Re-Engagement Intervention Coordinator

The Project

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 Re-engagement (SOAR) Center is a cross-agency collaborative focused on the re-engagement of and re-enrollment of chronically truant and out-of-school youth. The SOAR Centers work closely with Options Schools that serve youth who need a new pathway toward high school graduation. Options schools offer additional supports and services for students who have been out of school and seek to return, or who may need opportunities to earn credits in an accelerated program.

Chicago Public Schools and the University of Chicago Education Lab are collaborating to develop a comprehensive strategy to design, implement and evaluate new Options Schools model. This innovative approach will not only impact Chicago students, but has the potential to inform cities around the country struggling with serving this population.

Position Overview

The Re-Engagement Intervention Coordinator will be responsible for assisting schools in identifying and planning student specific intervention strategies. The Re-Engagement Intervention Specialist will also be responsible for supporting the design of new processes and procedures to ensure students receive high-quality transition supports across academic instruction and social and emotional supports.

This individual will report to the Re-Engagement Program Manager in the Office of Student Support and Engagement, closely consults with the Options Redesign Project Director, and collaborates with the Options School Leadership in the Office of Innovation and Incubation.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Support the re-enrollment pilot by partnering with home school-based teams such as ILT, School Climate, BHT, and/or MTSS to identify the academic and socioemotional interventions previously implemented with students and develop a intervention strategy to support the successful re-engagement and skill obtainment of at-risk and out of school youth
  
  
• If a new school environment is recommended for a student, assist the home school with developing a transition plan for the student and assist in sharing the plan with the receiving school and provide coaching on implementation
  
  
• Coordinate with SOAR Student Engagement Specialist to develop a best fit assignment if it is determined a student needs a new school environment
  
  
• Partner with the High School and Options Schools SEL Specialist and BHT, and/or MTSS team to identify school based strategies and solutions to address dropout prevention and intervention supports
  
  
• Follow up with schools regarding students who have transitioned to a new environment to ensure they are successfully supporting the student.
  
  
• Support the dropout intervention re-design work by establishing a set of academic and social emotional interventions for the new school model and establish the tools, procedures, and processes for providing the interventions
  
  

Skills & Abilities

• Expertise in the MTSS process
  
  
• Knowledge of best practices in school climate and SEL strategies and supports at multiple tiers
  
  
• Knowledge of best practices in academic interventions and supports at multiple tiers
  
  
• Expertise in guiding the analysis of data and data-based inquiry to ensure identification of student
  
  
• risk factors and intervention needs
  
  
• Ability to collaborate and drive consensus on student needs and intervention plans across a diverse group of school based personnel
  
  
• Expertise in case management and providing direct support services to students
  
  
• Expertise in external community based behavioral health/social services and referral processes
  
  
• Skilled multi-tasker and excellent time manager; ability to effectively achieve multiple goals and manage multiple projects simultaneously
  
  
• Access to a car and ability to travel as needed.
  
  

Education and Experience Required

• Masters degree in Education, Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or related field
  
  
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in an urban school district with a focus on SEL or Academic supports and interventions
  
  
• Classroom teaching or counseling experience highly preferred. High School Experience Preferred.
  
  
• Understanding of and interest in vulnerable student populations impacted by trauma
  
  

Residency Requirement: As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district.