Family & Community Advocate

Oklahoma City Public Schools•Oklahoma City, OK

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Family and Community Advocate works with families to understand and remove barriers to students’ academic success and to establish a positive, inviting school climate for families and the community. The position is grant funded, and continued employment is contingent upon grant renewal. It is classified as non-exempt, with 181 work days and a 1.00 FTE schedule of 7 hours per day. Compensation is listed as 102, with salary determined by experience. The role supports family engagement, student success, and relationships between schools and the community. The advocate collaborates with school staff, families, community members, and partners; coordinates volunteer programs; supports parent organizations; connects families with district resources; and helps coordinate student and family support programs. Work may occasionally be performed outside standard hours, including evenings and weekends. Duties are normally performed in an office environment with a usually moderate noise level.

Requirements

Completion of a high school diploma or GED.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to apply pertinent laws, rules, and regulations; use relevant software; perform standard bookkeeping; and plan and manage projects.
Ability to attend to detail, communicate with people from varied cultural and educational backgrounds, establish and maintain constructive relationships, and maintain confidentiality.
Ability to sit and stand for extended periods; enter data using a computer; see and read computer screens and printed material with or without vision aids; hear and understand speech at normal levels indoors and outdoors and on the telephone; speak audibly and clearly; and lift up to 25 pounds, bend, stoop, climb stairs, walk, and reach.

Nice To Haves

Oklahoma General Education Test (OGET).
Education Testing Service ParaPro Assessment with a passing score of 455.
ACT WorkKeys Assessment with a passing score of 4 or better on all three parts.
Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish; may be required at some sites depending on school demographics.

Responsibilities

Seek out, understand, and respond to families’ educational concerns and needs to improve family involvement and student success.
Collaborate and coordinate with school staff, community members, partners, and families to implement family-engagement programs and activities, with a focus on families facing social, economic, racial, and/or language barriers.
Coordinate volunteer programs in alignment with district best practices, including applications, time logging, and safety protocols.
Counsel students, staff, parents, and legal guardians to evaluate situations, solve problems, provide support, and resolve conflicts.
Maintain confidential and non-confidential records, such as work and appointment schedules, contact logs, and parent resources.
Participate in meetings, workshops, and committees to share or gather information and stay knowledgeable about professional program regulations.
Develop and support parent organizations at the assigned school site.
Communicate with families through phone calls, home visits, and meetings at school or district sites as needed or assigned to support student success, family understanding, and safety.
Provide quality customer service, foster two-way relationships between schools and families, and strengthen communication and family-engagement programs.
Prepare documents, reports, and written materials for families and staff, including written support, recommendations, and information.
Refer and connect students and families to appropriate OKCPS resources, including Family Connect, Mental Health, Embrace OKC, HOPE, and Attendance Advocacy.
Represent the school site in Coat A Kid and Kit A Kid programs, help identify students with the greatest need, and coordinate with the Foundation or district point of contact.
Assist in identifying and tracking community partnership opportunities.
Serve as the main point of contact for Weekend Food Backpacks and/or in-school food pantries and assist with food distribution.
Perform essential functions occasionally outside standard work hours, including evenings and/or weekends.
Perform other duties as assigned.