Students in Temporary Living Situations Program Coordinator

Students in Temporary Living Situations Program Coordinator

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third largest school district in the United States, serving over 360,000 students in 600+ schools and employing nearly 36,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission we make three commitments to our students, their families and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments - student centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership and continuous learning.

Primary Responsibilities

Policy Expertise

• Demonstrate proficiency in relevant laws and policies including the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the Every Student Succeeds Act, the Illinois Plan for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program, and the Salazar v. Edwards Consent Decree
  
  

• Effectively communicate federal, state, and local policies to diverse audiences; demonstrate ability to translate policy into action
  
  
• Develop and present training curriculum to designated school staff/administrators, CPS Departments, shelters and other organizations
  
  
• Identify and participate in professional development opportunities to stay current on laws, policies, and best practices that relate to students in temporary living situations, including topics of homelessness, foster care, children's mental health, trauma and stress, special education, and others
  
  

Support Schools, Students, and Parents/Guardians

• Assist principals, network chiefs, clerks, counselors, social workers, teachers, and other school-based staff in all CPS schools including alternative and charter schools to understand and implement policies and supports for students in temporary living situations
  
  
• Support the work of school liaisons, providing assistance by phone, email or in person as needed to ensure immediate enrollment and full participation in school for students in temporary living situations
  
  
• Engage in strengths-based problem solving to assist parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youth with enrollment, transportation, fee waivers, and access to school supplies, uniforms, tutoring, and other supports
  
  
• Mediate between parents or unaccompanied youth and schools during disputes regarding eligibility, enrollment, or transportation, ensuring information from all sides is documented, collected, and considered in a timely manner
  
  
• Use trauma-informed approach to supporting students and families
  
  
• Ability to manage competing priorities including urgent issues in need of same-day resolution
  
  
• Offer insight into challenges students face with regards to attendance in school; support parents, students and schools in attendance discussions and interventions
  
  
• Conduct program monitoring at schools related to all aspects of the STLS program in order to ensure schools are in compliance with relevant laws and policies
  
  
• Review, recommend, and document best practices in education of children and youth experiencing homelessness
  
  
• Assist in monitoring and transition of students experiencing homelessness that are affected by school closings, phase outs, turnaround, or consolidations
  
  
• Support efforts to increase access to preschool and post-secondary opportunities
  
  

Community Outreach and Engagement

• Respond to parent, community, and school requests for information related to STLS in a timely manner
  
  
• Provide outreach to community agencies, shelters, and neighborhood organizations to develop an awareness of rights of students experiencing homelessness and the services provided to these students
  
  
• Establish and maintain professional relationships with local family and youth shelters and community based organizations
  
  
• Bring strengths-based approach to all interactions with and conversations about students and families experiencing homelessness.
  
  
• Represent STLS at meetings as needed
  
  
• Identify and participate in opportunities to enroll children experiencing homelessness, ages birth-5 years in early childhood education
  
  

Data, Reporting, and Planning

• Demonstrate knowledge of administration and allocation of Title I STLS Set Aside Funds; monitor mandatory Title I Set Aside Funds for homeless youth and ensure that the funds are spent
  
  
• Document requests for assistance in Service Now; input notes, updates, and resolutions
  
  
• Ability to understand, compute, and utilize data to inform decision-making
  
  
• Bring innovative technology approach to all work in order to attain greater departmental efficiency and student outcomes
  
  

Other Duties

• Any other projects or collaborations that are presented by CPS, City of Chicago, and other community organizations
  
  

Qualifications

• Extensive experience with serving very low income families of differing cultural backgrounds;
  
  
• Excellent interpersonal skills
  
  
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills
  
  
• Experienced presenter
  
  
• Outstanding problem-solving and data analysis capabilities
  
  
• Self starter who can anticipate problems and develop preemptive solutions
  
  
• Ability to be flexible and to adapt to a continually shifting environment
  
  
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
  
  

Type of Education Required

Bachelor's degree

Type of experience and Number of years

• At least four years of relevant social service or experience in urban education
  
  
• Familiarity with city-wide social service infrastructure
  
  
• Knowledge of national and local education landscape
  
  

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 his or her CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district.