Youth Engagement Advocate - Milton Somers Middle School

Charles County Public Schools•La Plata, MD

18h•Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as a Youth Engagement Advocate at Milton Somers Middle School, operating on a 10.5-month employment term. The role is exempt and falls under the AFSCME SALARY SCALE UA2x Grade 14-15. The advocate will play a crucial role in student conduct investigations, fostering open communication, providing security assistance, conducting threat and physical security assessments, and maintaining a safe and orderly school environment. This role also involves acting as a liaison with emergency personnel, advising on safety matters, monitoring student activities, assisting with mediations, and serving as a resource for student well-being. The advocate will also work with the community to resolve issues impacting the school, provide security at events, ensure adherence to school system guidelines, and assist with social media investigations. Additionally, the role requires monitoring visitors, reporting unusual activities, managing radio communication, completing safety checklists, monitoring student conduct in hallways and common areas, retrieving students, intervening in altercations, assisting with de-escalation and restraint, writing incident reports, and monitoring assemblies and functions. The position requires the ability to lift heavy objects, walk and stand for extended periods, climb stairs, and work outdoors in inclement weather.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required
Previous work with K-12 aged students
Previous investigative experience
Experience in counseling, mentoring, and team building
High level of emotional maturity
Experience in public speaking and instruction
Knowledge of basic physical security functions
Exceptional integrity to remain unbiased and fair and closely follow all rules, policies, and procedures
Exercise good judgment to be able to interpret and make outcome decisions
Able to establish and present themselves as a person of authority to gain and keep the respect of students and faculty
Respectful, personable, and compassionate in establishing a working rapport with students
Demonstrate trustworthiness to fulfill the role of trusted adult, confidant, and mentor
Demonstrate professionalism to represent the school system
Succinct in writing and able to orally convey scenarios and present information accurately
Problem solvers, able to evaluate and rationalize information and data, and respond quickly to potentially chaotic or stressful situations
Physically fit to stand, walk, run, or engage in physical activity or contact
Culturally competent
Ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations
Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10-50 pounds
Good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand, and finger dexterity, including the ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard
Frequently required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred
Supervisory/management experience preferred

Responsibilities

Assist school administrators with student code of conduct investigations
Establish a network among students that fosters open communication of potential problems before they occur
Provides security assistance and advice to school administrators and staff
Assists the school administration with threat assessments as needed
Conducts physical security assessments
Assists the administration in maintaining a safe and orderly environment throughout the school
Serves as a liaison with the police, fire department, and other emergency personnel
Works with the administration and school resource officer on school-related safety issues
Advises staff, parents, and students on safety matters
Encourages compliance with parking and driving regulations
Monitors students’ during arrival and dismissal (during bus duty)
Ensures pedestrian safety during arrival and dismissal times.
Assists with student mediations as requested by school staff
Serves as a resource for counseling students on matters of personal safety and well-being
Works with the community to help resolve issues that may have an impact on the school
Helps provide security presence at athletic events and extracurricular activities, as needed
Assists the administration in ensuring that all activities conform to the school system guidelines
Interacts positively with others
Comes to work promptly every day
Works flexible hours as necessary
Works well under stress and meets all deadlines
Maintains confidentiality in accordance with FERPA and school policy
Assists with social media investigations
Monitors visitor sign-in/registration and identification
Reports unusual activities or unauthorized persons on campus to the school administrator
Monitors school radio communication and responds to emergencies for assistance
Completes daily school safety and security checklists and other forms as required
Monitors students during hallway class change to ensure safe and orderly conduct
Retrieves and escorts students to and from various locations when necessary
Monitors the cafeteria/meal areas during breakfast/lunch to ensure the safety of students
Intervenes in physical altercations occurring on campus, as needed
Assists in the de-escalation and the restraint of students, as needed.
Writes school incident reports according to school guidelines per Admin’s direction
Monitors assemblies and school functions to ensure the safety and security of the event
Has the ability to lift heavy objects, walk and stand for extended periods of time, and climb stairs
Has the ability to work outdoors during inclement and extreme weather conditions