Community School Specialist

REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

CLASS TITLE: COMMUNITY SCHOOL SPECIALIST

RCSD takes pride in our dedicated workforce and strong connection with our students, families, and community. Our highly dedicated and skilled team of professionals provides a safe and supportive, inspirational and rigorous, joyful and inclusive environment for all learners. We are looking to build our workforce with a staff who share this vision and want to instill passion in learning emphasizing student strengths and gifts for all learners: all abilities, all ethnicities and cultural identities, LGBTQ+ youth, and multilingual learners.

Under the direction of the Community School Coordinator, provide technical assistance, guidance, support and referrals to identified families concerning District and community programs, resources and services; serve as a liaison between the District, families, community resources and others regarding student issues, conflicts and problems.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:

Assist the Community School Coordinator to orchestrate all non-academic student and family activities, including family support services, mental health services – child and family, after school academic programming and recreation services.

Assist the Community School Coordinator to develop and sustain partnerships with city and county services and non-profit agencies to provide supports and opportunities to students and families that meet their dynamic needs as well as fulfill organizations’ missions.

Work with school administrators, especially the Principal, to integrate non-academic services with school priorities and increase accessibility of school campuses to parents, community members and students. Identify and initiate problem-solving measures among partners.

Provide technical assistance, guidance, support and referrals to identified families concerning District and community programs, resources and services related to child care, probation, prevention or other assigned areas; assist identified families with developing self-sufficiency and independence.

Serve as a liaison between the District, families, schools, community resources, the public, outside agencies and others regarding student issues, conflicts and problems; make home visits to confer with parents, children and students; monitor and adjust activities in response to family progress.

Establish and maintain contact with families; assist with planning and implementing a variety of educational and support activities to meet the needs of students, children and families; monitor, assess and provide services to meet family needs.

Provide educational and support services to a designated caseload of families; perform in-take procedures for new families; develop and implement service plans; refer families and facilitate access to appropriate community agencies, resources and services.

Prepare, review, process and assist families with completing a variety of forms and applications for designated programs and services.

Collaborate with local family resources and services in meeting the needs of identified families; establish and maintain contact and partnerships with outside agencies to facilitate and enhance support, resources and services for identified families; request donations as directed.

Assist families with a variety of issues such as health, smoking, nutrition, immunizations, physicals, dental, prenatal, parenting, health, housing, hygiene and various other areas as required.

Compile and assemble a variety of information related to assigned families and services; prepare and maintain various records, reports and files related to families, referrals, clients, caseload, services and assigned activities; duplicate and distribute materials as needed.

Communicate with District personnel, families, various outside agencies and the public to exchange information and resolve issues or concerns; notify law enforcement and other appropriate agencies of family issues, conflicts and illegal activity as needed.

Operate a variety of office equipment including a copier, fax machine, computer and assigned software; drive a vehicle to conduct work.

Provide assistance and services during family crises and emergencies as necessary.

Attend and participate in various meetings and in-services as assigned; assist with coordinating and participate in a variety of special events in support of identified families.

Translate communications for limited or non-English speaking families as assigned by the position; translate, prepare and distribute written correspondence as necessary.

KNOWLEDGE OF:
General principles, practices and procedures of family support and referral programs
Community resources, services and programs serving at-risk students and families
Diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds of identified families.
Problems and concerns of at-risk students and families
Oral and written communication skills
Modern office practices, procedures and equipment
Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy
Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary
Record-keeping and report preparation techniques

ABILITY TO:
Provide technical assistance, guidance, support and referrals to identified families concerning District and community programs, resources and services
Serve as a liaison between the District, families, community resources and others regarding student issues, conflicts and problems
Assist with planning and implementing a variety of educational and support activities to meet the needs of students, children and families
Monitor, assess and provide services to meet family needs
Refer families and facilitate access to appropriate community agencies, resources and services
Prepare, review, process and assist families with completing a variety of forms and applications

Understand and resolve issues, complaints or problems
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others
Prepare and maintain various records, reports and files
Operate a variety of office equipment including a computer and assigned software

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Any combination equivalent to: graduation from high school and two years experience working with students or families in a social services or educational environment.

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Valid California driver’s license.
Some positions in this classification may be required to speak, read and write a designated second language.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

The Redwood City School District (RCSD) is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. RCSD makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

The Redwood City School District seeks to employ individuals who represent the rich diversity of cultures, language groups, and abilities of its surrounding communities.