SY 26-27 Bilingual Counseling Assistant- Pashto

PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

The PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking a Cultural Broker to enhance communication between school staff and multilingual communities. This role involves acting as a liaison for English Language Learners and providing vital support for equitable access to education.

The ideal candidate will have a High School diploma and fluency in English and at least one additional language, such as Spanish or Mandarin. Responsibilities include facilitating parental engagement and supporting students’ educational journeys through effective communication and outreach.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of social, cultural, and educational needs of students.
• Ability to interpret oral and written information.
• Build partnerships with immigrant/refugee-serving organizations.

Responsibilities

• Facilitates communication between school staff, students, and parents/guardians.
• Provides ongoing communication about students' performance.
• Participates in discussions to assist students in developing educational plans.

Skills

Fluency in English

Fluency in Bengali

Fluency in Spanish

Basic computer knowledge

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Suite

Job description

The School District of Philadelphia is the cornerstone provider of public education in Philadelphia. For forward-thinking administrators and educators, opportunities abound. The 130,000 students entrusted to the District arrive at school every day with an extraordinary range of needs and aspirations. We are committed to delivering on their right to an excellent public school education, and we are particularly focused on ensuring every student has access to exceptional educational opportunities. Equity is our mandate. Will you join us?

Role Overview

Serves as cultural broker and linguistic bridge between school staff, students, parents/guardians and community. Provides ongoing communication between students’ parents/guardians, teachers and other school staff. Acts as liaison between school staff, English Language Learners (ELLs), parents/guardians, and community organizations. Helps ensure equitable access to services and opportunities for multilingual students and their parents/guardians.

Essential Functions

• Facilitates communication between school staff, students, and parents/guardians by providing accurate, impartial and complete interpretation of the Spoken Language message conveyed to the Target Language.
• Collaborates with ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and other teacher(s) by providing interpretation of rubrics and instructions for classroom activities, assignments and projects; and assist in the assessments of students' educational strengths and challenges.
• Provides ongoing communication between students’ parents/guardians and school staff about students' academic performance, attendance, and behavior.
• Participates in individual and group discussions with school counselor and limited English-proficient students and parents/guardians to assist them in defining and developing post-secondary educational, vocational and career plans.
• Encourages, promotes and supports parent engagement by providing culturally-informed outreach activities, notices of school meetings and District-wide events and opportunities.
• Informs multilingual students and limited-English proficient parents/guardians about school expectations, rules, policies and procedures.
• Distributes District-wide translated documents to parents/guardians and ensures that all documents sent to parents/guardians are translated.
• Provides interpretation at psychological evaluations, Individualized Education Program (IEPs) meetings, parent/guardian/teacher conferences, and PSSA and Keystone tests.
• Meets with limited English-proficient students and parents/guardians to encourage, promote and support participation in the school counseling program.
• Enlists the support and cooperation of other school personnel; consult with school counselor(s) and other school staff to determine students' ability and potential, and to ascertain and implement the necessary steps to bring the students' interests and goals to fruition.

Minimum Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent. If you were educated outside of the US, please have your credentials verified through a PDE Evaluation service.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of: Social, cultural and educational needs of students in the community in which the foreign language is spoken.
• Basic computer knowledge, i.e. Microsoft Suite.
• Demonstrated ability to: Speak, read and write English and the appropriate foreign language fluently.
• Must speak, read, and write in one of the following languages: Bengali, Cantonese, Malayalam, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, Tajik, and/or Ukrainian.
• Interpret oral and written information.
• Prepare and maintain records.
• Coordinate outreach services to immigrant and refugee families and communities.
• Build partnerships with immigrant/refugee-serving organizations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.