Pashto Bilingual Resource Specialist - Lakeview - 0.968 FTE - 26-27 SY

Madison Metropolitan School District•Madison, WI

22d•Onsite

About The Position

The Bilingual Resource Specialist serves students and families from the target language group. The role provides academic, linguistic, cultural, and social-emotional support to English Learners (ELs), while helping families navigate school and community services. Working in collaboration with school administration, teachers, ESL/Bilingual Resource Teachers, and other staff, the specialist supports instruction, student placement and transitions, assessment, family communication, interpretation, and translation. School-based positions are in person unless otherwise directed by the building principal. The position may involve travel to district locations and off-site meetings, and may require evening, night, and weekend work.

Requirements

Pass the MMSD reading, writing, and oral proficiency assessment in both the target language and English, based on the district screening process.

Responsibilities

Maintain a weekly schedule of academic and linguistic support in coordination with school administration and teaching staff, based on EL needs identified in students’ ILP forms.
Provide academic, linguistic, and cultural support to students in the classroom in collaboration with teaching staff or administrators.
Facilitate communication, including translation and interpretation, and build relationships with ELs and their families.
Support school office staff and ESL/Bilingual Resource Teacher staff in welcoming families, interpreting paperwork, and explaining available student services.
Interpret communications about the Home Language Survey, ESL status, and services; help ensure EL records are complete and current.
Support newcomers’ social, emotional, and academic transition into student life in collaboration with school staff.
Participate in team discussions about ELs’ academic progress, transitions, graduation, and career or vocational issues.
Contribute to ESL/Bilingual instructional program planning, including culturally relevant materials, resources, and approaches to student needs.
Provide cultural background information relevant to instruction and assessment, and implement advance-planned one-on-one and small-group lessons created by certified teaching staff.
Consult with staff about possible cultural or language-based explanations for student issues.
Support ELs during core academic instruction in inclusive settings under the guidance of the classroom teacher and/or ESL/Bilingual Resource Teacher, and provide small-group support as needed.
Provide appropriate testing accommodations for ELs, including interpretation support, as outlined by the Office of Assessment Administration.
Translate school-specific documents and interpret for school staff communicating with parents in person or by phone, with the staff member present.
Provide oral interpretation for students and families on topics affecting student life, including at school events, meetings, and Individual Educational Plan meetings; facilitate communication before IEP meetings.
Help families complete district and school paperwork and applications in their native language.
Help students and families navigate the social and academic norms and practices of the U.S. school system and community.
Gather information from families about their social and academic norms and practices and share it with staff during established meetings.
Explain the district Behavior Education Plan to students and families, and provide social-emotional support to ELs, particularly those having difficulty bridging school culture.
Help schools develop culturally relevant family outreach systems.
Connect students and families with district and community resources in collaboration with the school team, and facilitate communication with outside agencies and relay community-service recommendations between staff and families.