ESOL Parent Liaison - 2024-2025

Summary:

Oversees and coordinates foreign language translation requests for Afghan families, including Farsi, Dari, and Pashto languages. May access other interpreters to meet the division needs for these languages across our seven schools. Works with non-English speaking students and their families on home-based issues, parent-teacher meetings, and other school-related matters.

Essential Functions/Typical Tasks:

• Coordinates foreign language translation requests, accessing appropriate translators to meet school/student needs.
• Responds to home–school issues involving non-English speaking students and their families.
• Provides interpretation and invitations to parent meetings, (may facilitate some parent meetings with prior approval.)
• Serves as the Winchester Public Schools representative for community organizations which represent non-English speaking groups, and particularly interfaces with Church World Services, our local refugee support agency.
• Assists special education staff and school counselors with IEP issues or other sensitive issues involving non-English speaking students and their families.
• Meets with teachers, teams, principals, and other teaching assistants for planning and training.
• Performs additional duties as assigned by the supervisor or principal, which are applicable to this position and in accordance with Winchester Public Schools policies and procedures.
• Services must focus on ASA-eligible school-aged children and their parent(s). ASA refers to the Afphanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2002, and the Additional Afphanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Must possess a combination of experience and training demonstrating the ability to effectively perform essential job duties. Must demonstrate ability to effectively work with children in an instructional environment. Must fluently speak and write Farsi and/ or Dari. Some communication ability in Pashto will also be helpful.

Language Skills: Must be able to communicate effectively with a variety of persons, verbally and in writing. Must be able to read and interpret directions, follow instruction and relay information to others in an understandable manner. Must be able to draft routine correspondence and reports.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out simple one or two step instructions. Ability to deal with standardized situations with only occasional or no variables. Ability to read and interpret policies.

Qualifications/Education and Experience:

Requires a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent (GED). Degree preferred.

Must fluently speak and write Farsi/ Dari and English. Pashto language skills would also be helpful.

Physical Demands/Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Duties performed typically in settings to include: Central/City office and schools/departments
throughout division/city. Job is primarily sedentary work. Occasional walking, stooping, standing, squatting, lifting, up to approximately 30 pounds, and occasional lifting of equipment and/or materials weighing up to approximately 40 pounds may be required. Other limited physical activities are required. Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels. Visual acuity is required for preparing and analyzing written or computer data, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities. The worker is subject to inside environmental conditions. Regular contact with city/school employees is required.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Employee typically works indoors in a heat and cold controlled environment. The noise level is usually quiet. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Salary:

Range is $20.19 to $41.76 an hour, plus benefits package

Workday:

Full time/10 month (190) days, 6.5 hours per day

Location:

John Handley High School

Start Date:

This is a grant funded position. This position is anticipated to be available through the 2027-28 school year.