Family Support and Engagement Coordinator

Advancing Educational Justice for Refugee and Immigrant Youth

Family Support and Engagement Coordinator

2024-2025

Who We Are / Our Purpose

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Georgia Fugees Academy Charter School (Fugees Academy), is on a mission to advance educational justice for refugee students and English Language Learners. Our school model addresses a pressing need not currently met by traditional public education systems – the education of newcomer (refugee and immigrant) students in an environment where their unique identities and needs are welcomed and understood. 

Our Approach / Design Principles

Built around the values, structures and shared experience of soccer, the Fugees approach is defined by a unifying commitment to working together as a team. On and off the field, Fugees teammates support each other to address challenges, take collective and individual responsibility and realize success together. These Design Principles are reflected in every aspect of our school model.

Relationships: Fugees is an intentionally small and nurturing environment in order to build deep community and relationships. All students are known on a personal level by teachers, staff, leadership and other students.

Mind, Body, Character: Expression, movement and the visual and performing arts are as important as academics to overall growth and development. Social-emotional learning, character and student well-being are seen as essential to success on and off the field.

Personalization: Despite being part of a larger team, students and families are given exactly what they need as individuals, whether those needs are academic, social, emotional, or wrap-around services.

Multicultural Identity Development and Celebration: Fugees believes that students can honor and own their identities while also acclimating to U.S. society. The school recognizes and celebrates each student’s and family’s backgrounds and cultures and recognizes diversity as an asset. 

Loving Accountability: Fugees expects that all students can succeed at high levels both academically and behaviorally and students are lovingly held accountable to these expectations through a balance of frequent feedback, authentic consequences and multiple opportunities for success.

Collective and Individual Responsibility: Students and adults take on increasing levels of responsibility both for themselves and for the larger community. This gradual release of responsibility is designed to support every member of the school in developing leadership and life skills.

More About Us

Fugees Academy, part of the non-profit organization, Fugees Family, Inc., is a tuition-free, community-based, public charter school designed to meet the needs of new American students through English language acquisition and foundational skill study, culturally relevant curriculum and wraparound supports, restorative practices, arts programming, and soccer participation. Every student works as a team member on and off the field to bridge significant gaps in formal schools to graduate on time. We blend creative teaching with academic fundamentals, interwoven with leadership and character building. The Fugees Instructional Model is trauma-aware and is designed to meet students where they are, focusing on the foundational skills that are often lacking in children whose schooling has been nonexistent or interrupted.

Once students demonstrate an 8th-grade level mastery, they move on to high school, where they can continue their development as critical thinkers, community members, and future citizens. Through small classes, high expectations, and targeted instruction, Fugees Academy empowers the most vulnerable of students–child survivors of war—to become independent thinkers and high-achieving scholars. We believe that this team mindset nurtures and prepares young adults who will be the next generation of international and community leaders. The core design principles of the school include an extended school day, a low teacher- student-ratio, interactive instruction, a comprehensive tutoring program, a soccer-focused athletic program, and intensive wrap-around support services for students and their families. Check Us Out

Position Description

Schedule: Year-round, Monday-Friday from 7:30 am-4:00 pm

Reporting to the School Leader, this is a full-time, year-round, exempt position. We are seeking a Family Support and Engagement Coordinator who possesses an unwavering commitment to our mission and the willingness to go above and beyond to meet the needs of students, families and staff. The Family Support and Engagement Coordinator will be part of a team that is committed to learning and growing together through a process of collaboration and coaching. 

Responsibilities and Duties

• Assist the Dean of Students to recruit, cultivate, develop, and support up to 5 cultural brokers (members of the communities we serve) to assist with family engagement 
• Track and document family engagement activities and communications
• Maintain relationships and frequent communication with teachers and coaches, to assist the school with the proper communication of academic and athletic program information to families
• Coordinate language support (interpreters) for school-based events and communications
• Coordinate semi-annual home visits for all students, under the direction of the Dean of Students
• Provide/coordinate wrap-around services that assist families in supporting their child’s academic success (e.g., connecting families to community food, housing, or health services; providing transportation to report card conferences
• Plan and coordinate special meetings/trainings for newcomer families
• Assist with transportation of families for school events and for wrap-around services when necessary

Employee Expectations

• Excellent command of the English language with a passion for supporting expressive language in non-native speakers
• A strong sense of loving accountability and individual and collective responsibility
• Believe that all students are capable of academic achievement
• Commit to building deep, authentic relationships with students and families
• Duties and expectations are carried out in a positive, productive, accurate, and punctual/on-time manner
• Be receptive to coaching, mentoring, feedback and performance evaluations for purposes of professional growth and development

Essential Qualifications

• Minimum of a high school diploma required
• Minimum 2 years’ experience working with families in an educational or social services setting is required
• Familiarity with immigration processes, local refugee services agencies, and other community resources required
• Fluency in Arabic, Burmese, Karen, Nepali and/or Swahili is preferred
• Respect for all communities and a commitment to the empowerment of underserved populations
• Clean driving record and ability to drive a 14- passenger bus is required
• Citizenship, residency or work VISA in the United States required

Benefits

We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package, which includes the following: 

• Certain medical, dental, and vision insurance plans 
• Generous employer contribution towards the employee’s retirement plan as part of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia
• Paid holidays and days off 
• Paid family leave and backup care reimbursement
• Working for a mission-driven organization doing impactful work 
• A fun, collaborative, and balanced culture 

Apply

We are out to radically change the way education is experienced for all newcomers in this country and we are just getting started. We are a team of advocates, change-makers, and allies, and are looking for another passionate addition to join our close-knit team. If you are interested in this role, we strongly encourage you to apply - quit your day job and come change the world with us

Equal Opportunity Employer

Fugees Family, Inc. and Georgia Fugees Academy Charter School are equal opportunity employers, dedicated to building a culturally diverse staff committed to working in a multicultural environment and strongly encouraging applications from those with refugee and/or immigrant backgrounds.

Humility | Equity | Excellence | Empowerment | Respect

www.gfacs.org | www.fugeesfamily.org

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