Fair Futures Middle School Education Specialist

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York•New York, NY

13d•$52,000 - $55,000•Onsite

About The Position

The overall role of the specialist is to work with up to 50 middle school students and their families, providing educational advocacy and ensuring students are receiving the supports/services they need to succeed. The Education Specialist will be responsible for providing supportive services to 50 or less, depending on how many middle school students that have been identified, from grades 6 through 8. The Specialist will provide educational advocacy, conducts academic performance monitoring and makes referrals for tutoring services and extracurricular activities. The middle school Specialist will also provide individualized assistance with the high school selection, processes to all 8th grade students and their families, as well as all 5th grade students with the middle school process when possible. The Specialist will ensure that the list of High Schools students is choosing are quality, best-fit school. The Specialist will effectively serve as a conduit to help students and parents navigate the process exploring and identifying the best school to meet and support the student’s educational needs.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree
Minimum two years in an education-related field
Have experience in an instructional, administrative, or advocacy-related position
Ability to navigate complex educational issues, be resourceful, and work independently
Ability to organize their time and prioritize responsibilities in order to plan and carry out all duties
Ability to effectively collaborate in team settings and build relationships with external partners

Nice To Haves

Experience working with students and families in foster care is strong preferred
Ability to work with traumatized children/Students
Ability to engage students, families, school staff, and other entities.
Ability to advocate for the student and work collaboratively with other service providers
Able to work independently, be proactive, tenacious and resourceful
A love for working with children, youth and families
Excellent interpersonal skills to engage and build relationships with children, families, school partners and tutoring providers
Engagement skills from a strength-based, collaborative approach
Excellent interpersonal skills and able to easily build relations with children, families, school partners, and tutoring providers
Values and promotes diversity
Able to remain calm during times of tension and stress
Good knowledge of the principles and practices of social casework
Good knowledge of the laws, rules, and regulations governing the care and treatment of children
Must be able to act decisively when necessary for client protection
Experience related to services to families and children, preferably medical or child welfare related
Excellent written, listening and verbal communication skills in order to effectively provide direction and counseling to clients and maintain all required documentation
Ability to establish effective working relationships with clients, relatives, and other individuals and to obtain and verify information needed through interviews and investigation
Ability to prepare clear, accurate, and comprehensive case records and to reach logical conclusions based on pertinent regulations and information
Must be able to accurately report the functioning of families and individuals

Responsibilities

Provide individual assistance to student and parents as well as work collaboratively with case planners, tutors, schools and the mental health provider, if warranted, to provide student focused supportive services to identify environment and institution that will best meet the child’s needs based on several issues: Academics, School size, Proximity/distance from home, Students/families preferences and Extracurricular activities.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with schools; provide advocacy on behalf of students
Work with Case Planner, foster parent, bio-parent/caregiver and tutor to address educational concerns
Request that the school make referrals for IEP evaluations and behavioral/academic supports within the school
Negotiate with DOE staff to ensure the implementation of recommended and appropriate educational services
Negotiate with ACCESS VR counselors for appropriate services
Ensure school stability if a student is relocating homes, in consultation with the Case Planner and parent
Able to use the Online Platform to record progress and create automated reports
Collect, review, and track NYC DOE monthly data on attendance, grades, promotion status, school enrollment, tutoring history, transcripts, etc.
Use data to identify struggling students
Work with Case Planners and parents to ensure improved attendance, and/or provide additional academic supports
Ensure that the list of schools the student is choosing are quality, best-fit schools, and will record this list of schools (it will eventually be tracked in the Online Platform)
Responsible to guide the process as much as possible which includes establishing trust, explaining why the process is so important, and providing information/guidance when a selection may not be appropriate
Provide individualized assistance to all 5th grade students with the middle school selection process as well
Follow up regularly with Tutor Coaches regarding the students’ performance, needs, and any concerns
Connect students to appropriate afterschool and summer activities
Responsible to outreach to parents for discussion about issues such as special education services, attendance concerns, behavioral issues in school, and school transfers
Responsible to include foster parents in educational planning because they will often interact with school staff on a regular basis
Must coordinate with Case Planners on the student’s academic progress and follow up on any needs/concerns. Provide a monthly report to the students’ Case Planners that includes progress notes and key academic data. Case Planners should also be consulted about school transfers and any other significant educational advocacy activity
Collaborate with the school to explore options for students to improve and benefit from services offered such as afterschool tutoring, special education services, and other supports
Schedule school visits for students in order to meet with the student and counselor together
Work with community resources including tutoring programs, mental health services, and afterschool programs. Collaborating with these stakeholders allow for students to receive assistance and services on a broad spectrum that can foster continued success educationally as well as emotionally
Offers both long-term individualized interventions for students with complex or ongoing educational needs and targeted short-term supports to ensure that every student has access to an appropriate service or opportunity of interest to the student.
Secure representation for the student who is receiving the suspension
Advocate for students to receive the most appropriate services available
Individual Education Program (IEP): Request a referral from the school for students to receive a special education evaluation if it is believed that the student may benefit from additional services in school
Assist in developing an IEP that focuses on the best interest of the student as well as ensure that students are receiving the services, they need to be successful