.g. attendance; discipline; etc.), the school report card, participating in effective parent-teacher conferences,  understanding the school curriculum, etc.
• Collaborates with school staff in developing effective on-going communication with families and community
• Works with the School Counselors, Attendance Officers, School Nurses, and School Social Worker to coordinate supports for students and families
• Participates in regular professional development to improve skills and gain knowledge about family engagement research and best practice
• Manages outreach to families and students at risk of chronic absenteeism
• Monitors student/family progress through phone, email, mail, and/or face-to-face contact as required, which may include home visits
• Develop a positive working relationship with individual school staff and district staff to assist in establishing and maintaining open lines of communication between the school and home
• Assists in organizing and providing workshops/activities for parents in how to support their child academically and with their social-emotional well-being
• Provides materials such as district/event calendars, brochures, and educational resources that meet families’ needs
• Works in collaboration with school staff to provide support and resources needed to develop full, equal, and equitable partnerships among families, educators, and community partners
• Participates in school-based teams to help identify, address, and monitor areas that impact academic success and/or social-emotional well-being of students
• Acts as a liaison between families and school staff when problems arise and supports families by identifying and connecting them to district and community resources
• Collects, maintains, and reports accurate data to document outcomes and the impact of family engagement activities at the school level
• Performs other duties as assigned

WORK CONDITIONS

Duties performed are typically in a school setting and in the community. Performs professional work providing support and consultative services for assigned school/program.   Work requires frequent standing, sitting, walking, and light lifting.  Most assignments include activities/tasks in schools, centers, and the community, which require the employee to have or arrange for their own transportation.  Some assignments are subject to deadlines inherent in tailoring and delivering programs to meet the needs of diverse groups.  Some assignments may involve exposure to risks associated with interaction with parents and students in heightened emotional states.

SUPERVISION

Work is performed under the direct supervision of the Director of Student Services.

LENGTH OF AGREEMENT

220 days