To be considered for this position, candidates must apply to the Family Liaison [Candidate Pool Posting] (SY21-22) and be screened through the Central Office screening process.

The Winship Elementary School is a small K0-5 school known for the remarkable racial, cultural, linguistic, and experiential diversity of its students, families, and staff. We are a close-knit community that provides a supportive, rigorous, and rich learning environment for all students to achieve their best. Over the past four years, the entire community has unified around a vision to cultivate student-centered learning environments that demand rigor, meet students’ needs, and guide students in becoming critical thinkers and problem solvers. Our professional learning opportunities, academic program, and student/family support structures all advance the school toward this shared vision. The Winship School has been designated a Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary School of Recognition for the past two years (2018 and 2019) and is the 2020 Winner of the "School on the Move Prize." It is a wonderful place for students, families, and educators to learn and grow!

Family Liaison

The BPS vision for family and student engagement is that every school will welcome every family and every student, and actively engage them in student learning and school improvement. Families and communities are integral partners with schools in the educational and life success of our students. The Boston Public Schools is seeking entrepreneurial and persistent influencers to serve alongside dedicated educators and administrators working to deliver on the promise of excellent public school education.

The Family Liaison will play a key role in building the capacity of educators and families to collaborate around student success and connecting students and families to opportunities and resources.

General Summary:

The Family Liaison is a school-based position responsible for building the capacity of schools to authentically engage families. The Liaison’s primary role is to develop family engagement systems and activities that create strong partnerships to support teaching, learning, student achievement and school improvement. This position will work in conjunction with the principal and school staff to create a welcoming environment that values parents/guardians as full partners in the education and development of their children. The Liaison will serve as a bridge between school and home in ways that build trustful relationships, foster understanding, and relays of the needs of the one to the other. As a member of the school staff, the Family Liaison will be responsible for achieving a set of benchmarks annually.

Responsibilities:

• Promotes the Boston Public Schools’ vision for family and student engagement within the BPS and greater Boston community.
• Conducts preliminary/annual assessment of family engagement structures and activities that exist in the assigned school utilizing school climate survey results, BPS Family Engagement Standards Assessment Tool.
• Develops an individual work plan, with quantifiable deliverables, that detail the Liaison role in the implementation of the schools’ goals and family/student engagement plan.
• Responds to concerns/issues raised by parents/guardians with empathy, and effectively follows through to resolution, and to develop strategies for building the capacity of parents to become more effective advocates for themselves and their children.
• Develops families’ understanding and ability to navigate the larger BPS system including making referrals to school administration and other departments.
• Provides school-based, regional and community support and outreach to families around school registration and transportation with support and guidance from the Transportation Office and the Office of Student, Family and Community Advancement
• Refers students and their families to internal school supports and/or outside agencies (e.g. state agencies, medical professionals, counselors, foundations, non-profit organizations, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring the need of students and families are met
• Supports the school develop a plan that ensures consistent, effective, timely, and accessible communication with families in a variety of ways including the home languages of families.
• Collects, maintains and reports accurate data to document outcomes and impact of family engagement activities at the school level, using an electronic database.
• Provides oversight and ensures the recruitment and retention of parents/guardians to the School Parent Council and School Site Council while engaging and developing parent leadership in decision-making processes.
• Organizes family engagement events and workshops that address areas of interest and need for families such as: understanding the school report card, child development, school policies, effective parent-teacher conferences, bullying, college and career readiness, parenting skills, understanding the curriculum, effective advocacy
• Provides coordination and technical assistance to ensure that parent involvement requirements are met; compiles materials and creates files to document compliance.
• Manages outreach to families and students at risk of chronic absenteeism
• Ensures that every student is enrolled in a summer program including tracking progress and providing program and opportunity information to parents/guardians
• Ensures that families understand their rights including retention and discipline
• Works with the school social worker, Instructional Facilitator, and nurse to coordinate supports for students and families
• Participates in regular professional development as directed by the district to improve skills and gain knowledge about family engagement research and best practice.

Knowledge, Skills & Characteristics:

Qualifications - Required:

• At least 3 years of experience working with diverse families and in an urban setting and knowledge of their needs
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Deep knowledge of the functions and resources of community organizations and social service agencies providing services to families and children in Boston
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills in dominant home language of the families of the desired school (see attached list of schools with languages)
• Ability to take independent initiative, while committing to collaboration
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including early mornings, evenings and weekends based on school, family and district needs
• Ability to employ tact, diplomacy, and sound judgement in dealing with sensitive issues and challenging situations
• Strong organizational skills
• Proficient in the Microsoft Office suite
• Ability to leverage (and when needed learn) technology and software applications to create reports, maintain records and provide data
• Ability to create and maintain strong community collaborations
• Some experience in developing and/or leading interactive workshops and trainings
• Willingness to learn and apply new skills and content
• Demonstrated cultural proficiency and ability to lead others in conversations of race and culture.
• Deep knowledge and understanding of, and demonstrated ability to connect with the ethnic background of students and families served. 

Qualifications - Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Multilingual - Proficient verbal and written communication skills in multiple languages
• Certification in translation and/or interpretation
• Reliable transportation
• Conflict negotiation training and experience

Terms: BTU, Paraprofessional Unit, Family Liaison, 223 days per year, 40 hours per week (The 223 workyear is July 1st to June 30th and shall include 180 days in which school is in session and 43 days outside of the school year; the 43 workdays outside of the school year shall be assigned as determined by the School Principal/Head of School in partnership and agreement with the Office of Student, Family, and Community Advancement)

THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS NONDISCRIMINATION POLICIES, DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE IN ITS PROGRAMS, FACILITIES, OR EMPLOYMENT OR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, AGE, CRIMINAL RECORD (INQUIRIES ONLY), DISABILITY, HOMELESSNESS, SEX/GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, ANCESTRY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENETICS OR MILITARY STATUS, AND DOES NOT TOLERATE ANY FORM OF RETALIATION, OR BIAS-BASED INTIMIDATION, THREAT OR HARASSMENT THAT DEMEANS INDIVIDUALS’ DIGNITY OR INTERFERES WITH THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN OR WORK.