Fair Futures Middle School Education Specialist - Brooklyn, United States - Little Flower

Little Flower

Verified Company

Brooklyn, United States

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Mark Lane

beBee recruiter

Description

A Career at Little Flower

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York is a nonprofit organization that has worked to improve the well-being of children, youth, families, and people with developmental disabilities across New York City and Long Island since 1929.

Our staff of more than 500 provides prevention services, foster care, residential treatment care, adoption services, medical and mental health services, and programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

A career with Little Flower can be rewarding in so many ways.

We are looking for conscientious and caring people who are ready to commit to the work of strengthening families and supporting the well-being of children and adults with developmental disabilities.

If you're looking for a career where you can truly make a difference, we hope you will consider joining our team.

Summary Job Description:

The overall role of the specialist is to work with up to 50 middle school students and their families, providing educational advocacy and ensuring students are receiving the supports/services they need to succeed.

The Education Specialist will be responsible for providing supportive services to 50 or less, depending on how many middle school students that have been identified, from grades 6 through 8.

The Specialist will provide educational advocacy, conducts academic performance monitoring and makes referrals for tutoring services and extracurricular activities.

The middle school Specialist will also provide individualized assistance with the high school selection, processes to all 8th grade students and their families, as well as all 5th grade students with the middle school process when possible.

The Specialist will ensure that the list of High Schools students is choosing are quality, best-fit school.

The Specialist will effectively serve as a conduit to help students and parents navigate the process exploring and identifying the best school to meet and support the student's educational needs.

Principle Responsibilities:

The Middle School Education Specialist will provide individual assistance to student and parents as well as work collaboratively with case planners, tutors, schools and the mental health provider, if warranted, to provide student focused supportive services to identify environment and institution that will best meet the child's needs based on several issues: Academics, School size, Proximity/distance from home, Students/families preferences and Extracurricular activities.

Build and maintain collaborative relationships with schools; provide advocacy on behalf of students
Work with Case Planner, foster parent, bioparent/caregiver and tutor to address educational concerns
Request that the school make referrals for IEP evaluations and behavioral/academic supports within the school
Negotiate with DOE staff to ensure the implementation of recommended and appropriate educational services
Negotiate with ACCESS VR counselors for appropriate services
Ensure school stability if a student is relocating homes, in consultation with the Case Planner and parent

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Able to use the Online Platform to record progress and create automated reports
Collect, review, and track NYC DOE monthly data on attendance, grades, promotion status, school enrollment, tutoring history, transcripts, etc.
Use data to identify struggling students
Work with Case Planners and parents to ensure improved attendance, and/or provide additional academic supports

INDIVIDUALIZED ASSISTANCE

Ensure that the list of schools the student is choosing are quality, bestfit schools, and will record this list of schools (it will eventually be tracked in the Online Platform)
Responsible to guide the process as much as possible which includes establishing trust, explaining why the process is so important, and providing information/guidance when a selection may not be appropriate
Provide individualized assistance to all 5th grade students with the middle school selection process as well

IN-HOME/QUALITY TUTORING

Follow up regularly with Tutor Coaches regarding the students' performance, needs, and any concerns

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Connect students to appropriate afterschool and summer activities

COORDINATING WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS**- Responsible to outreach to parents for discussion about issues such as special education services, attendance concerns, behavioral issues in school, and school transfers

Responsible to include foster parents in educational planning because they will often interact with school staff on a regular basis
Must coordinate with Case Planners on the student's academic progress and follow up on any needs/concerns. Provide a monthly report to the students' Case Planners that includes progress notes and key academic data. Case Planners should also be consulted about school transfers and any other significant educational advocacy a