ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCY FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR

School-Based Family and Community Liaison
SOMERVILLE FAMILY LEARNING COLLABORATIVE (SFLC)

EAST SOMERVILLE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
&
BENJAMIN G. BROWN SCHOOL

Job Goal: The Family Engagement & Empowerment Linked to Learning Unit of the SFLC works to develop and implement strategies for building capacity and accountability across schools and departments to support research-based family engagement strategies that improve outcomes for youth and empower families.

The Family and Community Liaison provides support to school staff around issues of family engagement and parent involvement, conducts outreach to families while communicating priorities and goals of the school, and engages parents in decision-making processes within the school. The Family and Community Liaison works towards the goals of improving communication among staff and parents, enhancing families’ capacity to support their children’s learning and to serve as leaders in the school community. The Family and Community Liaison works with staff, families, and community organizations to create a school environment that is consistently welcoming to families.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficient communication in English (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Bilingual/Bicultural highly preferred.
• Experience working with diverse communities
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Experience in developing and/or leading workshops and trainings (or willingness to learn)
• Ability to work flexible hours including before school, evenings and weekends
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a team
• Computer and internet literacy
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Deep commitment to closing opportunity gaps and promoting equitable practices

Responsibilities:

• Maintain a welcoming environment for families to access school information and resources and welcome new students and families to the school. Assist families with Info-Snap.
• Maintain ongoing communication with families about their goals and expectations for their child(ren)’s learning and communicate school goals and expectations for student learning in ways that diverse families and community members can understand.
• Conduct targeted outreach to families and community members to promote school-based and district-wide SFLC events and programming.
• Work with the Assistant Principals, Houses, and Academic Department Chairs to serve as Interpreter and/or Translator in communication with parents in regards to student issues, such as academics, attendance, social-emotional, discipline and behavior.
• Support social-emotional, health, and non-academic home-school communication such as with the Nurse’s office, Food Services, and Athletic Department to assist parents and students with forms and registration
• Coordinate with SPS Multilingual Services. Ensure that school notices are translated and disseminated and assist in the coordination of interpretation at PTA Conferences.
• Recruit Parent Volunteers and work in collaboration with the school-based Volunteer Coordinator in collaboration with Department Chairs and other program administrators.
• Attend and participate in Student Support Team meetings
• Attend and participate in school-based meetings that may include School Improvement Council, PT(S)A meetings, Principal Round Tables and Coffee Hours, SPED PAC, English Learner PAC, etc.
• Regularly attend and effectively participate in SFLC Team Meetings and trainings.
• Develop events and activities for families based on topics relevant to the school and student learning.
• Collaborate with other SFLC Family and Community Liaisons to develop events and activities at other schools and district-wide.
• Serve as clearing house and provide resources and referrals for information and support services.
• Collaborate and coordinate with SFLC Wraparound and Community Partnerships staff to connect students and families in need of food, clothing, and other resources. Without duplication of services, coordinate school-based Food Pantry, Clothing Pantry, Toiletries Pantry, and Prom Closet.
• Attend community meetings and collaborate with initiatives such as Somerville Backpack Program/Food for Free, Food Security Coalition, Homeless Prevention, and other resources including Project bread, SomerViva, out-of-school time programs, etc.
• Maintain a log of communication and activities.
• Take on responsibilities for initiatives specific to school assignment, i.e. Parent/Guardian English Class coordination, Basic Needs distribution, and other initiatives as needed etc.
• Commits to providing and promoting equitable practices to ensure access for all families
• Other job-related duties as required.

Position Reports to: School Principal and SFLC Designee

The Somerville Public Schools does not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, home status, marital/civil union status, sex/gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, citizenship status, place of birth, national origin, ancestry, cultural identity, genetics or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.