Family Liaison [Ruth Batson Academy] (SY26-27)

Boston Public Schools; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

The Family Liaison at Boston Public Schools is a school-based role focused on building capacity for authentic family engagement, partnering with principals and staff to create welcoming environments where parents are true partners in education. The Liaison develops systems and activities that connect families to opportunities, resources, and the school community.

They lead outreach, coordinate workshops, and collect data to measure impact while aligning with district goals for student

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED is required.
• Forty-eight (48) credit hours of college coursework or an Associate's degree or passing scores on standardized assessments.
• At least 3 years of experience working with diverse families in urban settings.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of community organizations and social services in Boston.
• Ability to communicate in the dominant home language of families served.
• Ability to take initiative and work collaboratively.
• Flexibility to work early mornings, evenings and weekends as needed.
• Tact, diplomacy and sound judgement in sensitive situations.
• Strong organizational skills and data reporting ability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Experience in leading workshops and trainings.
• Willingness to learn new skills and content.
• Cultural proficiency and connection to diverse student/family backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Promotes the district vision for family engagement.
• Assesses family engagement structures and activities in assigned schools.
• Develops an individual work plan with measurable deliverables.
• Responds to concerns from parents with empathy and provides resolutions.
• Helps families navigate the Boston Public Schools system.
• Provides school-based and community outreach to families for registration and transportation.
• Contacts resources to ensure student/family needs are met.
• Maintains communication with families in home languages.
• Collects data to document outcomes of family engagement activities.
• Oversees recruitment and retention of parent leadership in school councils.
• Organizes family engagement events and workshops on key topics.

Education

High School Diploma or GED

48 Credit Hours of College Coursework or Associate's Degree

3+ years experience with diverse families in urban setting

Excellent verbal and written communication

Knowledge of community organizations and social services in Boston

Proficient in dominant home language of families served

Independent initiative and collaboration

Flexible schedule incl. early mornings, evenings, weekends

Tact, diplomacy, sound judgement

Strong organizational skills

Microsoft Office proficiency

Ability to create and maintain reports and data

Workshop and training delivery experience

Willingness to learn new skills

Cultural proficiency and ability to connect with diverse communities

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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

• Education: High School Diploma or GED
• Forty-eight (48) Credit Hours of College Coursework or an Associate's Degree, or a passing score on one of the two following Formalized Standardized Assessments: ParaPro Assessment (http://www.ets.org/parapro/) or WorkKeys Certificate of Proficiency for Teacher Assistants (http://www.act.org/workkeys/profcert/index.html).
• 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, Contractual Hourly Rate Family Liaison, 215 days per year, 40 hours per week (The 215 work year is July 1st to June 30th and shall include 180 days in which school is in session and 35 days outside of the school year; the 35 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 on the basis of race, color, age, criminal record, physical or mental disability, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, homelessness, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics, natural or protective hairstyle, military status, immigration status, English language proficiency, or any other factor prohibited by law in its programs and activities. BPS does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to work or learn. If you require an accommodation pursuant to the ADA for the application process, please contact the Accommodations Unit at [e-mail].