Early Childhood Engagement Specialist

POSITION INFORMATION:
            Location: Moton Early Childhood Center (serves Moton and other HCS locations) Supervisor: Building Coordinator Employment Period/Schedule:             11 months Employment Status:  Full-time Salary: $58,905 flat rate -- grant-funded position Start Date: As soon as possible
This position is grant funded and designed to promote a positive and supportive attitude toward at-risk PreK students and their families following school closure and hybrid learning due to the COVID 19 pandemic. This position should serve as a liaison between school and home with the goal of helping to remove barriers to true student engagement. This position has a unique role in encouraging families of PreK students to attend school regularly and to access all available learning and school community activities.  In addition, this position will help determine the root cause of excessive absence and support students and families with social emotional learning skills.  This position will also provide support to school staff in determining strategies and interventions to address weaknesses in social emotional learning skills. 
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
 

• Monitors attendance and enrollment of at-risk PreK students and PreK students/families with a history of chronic absenteeism
• Works with school administrators, counselors and other school-based staff to determine specific cause of chronic absence or chronic behavior concerns
• Make referrals to other school or division staff to support at risk students and families
• Maintains an accurate database of attendance efforts and efforts to reach families  
• Assists families in understanding support services that may be in place or offered. These may include, among other things, medical care, dental care, transportation, student advocacy and counseling, school supplies, clothing and other basic needs
• Assists family Engagement Specialists in school wide events and efforts to engage families
• Participate in professional learning to improve knowledge 
• Assist in providing professional learning as related to student attendance and social emotional skills for young children
• Maintain confidentiality
• Other duties as assigned by the director of Early Childhood education

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
 

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood education, counseling, psychology, social work or related field.
• Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, parents, and  community partners
• Able to show patience and persistence in dealing with parents and children in crisis
• Able to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Able to perform duties with awareness of all district policies and requirements for compulsory attendance
• General knowledge and understanding of Early Childhood development
• Able to use student information system, Google Suite and other technology needed for attendance data and documentation
• Valid VA driver's license

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
 
You may apply anytime before midnight on the closing date.  The follow items are requested to be considered for the position:
 

• Resume
• Feedback from reference forms (minimum of 2)

Hampton City Schools does not discriminate in employment against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, age, disability or other protected class.  Personnel decisions are based on merit and the ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.  The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:  Executive Director of Human Resources, One Franklin Street, Hampton, VA 23669; (757) 727-2300.  Appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request.