Student Outreach and Re-Engagement (SOAR) Center Lead Re-Engagement Specialist

Position Overview

The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has set ambitious goals to ensure that every child -- in every school and in every neighborhood -- has access to a world-class learning experience from birth, resulting in graduation from high school, ready for success in college, career, and life. The Student Outreach and Reengagement (SOAR) Center is a cross-agency collaborative focused on the re-engagement of chronically truant and out-of-school youth. There are currently four SOAR Centers in Chicago (Englewood, Roseland, Pilsen, and Garfield Park) that serve as a locations for families and youth seeking support to re-enroll in school as well as a catchment center where families and community organizations may drop off school-aged youth found on the street during school hours.

The program offered at the SOAR Centers is intended to ensure the successful transition and graduation of students who have dropped out and desire to re-enroll in a program that will assist them in developing their path to graduation. Students participating in the SOAR Program will receive on-line instruction, small group and individual counseling, and workforce and life skills training. A SOAR Center Teacher is assigned to one SOAR Center and is responsible for providing blended on-line and classroom instruction.

The Lead Re-Engagement Specialist will be responsible for setting the students up with appropriate academic and/or social services offered by the Re-engagement Centers. This person will evaluate a student's academic history, establish a graduation plan with the student, and facilitate their re-enrollment back into school. This person will also monitor the student's progress while receiving services, and after re-enrolling into school. The Lead Re-Engagement Specialist will be responsible for working with community partners to locate and engage out-of-school youth, establish linkages to resources in the neighborhood, and oversee the implementation and staff of the Re-engagement Centers.

This individual will report to the SOAR Center Program Manager in the Office of Student Support and Engagement in College and Career Success.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Day-to-day operations of the Re-engagement Center and management of the Re-Engagement Specialist.
• Build and maintain relationships with community leaders, businesses and organizations in order to establish linkages to resources in the neighborhood.
• Establish strong relationships with school administration and related school-based staff by attending re-engagement center related meetings, and providing timely responses to request for support.
• Assess students' academic, attendance, and behavioral history and identify previous barriers to success.
• Analyze student transcripts and work with students to develop a graduation plan.
• Work with students to explore career interests and opportunities and establish personal goals.
• Assist students with exploring multiple educational pathways that meet their academic goals.
• Work with receiving schools to facilitate enrollment and monitor student persistence.
• Work with Re-Engagement Center Staff and school administrators to develop individual success plans for each student.
• Maintain all student records, student plans, and performance tracking reports.
• Maintain database for tracking participate data, activity delivery, and student participation data.

Type of Education Required:

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.

Type of Experience:

• Minimum five (5) to seven (7) years of experience running social service, mentoring, or academic programs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Embodies the unwavering belief that every child deserves and can have expert instruction and that all team members must be advocates for students.
• Comfort working in a non-traditional learning environment.
• Willingness to learn and adapt in the midst of new and shifting programs and priorities with a "can-do," solutions-oriented approach to learning and problem solving.
• Experience in creating and managing a student friendly environment.
• Demonstrated success building positive relationships with students, staff and parents.
• Outstanding organizational skills and ability to maintain detailed files and records.
• Skilled in evaluating and meeting the social service needs of at-risk students, and coordinating the efforts of various social service agencies and community organizations.
• An engaging and collaborative leadership style.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills and the ability to handle multiple competing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision outside of formalized, central office setting.
• Willingness to work flexible hours to meet needs of families and to attend evening meetings.
• Must possess computer skills including Microsoft Office, Word, and Excel.

Additional Notes :

• CPS employees are required to be actual residence of the City of Chicago within six months of beginning employment, and are required to maintain Chicago residency throughout employment.
• Chicago Public Schools is not currently hiring individuals for this position who now or in the future require sponsorship for employment based non-immigrant and immigrant visas.
• Chicago Public Schools is an EEO/AA Employer. All qualified individuals, including minorities, females, veterans, and individuals with disabilities, are encouraged to apply.