Student Engagement Specialist, Student Outreach

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 600 schools and employing approximately 40,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life.

In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments - student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

Located within the Office of Student Support and Engagement (OSSE), the Student Outreach and Re-engagement (SOAR) Center is a cross-agency collaborative focused on the re-engagement and re-enrollment of chronically truant and out-of-school youth. The SOAR program is intended to ensure the successful transition and graduation of students who have dropped out of school and desire to re-enroll in a program that will assist them in developing their path to graduation.

The SOAR teams work closely with District and Options Schools, which offer additional supports and services for students who need a new pathway toward high school graduation, who have been out of school and seek to return, or who may need opportunities to earn credits in an accelerated program.

The Student Engagement Specialist will be responsible for facilitating the reconnection of disengaged students to school via the appropriate academic and social-emotional interventions. Student Engagement Specialists play multiple roles in locating and reconnecting students who are chronically truant, including working with community partners to locate and engage out-of-school students, and completing comprehensive intake interviews and assessments of each individual student's needs.

This position will build and maintain strong relationships with the student, family, and school community to support successful placement in the learning environment and ensure the interventions are effective. This position will also monitor students' progress while receiving services, and after re-enrolling into school. The Student Engagement Specialist will report to the SOAR Center Re-Engagement Program Coordinator.

The Student Engagement Specialist will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

* Develop a supportive and trusting relationship with at-risk students

* Conduct a comprehensive intake interview to identify the student's interests, strengths, and specific barriers or challenges impeding successful engagement in school and academic performance

* Review student transcripts, records, and historical school data to guide student conversations, school placement recommendations, and transition/support plans

* Utilize active listening, motivational interviewing, and empathetic, non-judgmental conversation to deeply engage with and learn about students

* Work with students to establish academic and career interests and goals, and to utilize those in the determination of the best school fit

* Work with the school counselor, social service workers, and community partners to develop individualized intervention and graduation plans to address social/emotional issues impacting performance

* Monitor student academic progress, attendance, and behavior and provide personalized interventions as needed to keep the student enrolled in the school and on-track for graduation

* Facilitate events and workshops for character building and career exploration

* Maintain accurate records of student progress and submit monthly student activity logs and required documentation

* Conduct home visits and provide support to families in acquiring needed services to ensure student success

* Work with students to explore career interests and opportunities and establish personal goals.

* Assist students with exploring multiple educational pathways that meet their academic goals.

* Work with receiving schools to facilitate enrollment and monitor student persistence.

* Work with students, parents, and schools to develop individual success plans for each student.

* Maintain all confidential student records, student plans, and performance tracking reports.

* Maintain database for tracking student participant information, activity delivery, and program participation data.

* Other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Student Engagement Specialist must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

* High school diploma or GED equivalent is required

* Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university preferred

Experience

Required:

* Minimum of five (5) years of work experience in social services, health services, education, or related outreach work is required.

* Two (2) years of this relevant experience may be…