Truancy Specialist

Hamilton County Schools • Soddy-Daisy, TN

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The purpose of this job is to enforce all laws and board policies relating to compulsory school attendance. Soddy Daisy High School is a 9-12 school located in Soddy Daisy, TN, just north of the Chattanooga area. We are a community school that is supported by local businesses, families, and both former and current students. We offer a rich choice of programs which includes a wide variety of sports, band, Army ROTC, and many college-level classes in all content areas. At SDHS, we offer two Future Ready Institutes that connect our students to the greater Chattanooga community and area businesses -- specifically the Institute of Media and Entrepreneurship and the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Technology Academy. Working in an atmosphere such as this stimulates teachers to grow as professionals as they collaborate with their peers on how to best help our students. The culture is rich with growth and benefits all stakeholders. Interested in joining our team? We are looking for teachers who are excited to be team players, who will support the mission of our school, and who possess an energetic outlook and always want to improve our school.

Requirements

• Four-year college degree in a relevant area such as education, guidance, student services or criminal justice preferred.
• Three (3) years of successful experience with prevention or intervention programs related to education support or truancy prevention/reduction; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
• Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrates excellent planning, organizational, problem-solving, decision-making, and time management skills.
• Demonstrates good judgment when confronted with angry, emotional students, parents, or custodial parents.

Nice To Haves

• Four-year college degree in a relevant area such as education, guidance, student services or criminal justice preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identifies students at risk for truancy and aids in the enforcement of laws and board policies relating to student attendance.
• Investigates all suspected cases of truancy as referred by administrators and reports back on the results of investigations. Such investigations shall be conducted as necessary, day or evening, and shall include personal contact with the guardian. The truant officer shall attempt to discover the reason for the absence and advise both the student and parent concerning attendance laws.
• Implements and complies with federal and state laws, state and local school board policy in the area of student attendance. Initiates the petition proceedings when necessary to adhere to Tennessee statutes concerning school enrollment and attendance.
• Interacts with all stakeholders in a professional and respectful manner.
• Attends court hearings. Provides monitoring of all petitions until resolved. Processes truancy petitions through the court for habitual offenders and represents the district at such proceedings.
• Confers regularly with teachers, counselors, principals, and other staff to identify problems of tardiness, attendance, and student truancy. Works closely with school personnel concerning students who are frequently tardy and who have not responded to normal efforts. Confers with students in matters of attendance and tardiness and make a reasonable effort to gain their cooperation to improve attendance.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Acts as a liaison with various social agencies to which students may be referred.
• Provides residency checks of students as requested by the administrators or school principals.
• Moves about area, when necessary, during school hours and provides immediate service to pupils. Returns those found truant. Makes home visits or community contacts when necessary to provide appropriate intervention in truancy matters. Maintains good public relations and diplomacy whenever entering the home of a student.
• Submits a written report to the supervisor on a monthly basis, or as requested by the supervisor, concerning student referrals, investigations, court proceedings, and outcome of each. Submits mileage documentation to the supervisor.
• Follows established procedures to ensure assigned areas are safe.
• Works collaboratively with administration and stakeholders.
• Attends work and arrives to work on time.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Adheres to the Teacher Code of Ethics as defined by Tennessee Law.
• Uses computers and other technology to enter and access information related to essential job functions.
• May operate a motor vehicle to conduct various work activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level