Family and School Liaison; Spanish - WES

Family and School Liaison (Spanish) - WES  School Year)

WATERMAN ELEMENTARY – Harrisonburg, Virginia

Starting Date: Immediately

Reports to: Principal, and Chief of Staff

Contract: 220 Days

Salary Scale: Family and School Liaison Salary Scale (T1)

FLSA Status: Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY: The Family & School Liaison serves as a vital connection between students, families, and the school community, fostering students’ academic, social, and emotional growth. This role promotes effective communication, collaboration, and trust among all stakeholders while maintaining confidentiality and professional relationships with staff, students, and families. As a cultural advocate, the Family & School Liaison helps bridge understanding between families and school personnel, ensuring that diverse family perspectives are recognized, valued, and represented within the school environment.

Through proactive outreach and engagement efforts, the liaison empowers families to take an active role in their children’s education using a variety of communication methods and strategies. In partnership with school staff, the Family & School Liaison develops, promotes, and implements high-impact family engagement initiatives both during and beyond the school day. The position also cultivates positive, collaborative relationships with students, families, colleagues, and community partners, and may represent the school at community and civic events to strengthen partnerships and support student success.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduate from an accredited college or university with a minimum of a Bachelors degree in social services, psychology or related field.
• Possesses outstanding knowledge and skill in the assigned instructional area and demonstrates enthusiasm for teaching and learning in a project-based environment.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to guide 6th-8th grade students through complex problems as they develop new skills and understanding.
• Effectively demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions.
• Experience working directly with individuals and families from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Familiarity with equity and inclusion frameworks. Models non-discriminatory practices in all activities. Respects the worth, dignity and individual differences of others.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to present to diverse audiences to foster professional relationships and express and/or exchange ideas.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in the use of a variety of office/instructional equipment and technology with experience using Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and email.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities and personal characteristics necessary for working effectively with students, teachers, administrators, and the community.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Communicates/explains school rules, procedures, schedules, and curriculum to English Learner students and their families.
• Conducts an orientation upon admission or within the first week of admission to new English Learner students and their families, and provides ongoing support throughout the year.
• Provides translation and interpretation services for families of English Learners and all school personnel.
• Assists school staff in coordinating interpretation/translation needs in other target languages.
• Utilizes interpretive equipment for interpreting at school wide functions.
• Collaborates with school personnel and families to facilitate understanding of report cards, any generated forms, disciplinary actions taken by the school, attendance issues, regulations, etc.
• Collaborates with school staff to maintain positive and informed communication with English Learner students and their families.
• Assists with developing and promoting family engagement activities.
• Conducts Home Visits as needed and/or coordinates and assists teachers with Home Visits.
• Assists other schools upon request and as schedule permits.
• Other Responsibilities, not limited to:
• Attends school board meetings to provide translation services for students and their families. Takes all industry standard precautions to protect students, staff, equipment, materials,…