What are the responsibilities and job description for the GF Specialist Family Engagement and Learning position at Austin Independent School District?
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: GF SPECIALIST FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND FLSA STATUS: EXEMPT
LEARNING
PAY GRADE: PRF 4 DUTY DAYS: 226 DATE REVISED: 02/27/2025 HC
FUNDING THIS POSITION IS PARTIALLY OR FULLY GRANT FUNDED. EMPLOYMENT IS CONTINGENT UPON AVAILABILITY OF
SOURCE: FUNDS.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
A Bachelor's degree in curriculum or Special Education from an accredited college or university is required. A Master’s degree
is preferred. Minimum of five (5) years of effective Special Education teaching experience is preferred. Experience working as
an Instructional Specialist, Academic Coach, and/or in Family Support is preferred. Experience working with diverse student
populations at the primary/intermediate grade-levels and supporting professional, paraprofessionals, and families is
preferred. This position requires experience working with families with children in Special Education. Bilingual (English and
Spanish) is required for this position. A valid Texas driver’s license is required. District-wide travel is required.
SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
The incumbent is knowledgeable of Federal, State, and Local rules and regulations for programming and services to students
with disabilities. This position requires thorough knowledge of Austin ISD policies and academic requirements, District and
campus organization structures, and available campus and community resources. The incumbent applies best practices and
related research-based studies for appropriate curricular and instructional programming and services aligned with state and
District mandates. Incumbent must have a thorough knowledge of social services and programs available to meet a range of
mental health, physical health, academic, and social service needs, as well as knowledge of state, local, and federal laws
impacting the lives of students (e.g. laws regarding child abuse and neglect). The incumbent must have expertise in family
engagement strategies and social services coordination to support campuses, staff, and families. The incumbent has
experience developing and acquiring motivational materials which focus on diverse learner needs, analyzing program data
and determining professional learning needs for effective instructional service delivery, and projecting and planning program
needs to ensure equity in service allocations. The incumbent should have experience in urban schools with diverse student
populations to ensure an inclusive and equitable environment. Experience developing and providing professional
development and family support sessions is preferred. Incumbent must be able to work independently demonstrating
persistence, self-motivation, have the ability to communicate effectively using a variety of media, work cooperatively with
others as a team, organize and maintain records, and manage time and resources effectively. This position requires evaluation
of teacher performance with constructive feedback. This position requires excellent written and oral communication skills,
proficiency with technology (PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Excel), and the ability to guide and lead other professionals, and
work cooperatively with others.
JOB PURPOSE AND RESPONSIBILITY:
Responsible for monitoring program implementations and academic/behavioral supports. Support the development of
teacher standards and expectations for student learning. Provide teachers with supportive educational materials and
supplementary aids for assisting in the instruction and delivery of services. Provide on-site coaching and job-embedded
professional development to teachers. Support teacher content area and knowledge; with practices and strategies for
delivering rigorous; aligned and targeted instruction. Responsible for providing support to schools by coordinating programs
and professional learning opportunities that build capacity for parent and family engagement. The role of the Family
Engagement and Learning Specialist is part of a comprehensive effort to increase students’ academic achievement by
implementing and managing district-wide curricular and family engagement initiatives that empower families to become
positive, active participants in the education of their children. Assist parents in navigating the special education process,
including ARD meetings, IEP implementation, and transition planning.
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AUSTIN ISD
JOB DESCRIPTION
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Assist teachers with the development of differentiated learning activities and projects to ensure student progress and
- Design and provide professional development and workshops to administrators, faculty, and community members to
- Assist campus staff in providing recommended adaptations, modifications, and accommodations for eligible students
- Provide collaborative opportunities between General Education and Special Education teachers to ensure classroom
organization and the learning environment are appropriate for student-teacher interactions, optimal instructional
delivery, and management of student behavior.
- Maintain accurate, complete, and punctual records, as well as safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of information
- Coordinate professional learning experiences for teachers by providing opportunities to participate in classroom
and knowledge.
- Conduct annual family needs surveys
- Collaborate with other Parent Support Specialists, the Family Engagement Support Office and other campus/district
- Develop, implement, and managing district-wide family engagement initiatives.
- Assist schools in curriculum implementation and alignment to TEKS/SEs, student academic needs and state
- Provide instructional guidance and support to K-12 students, teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators.
- Provide professional development which encourages teacher participation mentoring new teachers and supporting
- Participate in instructional planning sessions with campus curriculum specialists, grade level teams and department
- Assist campuses with data analysis and the development of action plans that target areas which require focused
- Assist teachers with selecting and modifying instructional materials aligned with TEKS/SEs, to effectively address
- Conduct demonstration lessons of effective planning and instructional delivery which promotes student participation,
- Participate in instructional walks with campus leadership teams to identify effective program implementation.
- Provide current information and research trends for program planning, resources, services, and supports.
- Collaborate with AISD Special Education staff attend Travis County CRCG meetings to provide instructional and
- Provide an exceptional customer experience for all Austin ISD stakeholders with intentional and professional practices
that promote a culture of respect and focus on achieving equitable outcomes.
OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED:
Perform other related duties as assigned; however, all employees are expected to comply with lawful directives in rare
situations driven by need where a team effort is required.
PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform
the essential functions of this job. This position may involve rare exposure to blood or body fluids. Regular attendance is
required for this position.
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AUSTIN ISD
JOB DESCRIPTION
Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment including personal computer and peripherals
Posture: Prolonged sitting, prolonged standing, occasional bending/stooping,
Motion: Repetitive hand motions, frequent keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching
Lifting: Occasional light lifting and carrying (15-45 pounds)
Environment: Standard office or school setting; may work prolonged or irregular hours; districtwide travel
Mental Demands: Maintain emotional control under stress; prioritize work to meet deadlines, have a calm demeanor, and
work cooperatively with others
PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:
This position reports directly to the appropriate supervisor of the department. The incumbent will have regular contact with
the Instruction Program Supervisor, Campus Support Supervisor, Campus Support Coordinator, Academic Support Specialists
team, Office of Academics teams, Parent Support Specialist team, campus administrators, teachers, students, parents, and
families.
The Austin Independent School District provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and
prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status,
genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state
or local laws.
