Equity Specialist - Secondary

Equity Specialist

Shakopee Public Schools has an opening for a Middle School Equity Specialist for the  school year.

Under the supervision of the Equity Supervisor, the Equity Specialist provides support for student learning by helping students, parents, teachers, and other school staff to give priority to educational equity and cultural relevance into student engagement, parent engagement, community engagement, and staff development. Also serves as a liaison between families and the school district to help develop and sustain a trusting and supportive relationship that will benefit students, families, and the district to increase student achievement.

• Identify and maintain student support groups utilizing research based programming and curriculum
• Individual student support for academic success by facilitating student's empowerment, social, racial, academic, and identity development groups
• Facilitation of interracial, racial, social, and academic groups and/or with individual students, creating spaces of racial affinity for students of color, empowering student voice and self advocacy from students of color
• Monitor students' academic progress and work with other building staff to develop academic success plans for students
• Develop and deliver after school and summer school programs to improve student achievement

• Act as a consultant to teachers, administrators and other staff regarding culture, heritage and background for students and families
• Work with principals to develop a positive building climate that leads to educational equity and student achievement for all students
• Collaborate with head building principal to create professional development focused on equity for staff
• Plan with building teams designated to analyze school data (I-team, Professional Learning Communities, Grade Level Teams, and Data Teams) to develop action plans to ensure educational equity for all students
• Develop monthly data/ reports that support educational equity activities
• Collaborate with staff to provide supplemental culturally relevant experiential learning opportunities in and out of the classroom that will help maximize understanding of core standards curriculum content and introduce equity, race, pluralism, and social justice education
• Participate in facilitating district wide staff development training, building wide staff development training, and district academies
• Work collaboratively within the Department of Learning, Teaching and Equity & American Indian Education colleagues on various activities
• Building Program Coordinator for A&I programs including Check and Connect

• Develop positive and constant communication with parents and guardians
• Coordination of family nights, parent academies and host parent listening sessions
• Focused on bringing in community resources to support students, families and the school
• Facilitate communication between students, parents, and school staff to ensure student achievement
• Establish and develop strong community relationships (colleges and universities, community resources, social services) to cultivate the possibilities of college from elementary to high school, engage in service learning, and to provide our students and families with community resources
• In partnership with Supervisor and Cultural Liaisons develop and deliver a family engagement plan to welcome and create an inclusive positive environment to foster parent/guardian involvement in the school community
• Be a resource for parents/guardians to go to for academic, social and other needs

Schedule:

200 Days per year, July 1, 2026thru June 30, 2027 per supervisor approval of schedule.

• 4-year Degree required, preferably in education, counseling, social work or closely related field plus two years experience providing student /family support in a diverse urban education or social service setting; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience totaling six years.

• Previous related experience preferred

• Demonstrated effectiveness in working with students and families from diverse racial, cultural, economic, and linguistic backgrounds
• Excellent human relations skills and demonstrated ability to establish and maintain relationships with students, families, and staff
• Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas: intercultural communications and interactional styles; foundations of multicultural education; child/adolescent development and behavior; cultural responsiveness; family systems; behavior management techniques; chemical dependency; abuse; family change; multidisciplinary teaming; group facilitation; consultation; student and staff development

• $50,000 to $90,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications. While the full range is available, most candidates can expect to…