Culture and Climate Specialist

Who We Are

Founded in 2001, LEARN is a network of high-performing college preparatory, tuition-free public elementary and middle schools with the mission of providing children with the academic foundation and ambition to earn a college degree. There are 11 LEARN Schools serving 4,100 students in grades PK-8 across Chicago, Waukegan, North Chicago, and Washington, D.C. 

It is our goal to create an environment, on every campus, in which our staff members feel supported, respected, and appreciated. Our staff work together at each school and across the network to share ideas, problem solve, and innovate to move our schools and students beyond the expected. LEARN has been honored by having one of our school leaders recognized as the 2022 Principal of the Year by the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, in addition to LEARN 9 Waukegan earning a Exemplary school designation by the Illinois State Board of Education. LEARN also received a $7 million dollar gift from Mackenzie Bezos in honor of our positive impact on education in Chicago.

LEARN's mission remains crystal clear: to provide children with the academic foundation and ambition to earn a college degree. LEARN is currently looking for hard-working and passionate professionals that are dedicated to transforming public education.

What You'll Do:

The Culture and Climate Specialist will  work with all stakeholders  to ensure the day-to-day life of the school is a reflection of the Network’s mission and values, while consistently demonstrating/enforcing high behavioral and character expectations, The Culture and Climate Specialist will serve on the school’s leadership and SEL teams and will work collaboratively with all staff in the development, implementation and continuous improvement of our school-wide SEL and behavioral support systems. Additionally, this role will also utilize, model, and teach trauma-informed and restorative practices to support the development of behavior to develop strong character, and ultimately,  help scholars  make significant academic and social-emotional  gains. 

As a Culture and Climate Specialist, your primary tasks will include:

• Promote school-wide development of an equitable, accessible, and inclusive school community

• Provide leadership in implementing school-wide trauma- informed and restorative practices, including training and support for staff and faculty members, students, and families

• Facilitate and support a feeling of community via student involvement in school-wide community-building events, including coordinating student-led workshops, restoratives circles, and conferences

• Implement individual or group based interventions; coordinate peer-led programming including restorative conversations, mediation and/or circle-keeping

• Support a sense of belonging by  engaging students, families, and faculty/staff in restorative processes, using an anti – racist, culturally-responsive approach

• Work with school leadership and lead SEL teams  to ensure a safe learning environment (i.e develop/implement crisis and safety plans, serve on the crisis team, serve as a first responder as necessary, build relationships with local 1st responder agencies, employ deescalation and CPI techniques as needed)

• With the school leader, ensure our practices are aligned with local, State, and Federal legislation

• Establish and monitor skill based detentions, monitored time outs, and/or suspensions. Establish a calm and safe refocus space in the classroom and the school

• Collaborate with school staff to engage students and adults  in community-building and the restorative process

• Input data in relevant systems as appropriate. Use data to assess and improve programming and outcomes for students

• Work with school staff, leadership, and school/Network based teams to understand developmentally appropriate behaviors and  promote social-emotional learning for all students, including through universal explicit SEL instruction and research based behavioral approaches (i.e Responsive Classroom), and tiered SEL supports 

• Support and/or coordinate the activities of student affinity groups and clubs

• Engage in ongoing professional learning/development in research based best practices including but not limited to Restorative Practices, Trauma-Informed practices, Responsive Classroom, and Calm Classroom strategies; provide PD as appropriate/required

• Provide recommendations and feedback to the school/Network Leadership TeamWork with school leadership to plan relevant  parent education events, social justice awareness, and community-building events

• Work with the lead SEL teams to address/support student and adult emotional wellness

• Serve on relevant school/Network teams or committees including but not limited to Crisis team, lead SEL team, Network BI and/or SEL team; implement relevant School/Network initiatives and/or requirements (i.e Strategic plan, discipline referral process, SEL tiered instruction/support,  menu of interventions)

What You'll Need

This job is a great fit if you:
 

• Have a Bachelor’s Degree

• Have a demonstrated record of living LEARN's Core Values 

• Familiarity with and ability to train others on research based best practices including Restorative Justice, trauma informed progressive discipline, non exclusionary discipline, de escalation, and CPI/MENTA

• Experience with behavioral systems and Trauma-sensitive schools

Preferred

• Master's Degree

• You are bilingual 

• Possess 1 year of classroom experience in an education, mental health or related community service with youth

• You display excellent interpersonal skills with young children, families, and teachers.

• You are relentlessness in the pursuit of excellence and have a “whatever it takes” attitude.

• You are capable of contributing individually and collaboratively.
 

Benefits Summary 

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package for all full time employees, including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

• Wellness Benefits: Online Mental Health Support, free on site COVID  testing

• Paid vacation, personal days, paid holidays, including 5 days off every 23 days in a school year

• Short and long term disability

• Paid life insurance

• 403B Contribution 4.5% matching as eligible

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a valid medical or religious exemption required.

Behavior Interventionists will be working in a busy and active environment. There may be a number of activities and situations happening at once, and the Teacher will have to supervise all children at all times. Majority of work will be performed in a general classroom/school environment. May be asked to participate and attend organization sponsored events and meetings, such as field trips and network professional development, potentially after school hours.

Behavior Interventionists may be lifting and carrying children and equipment, and may spend time sitting on the floor or child sized furniture. Nature of work requires an ability to operate standard business office equipment. Requires the ability to communicate and exchange information, collect, compile and prepare work documents, set-up, and maintain work files. Teachers will also be expected to maintain classroom equipment and furniture in clean condition. Will frequently physically move moderate distances indoors and outdoors throughout the community or building with children including climbing stairs. Physical demands require to stand, bend, reach high and low, stoop, walk around the classroom, and kneel upwards of 60% of the day. In addition, walking up and down stairs several times a day. Must be able to lift, push and pull up to 25 pounds for short periods of time. 

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of LEARN Charter School Network. Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.