Job Description:

The School-based Parent Liaison creates a welcoming school environment for families; conducts outreach through a variety of communications to empower parents/guardians to be actively engaged in their children's education; organizes family involvement events/activities; manages school-based volunteer opportunities; and works with the principal and school administration to address parent/guardian issues and concerns at the school.

The School-based Parent Liaison is supervised and evaluated by the School Principal/Administration with feedback provided by the Family and Community Engagement Center (FACE) staff.

Qualifications:

Certificates & Licenses: Valid Driver's License

Experience:

• At least two years of professional experience working with community-based outreach program, schools and/or non-profits with increasing levels of responsibility is required.
• Experience working with culturally diverse communities.

Key Competencies:

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other team members.
• Understanding and sensitivity for diverse cultural, ethnic and socio-economic background of students.
• Ability to determine and assess confidential material and maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent time management, customer service skills and people skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evening and weekend availability.
• Ability to work in high-pace work environment and use good judgment.
• Passionate and committed to the mission of ACPS.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Spanish, Arabic or Amharic is strongly desired.

Essential Functions:

Creates a welcoming school environment

• Establishes trusting relationships and serves as a point of contact for families.
• Assists families in efforts to navigate the school system, connecting them to appropriate staff/resource.
• Advocates for families, as appropriate.
• Works closely with other school staff to coordinate services for students and families, including: School Support Team members, English Learner (EL) and Specialized Instruction staff, teachers and administrators.
• Provides information on services available to eligible students and families and encourages participation, as appropriate.
• Provides community referrals to families as needed.
• Works with bilingual parents/guardians and staff to ensure use of language access systems (i.e., Language Line) and ensures necessary interpreter services are available at parent-teacher conferences, school meetings/activities and upon request.
• Ensures signs, bulletin boards and other displays are visible at school entrance and/or lobby to welcome families and provide important information in the language's families speak.
• Attends appropriate trainings and meetings.

Conducts outreach to empower parents/guardians to be actively engaged in their children's education:

• Coordinates communications and outreach materials for families, including flyer distribution, robo-calls, text messages and personal outreach to share important school and event information in the languages they speak.
• Solicits feedback from families on topics including welcoming environment, parent engagement opportunities and perceived access to information/resources.
• Stays abreast of ACPS and community information, resources and supports available to families and makes available to all families served.
• Keeps track of contacts with parents/guardians and provides updated information as needed.
• Attends parent support meetings and other relevant meetings within the community.
• Assists in the communication of matters concerning the division that impact the school community as
• appropriate.

Organize family involvement events/activities:

• Organizes FACE-sponsored workshops/events to support family engagement efforts within the school.
• Facilitates information sessions for parents/guardians (i.e. Parent Coffees/Principal Chats).
• As appropriate, coordinates Parent Support Groups and/or other training opportunities for families.

Manages school-based volunteer opportunities:

• Engages in a broad-based needs assessment to establish priorities for the school volunteer program, works with principal/admin and other staff to identify specific volunteer needs and develops volunteer job descriptions.
• Recruits parents/guardians to volunteer, assists with application process, screens school volunteers and identifies appropriate placement for volunteer in the school.
• Provides basic orientation for all school-based volunteers and serves as point of contact.
• Keeps appropriate volunteer records and tracks volunteer activity.

Working with the principal to address parent/guardian issues and concerns at the school:

• Works with school principal/admin and/or other appropriate school staff to address and resolve specific parent/guardian concerns.
• Assists school administrators in the development or revision of strategies to facilitate school-family collaboration.
• Works with school's leadership team to develop an appropriate involvement component of the school's plan.
• Attends appropriate trainings and meetings at school.
• Performs other related duties as assigned to ensure efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.

Clearances:

• Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance.
• Tuberculosis Skin Test.

Public Health Compliance

• Proof of COVID vaccination. Exemptions for religious/medical will be reviewed.
• Must follow safety and health protocols.

WP