Elementary Student Affinity Group Advisor; Bellview Elementary; Temporary

Overview

Job Title:

Elementary Student Affinity Group Advisor — Bellview Elementary — Temporary

Reports To:

Site Administrator

Summary:

An Affinity Group is a group of people who share a common identifier (e.g., race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation). Affinity group members can speak from the “I” perspective about their experiences, celebrate shared identity, and discuss challenges. Each elementary school has one Affinity Group Advisor who fulfills two roles: (1) coordinate and facilitate one elementary student affinity group (minimum of one 45-minute meeting per month);

and (2) support the facilitation of up to three other site student affinity groups, including meeting logistics, snacks, and planning.

• Professional Development
  • Attend affinity group advisor orientation and professional development, including mentorship sessions
  • Participate in quarterly collaboration meetings with other affinity group advisors
  • Attend monthly affinity group advisors PLC hosted by the SOESD (Regional)
• Coordination
  • Coordinate and facilitate monthly meetings for one elementary student affinity group
  • Support the facilitation of other site affinity groups
    • Assist Administrator in identifying interested facilitators (other site staff or community members)
    • Conduct monthly debrief with facilitators and assist with any issues
  • Schedule meeting times and locations for all site student affinity groups in coordination with the family calendar and site administrator approval
  • Coordinate with the site administrator to ensure an on-site emergency contact is available if meetings occur outside of school hours
  • If virtual, set up calendar invites with Zoom link
  • Coordinate participant invitations
    • Obtain Power School list of potential student participants from the site Administrator
    • Draft and send email and hard-copy invitations using confidentiality best practices
    • Invite new members via networks of current group members
    • With facilitators and site Administrator oversight, maintain group identity and adjust membership as needed
    • Keep confidential attendance records for each meeting (including attendance sheets from facilitators of other affinity groups)
  • Manage materials
    • Funds are provided to pay for snacks, materials, and activities; plan for the year within budget
    • Arrange purchases and orders for up to four affinity groups, complete reimbursement paperwork, and submit to the site office manager
    • Review and vet reading materials or videos before sharing with groups (with Administrator oversight)
• Communication
  • Collaborate with and support building affinity group facilitator(s)
  • Maintain confidentiality while communicating with group facilitator, school administrator, and district specialists as needed
  • Share updates with the Site Administrator for newsletters or website news
  • Inform students about regional events hosted by SOESD and SOU
• Facilitation
  • Lay out purpose in the initial meeting and create community agreements
  • Structure meetings to fit grade level and needs
• Foster community-building and social-emotional well-being
• Facilitate sharing of lived experiences and celebrations
• Help students process difficult topics and discussions
• Plan for collective action using district policies and practices
  • Hold events for student participation within the school community
  • Share salient themes with a school administrator (without breaking confidentiality)
  • Lead other leadership projects as determined by the group
• Solicit feedback from group members via the SOESD satisfaction survey and report results as part of funding applications
• Coordinate speakers for affinity group meetings; ensure non-district speakers complete volunteer approval
• Support student participation in regional events hosted by SOESD and SOU
• All elementary affinity groups should meet a minimum of 45 minutes each month

• Current Ashland School District employees are strongly preferred; if none are available, a community member may be hired
• Identify with the same affinity as students in the group, or demonstrate strong allyship

We encourage applicants who do not meet every qualification to apply. The District seeks representation and life experience to enrich our staff. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

The role requires regular communication, some travel between district sites, and use of digital systems. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable performance of essential functions. The noise level is usually low to moderate, with occasional higher activity; exposure to outdoor conditions and potential exposure to blood-borne pathogens may occur.

The District is focused on eliminating systemic racism and ensuring equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in all its activities. Ashland Public Schools is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.