Youth Advocate

Description

Position Summary:

The purpose of the Youth Advocate position is to provide support to students that is focused on reducing disproportionality, promoting school safety, and positively impacting school culture and climate. Developing and maintaining healthy relationships with students, families and school staff are vital to one’s individual success in this position, but also to the larger school and district contexts. Principle responsibilities include providing support at the building level to identified students, including monitoring students’ academic and behavioral performance, assisting in data collection, and providing regular feedback to school and district leadership.

• High school diploma. Candidates with college credit in education, counseling, or social work preferred. Additional coursework in equity, diversity, social justice, and positive behavioral strategies is a plus.
• Experience working with youth in a supportive or supervisory capacity.
• Active involvement with the local community who has successfully mentored students at-risk.

• Reduce the gap of racial, gender, and linguistic disproportionality of discipline, special education referrals.
• Establish relationships among community, families, and school staff.
• Assist building staff in understanding the interests of the community and how to respond pro-actively and effectively to community concerns.
• Provide a safe and respectful space for students at-risk to discuss and address personal issues.
• Develop cohesion and mutual support among students at-risk within the school community.
• Provide opportunities for student to develop skills and strategies that promote school success.
• Engage in enrichment activities that support social, emotional and academic growth.
• Develop positive relationships among school staff and foster positive peer relations among students at-risk.
• Ability to follow directions and give directions to others.
• Work in collaboration with social workers and counselors on case management.
• Support school-wide programs, including but not limited to, PBIS, academic support classes, social-emotional curriculum, and discipline.
• Use de-escalation, conflict resolution, and relationship-building strategies to manage behavior.
• Provide assistance during hallway transition times.
• Escort students to and from class as needed.
• Assist with supervision during lunch periods as needed.
• Attend meetings with administration and/or support staff and district administration as required.
• Assist with data collection as needed.
• Provide regular weekly feedback to students, families, and school staff.

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work well under direction from two or more supervisors.
• Strong knowledge of the strengths, needs, and concerns of the school, students, family, and community.
• Capacity to strengthen relationships among community members, school staff, and students.
• Ability to mobilize various resources of school and district for on-going community and family efforts.
• Demonstrate district core values of student-centered decision making, respect, unity, high expectations, diversity, strong relationships, and equity.
• Follow directions and give directions to others.
• Encourage, model, and maintain high standards of professional conduct and appearance.
• Excellent attendance record.
• Select appropriate channels for resolving concerns/problems.
• Demonstrate fairness and consistency in working with students, colleagues, district staff, parents, and community partners.
• Promote the belief that all students can and will learn.
• Multi-task and work independently on position-related needs/tasks.
• Exercise good judgement in prioritizing tasks.
• Be flexible and adaptable to meet changing requirements, processes, and procedures.
• Attend school/community meetings as required and attend job-related workshops and professional learning that will strengthen skill set.
• Travel to district office, buildings, classrooms, and relevant community locations.
• Work as a collaborative team member.
• Perform a variety of duties as directed by the building administrator/supervisor.

Busy school and community environments with multiple priorities and interruptions. Advocates will work in a space assigned by the principal. High mobility throughout the school building, with a great deal of time standing and walking. In your role to support students you will need to be in contact with various departments, community organizations and the general public.

Additional Requirements

• Resume
• Letters of Recommendation
• Custom Questions