T1 Truancy/Community/Family Engagement Liaison

Function / Position Summary
Under general supervision of the Assistant Principal of Culture and Climate. the Truancy/Community/Family
Engagement Liaison serves as the liaison between school and parents, works with students and parents to improve attendance, works to build relationships between school and parents new to U-46, assist with providing effective parental support for a diverse student population and relaying the needs of one to the other; advises and trains parents on how to address issues with the staff through various means of communication; serves as a school-based intermediary contact for concerns and comments made by parents/groups of parents; and provides referrals to community-based resources/services for families to address needs.


Job Duties / Responsibilities

• Serve as liaison between the school, the student’s families and the community.
• Maintain current knowledge of school and district procedures and all available school programs to support truant students.
• Work with building administrators to conduct needs surveys, identify survey results and create plans and/or programs to address parent needs related to truancy.
• Facilitate communication between parents and the school via phone calls and face-to-face meetings to promote regular attendance.
• Assist in arranging conferences or meetings between parents and teachers/teams. If bilingual, interpret at conferences or meetings between staff and parents when appropriate.
• Participate in home visits as needed and/or assigned to enhance student success, increase parent/legal guardian understanding and/or ensure safety of students and/or personnel.
• Identify and utilize district resources to assist and/or inform parents about various educational initiatives and issues (e.g. MTSS, bullying, state testing, technology, bilingual services, special education, athletics) to re-engage students and families in the educational setting.
• Explore, identify and bring in community resources to assist and/or inform parents and students about various topics (e.g. health and wellness, medical/dental, immigration, college, police department, fire department) to reduce truancy rates.
• Provide parents with community resource information/activities and refer families to these services when appropriate.
• Collect and maintain ongoing quantitative data from truancy-related and other positive engagement activities.
• Keep accurate and updated information in Infinite Campus and all other district systems, if applicable.
• Assist parents in accessing the Infinite Campus parent portal to monitor attendance and other school data.
• Exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices; follow and implement all district rules, regulations, practices and policies.
• Demonstrate a high level of professionalism with the ability to maintain confidentiality and personal flexibility in all areas.
• Prepare a variety of documents, reports and written materials to communicate information to parents, staff; providing written support, developing recommendations and/or conveying information (materials such as district/event calendars, brochures, and educational resources that meet parent needs).
• Maintain an electronic file of all pertinent documents and artifacts showing evidence of parent participation, involvement and attendance (e.g. communication logs, flyers, invitations, parent sign-ins, parent evaluations, parent survey and responses) to meetings or presentations related to truancy.
• Work with Kane County Regional Office of Education for further action and support.
• Maintain professional competence through in-service education activities provided by the district (i.e. required meetings and training related to attendance and parent engagement).
• Work schedules may be flexed to meet programming needs.
• Perform any other duties and responsibilities as may be requested by the director, principal or designee.

Education

• High school diploma or GED required
• Associates degree or higher preferred
• Successful experience working with students and parents preferred

Experience / Knowledge

• Ability to follow-through with a parent, student and school requests in a timely manner
• Must have the desire and ability to engage with parents in a supportive role and assist with facilitating strong relationships between the school district and families and building trusting relationships
• Experience in compiling and analyzing data
• Specific ability-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: being attentive to detail; communicating with persons with varied cultural and educational backgrounds; establishing and maintaining constructive relationships; and maintaining confidentiality.
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organizational and problem solving skills
• Demonstrate conflict resolution skills to respond/recommend alternatives or solutions to adverse situations in a constructive manner
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Terms of Employment

• This is an 11 month position
• Salary and benefits as established by the Board of Education

Salary Information

• 8 hours a Day
• Hourly Rate $24.86