Alternative Placement Officer Job Waukegan area,Illinois USA,Education / Teaching

Student Outreach Alternative Placement Officer

Who We Are:

Waukegan Community Unit School District No. 60 serves nearly 13,000 students in preschool through grade 12 and is located halfway between Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Michigan. The District has one early learning center, 15 elementary schools, five middle schools and a high school program divided between two 9‑12th grade campuses. The District encompasses portions of Waukegan, Beach Park and Park City.

Why

We Do This Work:

The Waukegan Community Unit School District No. 60 has set an ambitious agenda for change, guided by the belief that all children, regardless of circumstances, can achieve at high levels and academic gaps can and will be eliminated with the support of teachers who deliver engaging, relevant, and academically rigorous instruction that excites students and instills a love of learning in them.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Placement Officer is directly responsible to the Director of Student Outreach. The position will provide implementation and monitoring support for General Education Alternative Educational Placement (AOEC, Twilight, Ombudsman, ROE and other community educational service organizations and agencies). It will communicate with school and community‑based individuals on an ongoing basis to develop, implement, and monitor Individual Support Plans (ISP) to increase student opportunity for school engagement and success.

The officer will serve as a liaison between the assigned school, district offices, and community organizations and agencies to present a positive image of the total school environment. The officer will plan and deliver professional development/training opportunities for staff and families to ensure information and resources related to local, state and national mandates and initiatives are available to support student/school engagement.

Schedule meetings (e.g., referrals, discipline, School Attendance Review, etc.) for the purpose of coordinating placement and ensuring that outcomes achieve school, district and/or state objectives.

Obtain accurate records of student and family contact information using school/district approved documents; collaborate with school staff in reporting information obtained.

Conduct conferences related to the alternative placement process for alternative schools (e.g., AOEC, Ombudsman, ROE, etc.) ensuring effective student education and compliance with all related regulations.

Respond to all requests from various internal and external sources (e.g., school, administrators, parents, outside agencies, etc.).

Collaborate with School Administration and Support Staff to ensure documents required for service and outside placement referrals (i.e., Youth Build Lake County, YCC, etc.) are filed accordingly to assist staff and students/families in complying with mandated requirements.

Work with Hulse/Depke Detention Center and its administration/staff to help support transition and improve school engagement.

Conduct professional development and trainings for identified internal and external populations related to school/district alternative placement mandates and initiatives.

Demonstrate initiative for recognizing and resolving issues, concerns or complaints in a timely manner.

Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Student Outreach.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent required.

Computer skills with a focus on use of data management applications.

Experience interacting with students, families and the community in a positive manner.

Demonstrated ability to multitask effectively and prioritize strategically.

Openness to feedback and willingness to take personal responsibility.

Sound knowledge of the state, federal and district policies related to student attendance and discipline.

Demonstrated ability to collect, synthesize, and interpret data from multiple sources.

Excellent interpersonal communication, listening and problem‑solving skills.

Ability to successfully work in a collaborative environment with administrators, teachers, parents, and outside agencies.

High level of personal integrity and a strong work ethic.

The above…