Parent and Family Engagement Specialist

General Statement of Job

To create a comprehensive, systemic, inclusive, informed support network for parents, families, community partners and other stakeholders to promote parent and family engagement in schools to increase student achievement and school improvement. Provide K-12 parent and family support and engagement opportunities to an assigned cluster of schools. View parents, families, and community partners as equal partners in increasing the academic achievement of children. Help parents understand the school system so that they can become better advocates for their children’s education. Expand opportunities for continued learning, voluntary classroom service, and participation. Train and advise parents regarding how to address issues dealing with situations that could impact the achievement of their students. Ensure that schools are welcoming to all parents and families. Provide specialized assistance to families of students who are not demonstrating grade level proficiency. Build the capacity of parents and families to ensure that they take on more leadership roles in the various parent organizations in the schools. Promote community collaborations and maintain the Parent, Family, and Community Resource Center.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities
Essential Job Functions:

• Work with school site staff to identify students not succeeding academically; engagement of their parents/guardians will be the primary focus of the Parent and Family Engagement Specialist.
• Interview parents of identified students to determine how to best support each family to help their children succeed.
• Help schools identify strategies that parents, families, and communities can use to support the elementary and secondary curriculum.
• Serve as the school’s liaison for the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) to ensure that the Epstein model is implemented with fidelity.
• Provide services to parents if student behavior or attendance is impeding student progress.
• Work with school staff to monitor the progress of focus students and communicate this to the parents.
• Establish on-going communication with parents through home visits, phone calls, email, newsletters, website, social media, etc.
• Provide parent workshops that enhance the parents’ capacity to support their children academically.
• Acquire thorough knowledge of assigned Title I School Wide Plans in order to support and monitor implementation, specifically Part A, parent and family engagement.
• Serve as a technical assistance provider on the Title I Planning Team within assigned clusters.
• Ensure that the district’s Parent Engagement policy is disseminated and implemented.
• Coordinate the development of the Parent Advisory Council and ensure that it operates in accordance to the guidelines set forth by Title I.
• Conduct parent survey annually to determine their needs.
• Based on parent survey and comprehensive needs assessments create and or coordinate workshops, trainings, and activities for families.
• Provide resources related to the school’s needs and discuss the purposeful administration of effective strategies in family engagement.
• Create opportunities for parents who have limited English proficiency, a disability or are underrepresented because of social economics or racial barriers to participate in education initiatives or enrichment workshops.
• Coordinate and implement research based strategies and programs to engage parents in improving student achievement.
• Collaborate with the district’s Title I office, Parent and Family Engagement personnel, local, regional, state, and national organizations to create opportunities to help families understand School Wide Plans, academic standards, assessments, and reports.
• Coordinate with other Parent and Family Engagement Specialists to plan multiple district-wide Parent and Family Engagement events.
• Collaborate with the school leadership team to foster a family-friendly school climate.
• Coordinate opportunities for parents to contribute in positive ways towards student achievement and acknowledge their contributions.
• Promote parents as equal partners in their students’ education by involving them in the decision-making process regarding parental involvement activities and school improvement.
• Create monthly newsletter for parents with helpful hints regarding the developmental, academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of children and information about upcoming workshops or community events.
• Develop handbooks, brochures, flyers and other communication designed to promote and increase parent and family engagement in the school.
• Maintain the Parent, Family, and Community Resource Center with current and relevant materials, books, videos, resources, and pamphlets, etc. for parent/staff information.
• Collaborate and work cooperatively with school and community agencies personnel regarding the needs of particular students. Regularly consult with other departments/disciplines on student issues and assists in locating resources to meet the environmental needs of students and their families where appropriate.
• Inform school staff of information that benefit parents and families, i.e., trainings, conferences, and support groups, etc.
• Meet with groups of students and parents to improve peer relationships and positive attitudes toward school.
• Make home visits to gather data and increase parents’ understanding of students’ educational needs and the resources available to them within the school and the community.
• Attend meetings in the community to promote school improvement initiatives.
• Attend all trainings, conferences, workshops, book studies, and online trainings focused on promoting parent and family engagement in schools.
• Provide technical assistance relating to parent and family engagement at the local school or district level.
• Complete an evaluation to assess the effectiveness of all parent and family engagement activities/programs.
• Develop, analyze, and distribute the results of the evaluations to the Title I office and the school’s leadership team.
• Maintain excellent records of all parent and family engagement activities, reports, surveys, evaluations, funding, annual program evaluations, and communications to parents to ensure that the district’s Parent and Engagement Program remains in compliance with all state and federal guidelines.
• Remain current regarding parent and engagement requirements and guidance. Take part in professional learning opportunities at the local, regional, and/or state level with proper authorization.
• Develop a comprehensive district calendar of Parent and Family Engagement opportunities that are in compliance with Title I, Part A/ESSA requirements.
• Attend all required meetings and trainings as required by the Title I office.
• Submit all monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to the Title I office.
• Create and make accessible weekly schedule to the Coordinator of Title I.

Minimum Training and Experience
Qualifications: Requires a Bachelor's degree in the social sciences or education, supplemented by one to two years of work in the human services field, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Requirements:

• Commitment to parents and family members as educators of their own children
• Training, experience, and skills in assisting parents in advocating and decision making for their families
• Prior supervisory experience desirable
• Background of working with community agencies, children, families and low-income populations
• Ability and willingness to follow and comply with written and verbal directions
• Excellent oral and written communication and mathematical skills sufficient to complete program records and reports
• Communicate effectively with school personnel, parents, children, community partners, etc.
• Effective organizational and time management skills in order to complete program records, prepare required reports, and submit required materials according to established timelines
• Ability to use abstract reasoning, problem solving, planning and analytical skills in: program goals and objective, monitoring and evaluation.
• Effective interpersonal and oral communication skills
• Effective listening skills
• Use personal vehicle for travel between schools, offices and various meeting locations and submit monthly mileage reimbursement requests
• Ability to conduct meetings and training sessions
• Willingness and ability to learn new skills through workshops, conferences, and resources in order to enhance job development skills, including workshops, conferences, and meetings
• Ability to work a flexible schedule