Parent Liaison - Grades 9-12

Gwinnett County Public Schools; Georgia; On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Gwinnett County Public Schools is seeking a bilingual family outreach specialist to support families of English Learner students and facilitate enrollment, communication, and engagement in the educational process.

The role emphasizes outreach, training, and translation support to help EL families access resources and participate actively in their children’s schooling.

Qualifications

• Experience in human services or with students is required.
• Professional-level experience in another language or bilingual environment is preferred.
• Ability to work with families and the public in a bilingual setting is important.

Responsibilities

• Provide family outreach and training to parents of LEP students to support child academic achievement.
• Outreach to parents of English Learner students and assist with school enrollment.
• Assist parents in completing forms and understanding school policies.
• Conduct training for parents on GCPS policies, AKS instruction, and interpretation of tests.
• Organize events for EL parents, including ESOL classes, to improve English proficiency.
• Communicate regularly with parents to increase engagement in their children’s education.
• Support usage of GCPS Language Bank for quality communication with EL families.
• Assist translations of school documents for EL parents.
• Help families access health, nutrition, immunization, and educational resources.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Bilingual ability

Communication skills

Public representation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Non-English language training preferred

Job description

License and Certification Qualifications

• Valid Georgia drivers license Required

Education Qualifications

• H.S. Diploma or General Education Degree or equivalent Required
• College training and/or academic preparation through non-English language Preferred

Experience Qualifications

• Experience in human services field, preferably with students and in a bilingual environment Required
• Professional-level experience in another language or in a bilingual environment, work experience dealing with the public in a non-English language, work requiring the use of bilingual abilities, and work experiences dealing with families and children Preferred

Skills Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills in English and the predominant minority language
• Word processing skills in English and at least one other language
• High level of bilingual ability in English and predominant minority language
• Ability to represent Gwinnett County Public Schools in a positive and professional manner

Primary Responsibilities

Provide family outreach and training activities to the parents of Limited English Proficient (LEP) students to assist them in helping their children improve their academic achievement and in becoming active participants in the education of their children.

• Outreach to parents of English Learner (EL) students
  • Provide support, outreach and training to parents of English Learner students
  • Assist with school enrollment of limited English proficient students and orient parents of EL students and their children to school
  • Assist parents of English Learners in completing documents and other required forms
  • Provide training to parents of English Learners on the key components of the GCPS system, including policies regarding Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) instruction and grading, information on how to interpret standardized test scores, information on attendance and disciplinary policies, etc., to assist them in becoming more engaged in their childrens academic achievement.
  • Organize and/or collaborate with others in the school and community, events for parents of EL students, including computer classes and ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) classes, to assist these parents in enhancing their skills, English proficiency and actively participating in the education of their children
  • Provide regular verbal and written communication to parents of English Learners to increase their engagement in the education of their children and encourage participation in family engagement activities
  • Facilitate faculty and staff use of the GCPS Language Bank to ensure quality communication with parents of EL students
  • Assist school in the translation of school documents specifically for parents of EL students regarding the education of their children
  • Assist parents, especially those of EL and immigrant students, in accessing resources to meet their needs, in the areas of health, (including audiology and vision services, nutrition, immunization and general health), and educational resources to assist the parents in becoming engaged participants in the education of their children
• Engaging parents of EL students in supplemental Language Instruction Educational Programs (LIEPs)
  • Engage parents of English learners in supporting the participation of their students in supplemental LIEPs
  • Provide information on the purpose and organization of supplemental LIEPs
  • Support school leaders, ESOL teachers, and content teachers in planning and organizing meetings and informational events to inform parents about supplemental LIEPs
  • Assist parents with overcoming barriers to participation in supplemental LIEPs
  • Support parents in engaging their children with supplemental LIEPs outside of the regular school day whenever possible
  • Assist parents in supporting their children in successfully completing the academic work associated with supplemental LIEPs
  • Follow up with parents of English Learners to help them build on the experiences their children have through supplemental LIEPs to prepare for success in the next school year or semester
• Support the local school with general interpretation and translation services and perform general school duties as assigned in accordance with guidance provided by ELL Programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, negotiate stairs, climb ladders, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear, manipulate tools and small items with hands, and lift and transport up to 50 pounds over short distances. The employee is required to operate a motor vehicle in performance of duties. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and color vision. The employee may be subjected to a wide range of ambient temperature and humidity conditions while working on equipment under varying conditions including overhead work and work in confined spaces. Potential hazards of this position include working with electricity, working with heat and noise producing machinery and equipment, working on elevated equipment using ladders or other lifting devices, and use of chemicals and solvents. Reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals with specific disabilities.