Homeless Education Coordinator (Anticipated) (25-26 SY)- At Risk & Responsive Services

IRVING INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

T1 HOMELESS EDUCATION COORDINATOR

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: T1 Homeless Education Coordinator WAGE/HOUR STATUS:  Exempt

REPORTS TO: Director of At Risk  PAY GRADE:  Admin/Prof 4A

& Responsive Services          (220 Days) 

DEPARTMENT: Guidance & Counseling DATE REVISED:  June 2020

Disclaimer: This is a grant funded position. Funds for this position are expected to be available up to the end of the school year. In addition to other specified conditions of employment, the applicant understands that no guarantee of continued employment, beyond the availability of the grant funds, is expressed or implied by Irving Independent School District

A Letter of Assurance will be issued for this position.

PRIMARY PURPOSE: Coordinate efforts of the district to comply with basic requirements for serving homeless children and youth as outlined in the McKinney-Vento Act and to improve services for homeless children and youth.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Education/Certification:  

• Master’s Degree
• Valid Texas Administrator’s Certification, Counselor Certification and/or (LPC), or Social Worker (LMSW) Licensure required

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Knowledge of legal requirements to serve homeless children/youth

• Ability to effectively collaborate with community agencies to provide services for homeless children/youth

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to identify warning signs of homelessness

• Ability to provide effective staff development to district staff re: homelessness

• Ability to develop training guides and manuals for all campus based staff
• Ability to develop training guides and manuals for all Attendance Managers

Minimum Experience:  

• At least three (3) years successful experience as an administrator, counselor, or social worker preferred
• Minimum of two (2) years supervisory experience

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Policies and Procedures:

1. Review local policies and procedures that may impact homeless children and youth, such as school enrollment and access to school programs
2. Recommend revision of local policies and procedures determined to be potential barriers for homeless children and youth
3. Ensure that homeless students are identified by school personnel
4. Prepare Training Procedures and Manual for all Campus based staff
5. Prepare Training Procedures and Manual for all Attendance Managers
6. Provide District-wide training modules for Teachers and Campus-based staff
7. Responsible for assuring all requirements of the McKinney Vento Act are supported by District and School staff

Enrollment and Access:

1. Ensure that homeless students enroll in, and receive equal opportunity to succeed in, the schools within the district
2. Ensure that homeless families, children, and youth receive educational services for which they are eligible, including Head Start, Even Start, and pre-school programs administered by the district, and referrals to health, mental health, dental, and other appropriate services
3. Ensure that parents or guardians are informed of educational and related opportunities that are available to their children and are provided meaningful opportunities to participate in their children’s education
4. Assist with enrollment dispute cases and ensure they are mediated in accordance with the state’s enrollment dispute resolution process
5. Assure that all decisions are in the best interest of the child

Outreach:

• Ensure that the parent or guardian of a homeless child or youth, as well as any unaccompanied youth, is fully informed of all options available to them including transportation services, including to the school of origin if it is in the best interest of the child.  

• Ensure that assistance to access transportation services is provided including bus transportation passes

1. Post educational rights of homeless children and youth in all schools
2. Post educational rights of homeless children and youth in the community where homeless families and youth may receive services (e.g., shelters, public health offices, libraries, and soup kitchens)
3. Inform school personnel, service providers, and advocates who work with homeless families of the duties of the Homeless Coordinator
4. Collaborate and coordinate with state coordinators, community service providers, and school personnel responsible for the provision of education and related services to homeless children and youth

Unaccompanied Youth:

1. Assist unaccompanied youth in placement/enrollment decisions, including considering the youth’s wishes in those decisions, and providing notice to the youth of the right to appeal such decisions under the enrollment disputes provisions
2. Ensure that unaccompanied youth are immediately enrolled in school pending resolution of disputes that might arise over school enrollment and placement
3. Assist children and youth who do not have immunizations or medical records to obtain the necessary immunizations or medical records

Compliance:

1. Provide annual professional development for school district staff to build awareness of the educational needs of homeless students, legal responsibilities of the school, and local policies and procedures
2. Provide outreach to community service providers through presentations, announcements, and dissemination of relevant publications
3. Provide training for parents
4. Distribute materials, tutoring supplies, and clothing to schools
5. Conduct routine needs assessment activities on an annual basis
6. Coordinate an evaluation of the local homeless education program
7. Coordinate the Attendance Managers compliance with McKinney Vento

School/Community Relations:

1. Articulate the homeless grant mission to school and community support personnel
2. Encourage parents to visit schools to gain a better understanding of the education program available to their students
3. Treat students and parents with respect and dignity
4. Use wisdom, intelligence, tact, courtesy, sensitivity, good judgment, and professional conduct in carrying out the responsibility of the grant
5. Demonstrate trustworthiness in dealing with confidential matters
6. Provide support to Attendance Managers in development of their relationships to students and families

Fiscal Responsibilities:

1. Conduct activities and execute expenditures within the parameters of grant and local funding sources
2. Assist the Coordinator of At-Risk Services in preparing and managing the annual budget 
3. Comply with all district regulations and procedures regarding fiscal management
4. Seek grants and other sources of funding to expand and/or continue services to homeless students

Professional Practices:

1. Comply with all state and federal laws, local board policies, administrators guidelines, and the Texas Educators Code of Ethics
2. Make decisions regarding students and staff after reasonable and appropriate measures have been taken to gather important data and information; solicit input from other sources when appropriate

SUPERVISORY RESPONSBILITIES:  

Supervises Project PASS Social Workers and Project PASS Intake Clerk

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

Mental/Emotional Demands

• Maintain emotional control under stress and during emergency situations
• Effectively present information and respond appropriately to questions from employees, administrators, regulatory agencies, vendors, and/or the general public
• Communicate effectively with medical providers
• Analyze and effectively handle problems involving limited concrete variables in standardized situations
• Utilize fundamental reasoning skills to carry out detailed written and/or oral instructions
• Maintain composure at accident scenes

Physical Demands/Environmental Factors

• Numerous interruptions of tasks
• Prolonged sitting
• Occasional lifting and/or moving items up to 20 pounds
• Repetitive hand motions
• Occasional walking and standing
• Changes to outdoor climate exposures – hot, humid, cold, wet, windy, etc.

Safety:  Contribute to the prevention of accidents and injuries by observing safety rules and District policy, practicing the principles and skills taught in safety training, wearing personal protective equipment as required, reporting injuries and incidences immediately to supervisor, and being proactive in the ongoing efforts to improve and maintain workplace safety.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills that may be required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Salary : $75,321 - $104,002