Support Specialist

Student Services Support Specialist

Under the general direction of the Executive Director of Student Services, the Student Services Coordinator develops, coordinates, and implements youth engagement, student leadership, community partnership, and student support initiatives that promote educational access, belonging, and positive youth development. The position serves as the district lead for the Native Education Program, coordinates services for unaccompanied youth identified under the McKinney-Vento Act, oversees the district's McKinney-Vento Transfer Site, and supports other assigned Student Services initiatives.

The Coordinator collaborates with schools, families, Tribal partners, community organizations, and public agencies to expand opportunities for students, strengthen partnerships, and remove barriers to engagement. The position emphasizes program implementation, relationship building, family engagement, and youth development rather than clinical social work services.

Youth Development & Student Leadership

• Develop and coordinate youth engagement, leadership, mentoring, and enrichment opportunities.
• Coordinate student voice initiatives, advisory groups, and recognition activities.
• Support after-school, summer, and extended learning opportunities that promote belonging and school connectedness.

Native Education Program

• Coordinate implementation of the district's Native Education Program.
• Partner with Tribal governments, Native families, and community organizations.
• Coordinate culturally responsive programming, family engagement, grant activities, and student leadership opportunities.

McKinney-Vento Unaccompanied Youth

• Coordinate district supports for unaccompanied youth identified under the McKinney-Vento Act.
• Collaborate with school counselors, administrators, registrars, and attendance teams to identify and refer unaccompanied youth.
• Coordinate resource referrals, educational supports, and documentation for unaccompanied youth.
• Collaborate with the Student Services Social Worker when students require complex case management, crisis intervention, or social work services.

McKinney-Vento Transfer Site

• Coordinate daily operations of the district's McKinney-Vento Transfer Site.
• Support site staff, volunteers, student programming, safety, logistics, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor participation data and evaluate program effectiveness.

Community Partnerships & Family Engagement

• Develop partnerships with youth-serving organizations, Tribal partners, nonprofit agencies, recreation providers, housing agencies, and other community organizations.
• Coordinate community outreach events, family engagement activities, and resource fairs.
• Represent Student Services on community coalitions and collaborative initiatives.

Program Administration

• Collect, analyze, and communicate program data.
• Support grant implementation, contracts, communications, and continuous improvement.
• Develop program resources and training materials.
• Serve on district committees and perform other duties as assigned.

Professional Learning & Consultation

• Provide technical assistance and training related to Native Education, unaccompanied youth, youth engagement, and assigned Student Services initiatives.
• Support schools in implementing best practices for student engagement and equitable access.

The essential functions listed above are not exhaustive and may be supplemented, as necessary. The position may perform a variety of non-essential functions consistent with its scope and intent.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Human Services, Youth Development, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Family Studies, Recreation, or a closely related field.
• Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in youth development, education, community engagement, family engagement, program coordination, or related work.
• Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience may be considered.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of Positive Youth Development, Native Education, McKinney-Vento requirements for unaccompanied youth, community resources, culturally responsive practices, and FERPA.
• Ability to build partnerships, coordinate programs and events, facilitate groups, analyze program data, communicate effectively, and maintain confidentiality.

Ability to organize time and materials effectively.

• Ability to remain flexible and work effectively under pressure.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, staff, parents and volunteers in a diverse environment.
• Ability to establish trust and maintain effective working relationships with students, families, staff, Tribal governments, and community partners.
• Ability to assess training needs and make recommendations.
• Ability to provide instructive direction in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to be flexible and open to new ideas, to coordinate multiple activities simultaneously, to work effectively under pressure, maintain a high level of productivity, and exercise…