POSITION: Student Equity Advocate
QUALIFICATIONS:
- A Bachelor's degree required, and a Master's degree in counseling or related field of study preferred.
- A NJ Certification preferred.
- Social services, psychology or guidance experience required.
- The ability to create and maintain a climate of respect and fairness for all students.
- Must possess strong communication, managerial and leadership skills.
- Must possess a strong commitment to equity and be able to communicate this commitment in clear, direct and actionable language.
- Ability to effectively motivate and assess students academically and socially.
- Ability to work as a member of a highly functioning team.
- Understanding of the laws that govern students' state and federal rights.
- Strong understanding of power arrangements within systems, cultural proficiency, equity, opportunity and access required.
REPORTS TO: Assistant Superintendent of Equity and/or Superintendent
JOB GOAL: Responsible for providing guidance and advocacy for students and/or parents/guardians to address individual or systematic systems that underserve Black students and other traditionally marginalized groups. Responsibilities include but are not limited to collecting lived experience data, researching and addressing issues of equity, linking students and their families to school and community resources, monitoring attendance and discipline, communicating with administration, counselors, students, and families; presenting concerns to district officials in a hope to address questions, concerns and/or misinformation; making recommendations to district staff that might enhance communications with students and/or families.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Collects data relating to inequitable accounts of services, resources and/or treatment.
- Communicates accurately and timely with students and their families to ensure a continuous school-family partnership exists.
- Collects student and parent issues and presents data from findings to the direct report.
- Assists with evaluating student progress including attendance, academic, and behavioral data.
- Coordinates with community partners to build resources that directly address the achievement gap (parent communication, early childhood learning, use of assessment data, etc.). Maintain a robust resource portal for students and parents.
- Makes home visits to obtain information about students, parents and/or families.
- Maintains accurate records of student, parent, staff, and community contacts.
a) The first year will be a baseline year; however, data should be collected and publicly shared.
- Participates in stakeholder conferences to develop student action plans.
- Assists with the supervision of students during instructional and non-instructional and non-instructional time.
- Supports a positive school climate while interacting with students, families, staff and community members.
- Maintains confidentiality when dealing with students, families, staff, and community members.
- Through professional development with parents/guardians and/or direct contact with students, facilitates social and emotional growth with students, facilitates social and emotional growth with student
- Identifies additional "gap closing" services and programming based on the experience of Black students and other traditionally marginalized groups. Gap closing services include but are not limited to tutorial services, programming support, scheduling and supporting parents/students in teacher and/or administrator conferences, etc.
- Conducts regular community conversations with traditionally marginalized groups regarding how students can best access resources within the school district.
- Participates in staff meetings at both site and district levels.
- Participates frequently in trainings, workshops and/or conferences relating to cultural diversity, equity and access, systems of privilege, and anti-racist efforts.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 12 months as determined by the Board; salary and benefits as negotiated commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Evaluation: Performance on this job will be evaluated annually in accordance with the Board's policy on evaluation of non-certified staff.
The Montclair Public School District encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer
Established: July 2016
BOE Approved: November 20, 2017; Revised & Board Approved: February 7 2018