Attendance Specialist at Propel Homestead/Propel ASHS

Title: Attendance Specialist at Propel Homestead/Propel ASHS

The Attendance Specialist is responsible for building scholar and family engagement in order to improve scholar attendance.  The Attendance Specialist, under the direction of the building Principal, communicates with scholars, families, and educators to ensure that attendance is complete and correct in the Student Information System (SIS), Skyward, and to ensure that scholars and families have plans for excellent regular attendance.  The Attendance Specialist will work at their school location but spend approximately half of their time conducting home visits to build family relationships.

Key Job Elements: 

Attendance Entry, Analysis, and Management

1. Develop expertise in attendance measures and reporting including Future Ready PA Index, regular attendance, chronic absenteeism, truancy, and habitual truancy 
2. Talk with educators to ensure attendance is entered daily
3. Run attendance reports and ensure that families of absent scholars are called daily
4. Printing, stuffing, and mailing attendance letters to families for scholars reaching 3 days of unexcused absences, 6 days of unexcused absences, 10 days absent and 20 days absent
5. Participate in school and family meetings as needed including:
   • MTSS meetings and other scholar support meetings
   • IEP meetings when determining whether revisions to a scholar's IEP are appropriate/necessary given absences
   • Student Assistance Program (SAP) meetings 
   • School Community Council meetings after school as needed
   • Some Title I events after school as required by principal and/or supervisor.
6. Keep up-to-date records of letters/correspondences sent to families, phone calls made, parent conferences, truancy complaints filed, and hearings scheduled using SIS or other tracking methodology as directed
7. Collaborate with counselors, principals, assistant principals, school resource officers, scholar support specialists, administrative assistants, and other school staff as needed to ensure correct and complete attendance and to deliver attendance education
8. Provide progress updates and input to School Leadership Teams and other staff as needed in an effort to improve regular attendance and truancy
9. Manage scholar and family incentive programs
10. Support schools and scholars by monitoring up to 2 lunches and/or recesses 3 days per week as identified and agreed to between principal and supervisor, as schedule permits given court requirements
11. Support arrival duty in order to greet scholars and to develop relationships

Student Attendance Improvement Plan Completion and Family Meetings

1. Complete Student Attendance Improvement Plans using SIS form and upload completed form into SIS
2. Conduct Student Attendance Improvement Conferences with scholars, family members, and school staff in an effort to improve scholar attendance
3. Attend court dates at the magistrate when scholars are referred for habitual truancy
4. Keep up-to-date records of completed Plans and Conferences as directed

Conduct Home Visits to Build Family Engagement

1. Conduct home visits together with 1 other school staff member in order to build family engagement and deepen community involvement with a goal of completing home visits for all scholars during the school year
2. Keep up-to-date records logging home visits using SIS or other tracking methodology as directed
3. Greet new Propel families during summer onboarding home visits
4. Collaborate with Enrollment Team to develop family onboarding materials
5. Any other duties or tasks as assigned by Supervisor.

Qualifications & Skills: 

Required:

1. BA in education, psychology, and/or other human services field is preferred.  A combination of education and years of transferable experience will be considered in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree
2. 5 years of experience working with school-aged students
3. Strong belief in Propel's mission and core values and a desire to make a difference in the education environment in Allegheny County
4. Proficiency in Google Drive (Sheets, Docs, Slides)
5. High level of integrity and a strong work ethic
6. Ability to work independently and collaboratively
7. Strong interpersonal skills
8. Superior organization, prioritization, and self-motivation skills
9. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
10. Ability to remain calm in difficult situations
11. Ability to meet deadlines
12. Strong relationship building skills with adults and school-aged students
13. Valid Driver's License, vehicle insurance, and access to reliable vehicle in order to conduct family home visits

Salary: $40,000 per year

Physical Demands:

1. This person in this position will need to travel regularly from the school location to family homes and court.  
2. The person in this position frequently communicates with various internal and external stakeholders. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
3. Must be able to walk around the school at least 75% of the time while engaging with scholars.
4. The person in this position constantly operates a computer and other technology.

Disclaimer:

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Organizational Overview

Propel Schools is the largest network of public charter schools in Allegheny County consisting of 13 schools and approximately 4,000 scholars. Our mission is to provide high-quality schools to underserved communities. Each of our schools provide a rigorous academic environment and small class sizes where educators focus on providing each scholar with support and individualized attention. With one of the top starting teacher salaries in Allegheny County, a customizable benefits package and extraordinary career and professional  development opportunities, Propel Schools is one of the area’s premier education organizations.  

Salary : $40,000