Student & Family Engagement Coordinator (PS42), Elementary School

Who We Are 

Center for Supportive Schools is a fast-paced, collegial, and team-oriented organization wholly committed to helping schools become places where students want to be. Our work directly addresses student disengagement, a root cause of diminished academic performance, students dropping out of school, and other high-risk student behaviors. We partner with schools in three areas: developing all students into leaders; empowering teachers to collaborate with each other and with students; and engaging entire school communities to improve how learning happens.  

 

CSS is driven by the vision that one day, all students will thrive in schools that graduate them prepared for the rigors of college and lives filled with meaningful work, active citizenship, and personal fulfillment.  

 

We are committed to antiracism. Our vision for students will not be realized absent the dismantling of systemic racism that permeates schools and society. Schools are not safe, supportive, engaging, and inspiring unless they address all areas of marginalization and eradicate all the many interconnected forms of oppression. CSS’s focus on antiracism results from the outsized role that racism has played in shaping the United States and its institutions, from the fact that racism intersects with all other forms of oppression and given that which we learn and develop – tools, frameworks, resources – in dismantling racism can be leveraged to abolish all other forms of oppression. 

 

Founded in 1979, we are a national organization currently impacting 65,000 students annually and committed to supporting every K-12 school in the country. Most of our partners are economically disadvantaged communities where the consequences of student disengagement can be most devastating.  

 

For more information, please visit www.supportiveschools.org. For more information about CSS’s commitment to antiracism, please visit www.supportiveschools.org/antiracism-resources.  

 

About Community Schools 

Community Schools offer a holistic approach toward improving academic performance driven by strong, collaborative partnerships among principals, parents, teachers, and CBOs. In Community Schools, parents are real and active partners in their children’s education. Each student is connected to a mentor, club, or social service. The school climate is joyful and positive. Community members spend time at the school, participating in activities ranging from swimming and yoga to financial and parenting workshops.  

 

Extended afterschool or weekend classes are commonplace. An integral part of this approach is the blending of school- and community-based services into the school day, such as health, mental health, counseling, and academic enrichment. The De Blasio administration believes that Community Schools are instrumental in helping schools catch up or leap ahead, and in putting all of our students on the path to four-year colleges and long-term careers.  

 

The Community Schools in New York City will use key strategies to help students achieve success:  

 

Who You Are 

You are passionate about working with schools to build their capacity to offer effective programs to positively impact our youth and their families. You have knowledge of and experience working in New York City with public schools and/or student support services. You bring a wealth of skills and experiences while also identifying yourself as a lifelong learner who is regularly seeking opportunities to grow your skills. You crave opportunities to be reflective about your practice and look forward to receiving feedback to support your continued growth.  

 

You are a thoughtful planner and communicator and strive for excellence in all that you do. You are highly adaptable and ready to do work in ways that work best for the schools you serve. You find energy in working directly with schools and collaborating with colleagues in service of implementing and advancing best practices. You are comfortable with and skilled at working in diverse school settings, with students, family members, teachers, principals, and other school staff. You thrive in an environment where collaborating with colleagues is valued and also thrive working independently. You are highly emotionally intelligent.  

 

You excel at managing administrative aspects of many different programs at once with an exceptional level of detail. You have a systems-oriented approach and are always looking for ways to continually improve your practices.  

 

You care deeply about creating a more just society and believe that improving schools is fundamental to that effort. You are committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity. More than anything else, you want to make a difference. 

 

The Role 

As the full-time Student & Family Engagement Coordinator, you will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the community school’s student and family engagement strategy, which includes building and maintaining relationships with administration, faculty, staff, and students during the traditional school week. You will create, strengthen, and maintain the bridge between the school and the community in the efforts of promoting student success. You will facilitate and provide leadership for the collaborative process and the development of a continuum of services for student success in academics, attendance, and social-emotional development. You will support families in need with the available resources and supports made available by local and national government agencies, non-profits, community organizations and stakeholders to support familial stability. 

Initially, the Student & Family Engagement Coordinator will support establishing and implementing a community school strategy under the direction of the Community Schools Director. Over time, you may support any or all of CSS’s leadership solutions that may be implemented at the school. You will ensure that the student engagement and development strategy is implemented at exceptional levels of quality with full support, buy-in, and regular communication with stakeholders across the school community. 

 

What You’ll Do 

Attendance Improvement  

Family Engagement  

Student Engagement & Support  

Afterschool Enrichment Support 

Other responsibilities  

 

What You’ve Done 

Education: You’ve earned a bachelor’s degree and probably have a graduate degree in social work, school counseling, or mental health counseling or a strong background in student support services work. You also have extensive knowledge of and experience working in the New York City public schools. You probably have bi-lingual skills (English-Spanish).  

 

Professional Experiences and Personal Qualities/Skills: You have demonstrated exceptional abilities to problem solve, plan, and prioritize; have a “roll-up-your-sleeves” entrepreneurial, startup attitude; knowledge of and experience working in education reform and student support services; and the proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment managing multiple projects. You possess a high level of interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, including the ability to build relationships internally and externally and to manage effective teams. 

 

In addition, you have likely had the following experiences and have demonstrated the following attributes: 

COVID-19 Vaccination & Testing 

CSS requires all school-facing staff members to be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. As of the time of this position announcement posting, fully vaccinated means receiving two vaccination doses of either the Pfizer vaccine or the Moderna vaccine, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Non-school facing staff members who are not vaccinated because of a CSS- approved medical or religious accommodation must submit a copy of a COVID-19 test result 48-72 hours in advance of any CSS-related in-person interaction (this includes in-person interaction with other staff, in-person training events, office visits, business meetings, and/or school visits). 

 

Location 

The Student & Family Engagement Coordinator will be based at a New York City partner elementary school in the Bronx, New York. Occasional travel to CSS’s Manhattan and New Jersey offices will be necessary.  

 

Schedule, Salary, and Benefits  

The anticipated starting date for this position is January 2022. The salary range for this position is $52,000 – $62,000. CSS offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits plan, including health, dental, and vision insurance, and a 403(b) plan with employer match. 

 

To Apply 

Interested applicants are requested to apply immediately by emailing a cover letter and CV/résumé to resumes@supportiveschools.org. Please include (1) the title of the position in the subject line of your email and (2) where you found the position posting in your cover letter. If possible, please email all documents in PDF format. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply. NYC Department of Education fingerprinting and background clearances will be required, as well as proof of COVID-19 vaccination from a WHO approved vaccine (two doses of Pfizer, two doses of Moderna, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson.)  

 

Center for Supportive Schools is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and equity in its work and staff. CSS’s Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action related policies are available upon request.