Parent Liaison-Community Outreach Coordinator

This position exists to support students and families in WJCC Public Schools whose first language is not English. The position is responsible for facilitating cross-cultural communication and helping students and families better understand the school system. The Parent Liaison conducts outreach through a variety of communications to empower parents/guardians to be actively engaged in their children's education; helps facilitate family involvement in special education meetings as well as events/activities; and works with instructional staff to support English Learner programs.

• Serves as a language interpreter or translator to enhance verbal and written communication between WJCC staff and student, school, home, and/or community.
• Functions in an ethical and professional manner, serving as communication and cultural facilitator by converting one language into another language in spoken and/or written form.
• Conveys the message and meaning of information as the speaker or writer stated it, but within the appropriate cultural context.
• Works with professional personnel, students, and parents to help students be successful in school by making information available in various pertinent languages.
• Establishes diverse contacts and builds relationships between WJCC and community resources.
• Participates in on-going professional development by attending workshops, lectures, and institutes on specific subjects to enhance job performance and knowledge of subject matter.
• Makes home visits with school personnel as needed.
• Assists in school/division program presentations, parent-teacher conferences, IEP and EL meetings and trainings as needed.
• Models the WJCC Strategic Plan Values: Individualism, Integrity, Innovation, Accountability and Collaboration as well as nondiscriminatory practices and cultural sensitivity in all activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Establishes trusting relationships and serves as a point of contact for families.
• Assists families in efforts to navigate the school system, connecting them to appropriate staff/resources.
• Works closely with instructional staff to coordinate services for students and families, including students with disabilities English Learners (EL).
• Provides information on services available to eligible students and families and encourages participation, as appropriate.
• Helps ensure necessary interpreter services are available at parent-teacher conferences, school meetings/activities and upon request. Collaborates with communications staff to translate announcements and outreach materials for families, including flyers, rapid notifications, text messages and personal outreach to share important school and event information in Spanish.
• Assists with school- and division-sponsored workshops/events to support family engagement efforts within Spanish-speaking families.

• At least two years of professional experience working with community-based outreach programs, schools and/or non-profits with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Experience working with culturally diverse communities.
• Understand and be sensitive to diverse cultural, ethnic and socio-economic background of students.
• Ability to determine and assess confidential material and maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent time management and customer service skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekend events.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency and literacy in English and native fluency in Spanish, both verbal and written required. Bilingual speaker, or speaker of multiple languages preferred.
• Ability and comfort conducting interactive presentations in both English and a second language, preferably Spanish.
• Flexibility, creativity, initiative and ability to work as a team member required.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision, manage multiple tasks and work in a fast-paced environment with deadlines and strict timelines required.
• Must possess the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with parents, students, teachers, administrators, and community-based organizations.
• Must possess the ability to read and prepare correspondence, reports, forms, etc., using prescribed formats and confirming the rules of punctuation, grammar and style in English and a second language, preferably Spanish.
• Excellent computer skills, including MS Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and database management required.
• Ability and willingness to work occasional weekly evening events during the school year.
• Must possess a valid Virginia’s Driver’s license and reliable transportation.

None.

Performs duties under the supervision of the Strategic Communications Officer.

Highly diverse and complex duties.  Must have high tolerance for change and the ability to work on several projects and assignments concurrently.  Strong interpersonal skills required in working with diverse groups.  Must have initiative and assume responsibility for working productively with a minimum of supervision.  Demanding schedule includes morning, evening, and weekend meetings.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee.  The incumbent will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other related duties as assigned by the principal or appropriate administrator.  WJCC Public Schools reserves the right to update, revise or change this job description and related duties at any time.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee.  The incumbent will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other related duties as assigned by the principal or appropriate administrator.  WJCC Public Schools reserves the right to update, revise or change this job description and related duties at any time.