Community Education Manager

CASA & CASA IN ACTION SYNOPSIS:

CASA’s mission to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working-class: Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendent, Indigenous, and Immigrant Communities. Our vision is rooted in the collective power of our community, our inclusive, permanent, member-led movement radically transforms communities and systems to ensure the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members are fully met as we strive for justice and full liberation at home and in solidarity with others across the world. CASA has a sister organization, CASA in Action, a separate, but related, nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Although CASA and CASA in Action share a common goal of supporting immigrants and low-income people in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, they are separate organizations with their own board of directors. A set of employees at the two organizations, including the person filling this position, shares their time between the two organizations. This has no effect on salary or benefits.

DEPARTMENT SYNOPSIS:

The Education Department supports CASA’s multi-generation approach to education through engaging youth and their families as a whole in the attainment of educational opportunities for all. All across its footprint, CASA partners with, initiates, and fosters strong relationships between public school systems and parents, and oversees CASA’s efforts to improve educational outcomes for immigrant students and their families through coordinated interdepartmental efforts within CASA. The department also supports CASA’s expanding education policy work in strategic partnership with CASA’s Department of Politics & Communications.

The Education Department’s ESOL (in English for Speakers of Other Languages) Programs use Popular Education and traditional education methodologies to address the educational needs of its adult learners and provide them with otherwise unavailable educational opportunities. Lessons are focused upon concrete and practical everyday experiences. Students, as adults, come to class with experiences they are encouraged to share and peer teach while performing tasks. Class materials are geared towards student’s life experiences and promote both civic engagement and community empowerment. The classes also serve to empower students to make positive and long-lasting social change within their community in coordination with CASA’s organizing and advocacy efforts in the fight for immigration reform, workers’ rights, universal equality, and social justice.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Virginia Director, the Virginia Community Education Manager provides leadership to CASA’s Adult Education program that includes ESOL and Vocational Training and supervises the Education team in Virginia that supports strong youth through our program Mi Espacio. Responsibilities include: staff management, grant management, fiscal management, new program development, professional development, resource development, partnership management and cultivation, community collaborations, program reporting and accountability, data collection, and outcomes tracking.

The desired candidate will have a progressive, broad vision for the role of educational programming for families facing economic hardship. Knowledge and experience with popular and practical education instruction, the capacity to grow and develop new programs, a willingness to work with diverse partner organizations, and be committed to educational excellence.

The current position will supervise and work with: program coordinators, recruit and contract teachers. Employees are hard-working, mutually supportive, collegial, entrepreneurial and creative.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Specific duties include but are not limited to:

• Coordinate program development and delivery with curriculum design, teacher professional development, and instructional services.
• Oversee the processes for intake, assessment and placement.
• Manage recruitment, training, and evaluation for instructional staff.
• Ensure the program is inclusive, culturally responsive and has options for students with special learning needs.
• Assure instructional standards are met with schedule flexibility, teacher/learner ratios, and support services.
• Prepare reports for funders, government agencies, legislators, partners, CASA’s board and other stakeholders.
• Testify in public commentary in support of improved Educational access and opportunity for our membership and to address inequities.
• Monitor and evaluate staff, student, and program progress, data quality, and program design.
• Monitor expenditures and fiscal reporting for instructional services.
• Manage reporting requirements, guide metrics development for performance improvement and reporting processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned based upon program demographics, enrollment trends, and the needs of target populations.
• Collaborate with other CASA departments to engage families and support adult education and leadership development.
• Partner with local universities to recruit interns and volunteers.

Management and Supervision

• Supervise staff in Virginia’s Education program, interns and volunteers – providing leadership, motivation, and facilitating professional growth of staff.
• Provide support to staff in the development and implementation of annual individual work plans.
• Recruit and supervise additional staff/consultants as needed.
• Conduct annual program and personnel evaluations for staff under their supervision.
• Ensure fulfillment of all federal, and state requirements, as well as CASA policies, including ensuring that all staff comply with the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Communications Workers of America.
• Woodbridge Welcome Center management and support.
• Participation in CASA and CASA in Action actions, canvassing, mobilizations and events as needed and required.
• Provide quality customer service, interactions and responses to all members, partner organizations, vendors, visitors, callers and any other individual or organization you may encounter in your role with CASA.
• Understand and promote CASA membership and services.
• Maintain a positive attitude.
• Supervise van-usage for Education related activities.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE:

• Bachelor’s degree required, or Master’s degree.
• TESOL certification desired.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Background in educational instruction or administration.
• Background in supporting strong children through after school youth programming.
• Professional experience creating and managing budgets required.
• Professional experience in grant management required.
• Experience in curriculum design and development, instructional processes and strategies
• Bilingual – English/Spanish. Fluency with French is a plus.
• Experience working with a multilingual and multicultural community is a plus.
• Experience working with higher education institutions around vocational training/workforce development is a plus.
• Experience working with a variety of educational, business and community organizations, and creating partnerships.
• Experience working with learners of limited educational backgrounds and study habits
• Respectful of all cultures and believe that everyone is capable of academic success and able to learn a new language

Essential Characteristics for Position:

• Aligns with CASA & CASA in Action’s mission, vision and values.
• Honesty, integrity, credibility, and discretion.
• Strong work ethic, and personal accountability.
• Commitment to advancing the mission of CASA and CASA in Action.
• Proactive, anticipates problems and offers solutions, initiates and makes good decisions with minimal supervision.
• Tolerance and respect for others; capacity to interact collegially with staff, students, volunteers and stakeholders with human skills, emotional intelligence, professionalism, intelligence, confidence, tact and good judgment.
• Professional demeanor and appearance, punctual and consistent attendance required with flexibility to work evenings and weekends. Must be able to work evening hours on a regular basis as needed by the direction of the Virginia Director or needs of the Education department.
• Demonstrated leadership in the field of adult education and/or youth education, vocational training and literacy.
• Program assessment and evaluation experience.
• Able to write grant proposals.
• Ability to form solid partnerships and/or coalitions.

BENEFITS DESCRIPTION:

Who is eligible?

• All full time and part time permanent positions working 20 hours or more per week.

What We Offer:

• Generous paid time off, including: annual leave starting at three weeks per year (proportional accrual per pay period), two weeks of sick leave, three days of personal leave, and additional compensatory leave for exempt employees.
• Twelve (12) paid holidays per calendar year.
• Excellent Benefits Package including employer paid benefits as follow:
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance (CASA pays 100% of the premium costs for the employee up to our HMO plan, 55% for couples, 65% for children and 60% for family)
  • Basic life and AD&D
  • Long and Short Term Disability insurance
  • Professional Development: Those pursuing a course of study related to work performed at CASA may be eligible for a reimbursement up to $2,000.
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Additional voluntary benefits:
  • FSA Account including Dependent Care.
  • 401(k) retirement plan with a 2% employer discretionary match.
  • Accident, Critical Indemnity, Hospital insurance.
• Allowances:
  • Mileage reimbursements for those positions that are required to drive on CASA business.
  • Cell Phone stipend for those positions that are required to use their cellphone for CASA business.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The employee must meet physical demands by CASA. CASA will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with different disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand or walk.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

ADA: The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

OSHA: This position is not to handle any human body fluids, biological agents, laboratory chemicals, or be exposed to hazardous materials such as noise, asbestos, or carcinogens.

CASA Inc. and CASA in Action do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, mental or physical disability, ancestry, marital status and national origin.

This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

CASA has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy effective 01 February 2022, requiring COVID‑19 Booster vaccination(s) for all employees and prospective employees, AmeriCorps members, and paid or non-paid internships. In accordance with CASA's duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards, we are adopting this policy to safeguard the health of our employees, AmeriCorps members and interns, and their families, CASA members and visitors, and the community at large from infectious diseases that may be reduced by vaccinations. In making this decision, the executive leadership team reviewed recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, CASA’s Legal Counsel and local health officials. All prospective employees will be required to provide proof of COVID 19 vaccination or appropriate medical / religious accommodation documentation prior to the first day of employment with CASA. AmeriCorps member candidates will be required to provide proof of COVID 19 vaccination or appropriate medical / religious accommodation documentation at the time of presenting proof of citizenship and SSN eligibility.