Family Engagement & Support Specialist

Family Engagement & Support Specialist

Location: Rutland Intermediate School

Reports to: Principal

Union/Pay-Scale: Non-Aligned

Position Summary

The Family Engagement & Support Specialist works collaboratively with students, families, and school staff to address issues related to chronic absenteeism and truancy. This position focuses on building positive relationships, removing barriers to attendance, and fostering meaningful family engagement to support student success. The specialist serves as a liaison between home and school, promoting a supportive, relationship-centered, and solutions-oriented approach to improving attendance and student engagement.

Responsibilities

• Identify and monitor students with attendance concerns, including chronic absenteeism and truancy.
• Build positive, trusting relationships with families to support improved student attendance and school engagement.
• Conduct outreach to families through phone calls, emails, meetings, and home visits when appropriate.
• Meet with families during and, when needed, outside of regular school hours to support accessibility and family engagement.
• Collaborate with school counselors, administrators, teachers, nurses, social workers, and support staff to develop individualized attendance intervention and support plans.
• Facilitate problem‑solving meetings with families to identify barriers to attendance, including transportation, housing instability, health concerns, social‑emotional needs, or family challenges, and connect them with appropriate resources and supports.
• Provide families with information about attendance expectations, truancy procedures, and the impact of attendance on academic and social success.
• Coordinate with community agencies, service providers, and local organizations to support student and family needs.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential documentation of outreach efforts, meetings, and interventions, and attendance plans.
• Support restorative, relationship-based, and trauma-informed approaches to attendance improvement.
• Promote a positive school climate that encourages family involvement, student connectedness, and engagement in learning.

Knowledge/Skills

• Understanding of trauma-informed and restorative practices.
• Ability to problem-solve collaboratively and develop individualized support strategies.
• Strong organizational, documentation, and case management skills.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining strong collaboration with school teams and community partners.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and authentic family-school partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in education, social work, counseling, human services, psychology, or a related field is required. An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with children, adolescents, and/or families in a school, community-based, or human services setting is required.
• Experience supporting attendance improvement, truancy intervention, case management, or family engagement initiatives.
• Knowledge of MTSS, restorative practices, trauma-informed approaches, and/or school attendance laws and procedures.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive situations with professionalism, empathy, and cultural responsiveness.
• Ability to work collaboratively with school staff, families, community partners, and outside agencies.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for community outreach and home visits, if required.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Occasional evening or flexible-hour meetings may be necessary to support family engagement.
• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods and move throughout the facility as required to perform job duties.
• Ability to lift and carry materials and equipment weighing up to approximately 25 pounds.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, staff, and families in person and through various communication methods.
• Ability to operate standard classroom and office equipment, including computers and instructional technology.
• Ability to maintain regular attendance.
• Schedule and duties may vary based on assignment and school needs.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Affiant Action (EOE/AA)

Position Type: Full-time

Salary: $43,164 to $54,286 Per Year

Job : 5776523

Final date to receive applications: Posted until filled

Starting Date: Aug 20, 2026

Contact Information:

• Christy Coloutti, Principal
• 63-65 Library Ave.
• Rutland, Vermont 05701
• Phone:
• Fax:
• Email: christy.coloutti