What are the responsibilities and job description for the Salem Ota Sister City School Liaison, Salem, MA position at Salem Public Schools?
Salem Ota Sister City School Liaison, Salem, MA
Salem and Ota City in Tokyo, Japan have been sister cities since 1991. This is an official program with sponsorship from the Mayor’s Office and run by the Salem Ota Cultural Exchange. For over 31 years adults and students have traveled between the two cities and have participated in homestay experiences. Students from Ota’s 28 public middle schools come to Salem at the end of July each year. A group of Assembly Members (City Councilors) from Ota come to Salem in the late fall each year as well. Every other year in November, adults from Ota come to Salem. In addition, adult and student groups from Salem take turns traveling to Ota. In the past, we have also exchanged art, videos, letters, and emails between the students from both cities.
When students and adults come to Salem, it is necessary to arrange activities and visits. The School Liaison position will assist the Salem Ota Cultural Exchange with a range of duties including the recruitment of host families, advertising student and adult trips from Salem to Ota, and other responsibilities listed below. The successful candidate will liaise between representatives of the Salem Ota Cultural Exchange, Salem City Hall, and the Salem schools to ensure that everyone experiences a wonderful exchange with each other.
Job Description
- Assist to organize visitors from Ota to Salem up to three times a year:
- Help recruit host families for middle school students from Ota to stay with Salem families in conjunction with the members of the Salem Ota Cultural Exchange
- Help advertise trips to Ota for students in August and adults from Salem on a rotating every other year schedule
- Work with building principals as needed on a rotating basis for booking tours of schools
- Arrange gifts for Ota adult and assembly member trips from the school department
- Book Transportation for adult, student and assembly member visits
- Help make contacts for art, video, and other exchanges between Ota and Salem schools/ students
- Coordinate CORI checks of new host families for student trip from Ota to Salem
- Coordinate with Peter Dolan and Midori Oka of the Salem Ota Cultural Exchange
- Other activities that may be needed
Stipend - $1,350
