24-25 Welcome Center Family and Community Liaison - Portuguese Language

Job Goal: The SHS Welcome Center Support Liaison is responsible to work collaboratively with school staff to create welcoming school environment and family engagement opportunities that support teaching, learning, and school achievement for Multilingual Learners.

The Welcome Center Support Liaison orients new Multilingual Learners to the school, follows students’ progress, and provides academic support as well as resource and referral.

The Welcome Center Support Liaison provides support to school staff about issues of parent involvement and conducts outreach to families of Multilingual learners to engage them in decision-making processes.

The Welcome Center Support Liaison works towards the goals of improving communication among staff and parents, enhancing families’ capacity to support their children’s learning and to serve as leaders in the school community.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bicultural/Bilingual proficiency in Portuguese and English
• Experience working with diverse communities including youth and families
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a team
• Computer and internet literacy
• High School Diploma or equivalent; Bachelor’s Degree preferred

Responsibilities:

• Welcome and orient new students and families to the school following school and department protocols
• Provide parents/guardians and students with information about academic and social supports and resources in the school and community
• Collaborate with SFLC and Basic Needs Liaisons to provide resources and referrals for information and support services related to basic needs to students and families
• Maintain communication with SHS School Counseling staff to provide support, resource and referral for students identified with needs
• Support two-way communication between families and school staff
• Serve as an interpreter and/or translator for students and families as needed
• Assist with translation and dissemination of school information and announcements to students and their families
• Maintain ongoing communication with families about their goals and expectations for their child(ren)’s learning
• Communicate school goals and expectations for student learning in ways that diverse families and community members can understand
• Conduct targeted outreach to families and community members to promote school-based and district-wide SFLC events and programming.
• Assist with outreach for Parent/Teacher Conferences; collaborate with SFLC Family
• Liaison and SPS Multilingual Services to facilitate conferences
• Collaborate to develop events and activities based on topics relevant to the school and student learning
• Attend and effectively participate in team meetings and trainings
• Attend and participate in SFLC Family Liaison and Multilingual Learner Education Parent Advisory Council (MLEPAC) meetings as assigned
• Maintain a log of communication and activities
• Other duties as required

Terms of Employment:

• Full Time
• Union Affiliation: SEU Unit E
• Schedule: 203 Days (which includes the scheduled school year)
• 5 days the week before school begins
• 2 days before students’ first day
• 1 PD day in December
• 15 additional days to be scheduled in collaboration with the SEU and Principal
• 40 hours per week to be scheduled during the school day and at school events

Reports to:  School Principal, Assistant Principal and Department Chair for Multilingual Learner Education

The Somerville Public School does not discriminate in its programs, facilities or employment of educational opportunities on the bases of race, color, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, home status, marital/civil union status, sex/gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, citizenship status, place of birth, national origin, ancestry, cultural identity, genetics or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals' group or interferes with their ability to learn or work.