About Schenectady City Schools

With a population of nearly 10,000 students, the Schenectady City School District is one of the largest in the Capital Region. With an incredibly diverse population we are committed to ensuring that all children feel valued, are safe and will learn. We place the highest priority on a culture of equity, ensuring that race, economics, and disability are never predictors of student achievement. Every child in our district counts and will be supported each step of the way, along the path to graduation.

Distinguishing Features of the Class and Role of Culture and Community Engagement Specialist:

The work involves responsibility for building relationships with students, staff and community members in the halls, corridors, lavatories, buildings and grounds to build a positive experience for all members of the internal and external community and to communicate school-wide expectations. The position is intended to promote a peaceful culture for persons and property while maintaining an atmosphere conducive to learning. The incumbent will establish relationships with students in order to assist them with their lived experiences or refer them to someone on the professional staff who can help. The work is performed under the general direction of the school principal with leeway allowed for exercise of independent judgment in carrying out assignments with an equity lens. This position requires a high level of cultural awareness, responsiveness and competence.

Typical Work Activities and Expectations of Culture and Community Engagement Specialist:

• Organize and support school staff and administration in coordinating strategic initiatives around student engagement and restorative practices;
• Maintains a positive culture in school halls, stairwells, restrooms, courtyards, entrances, parking lots and other parts of school buildings and grounds to ensure persons and property, meet school-wide expectations;
• Greets persons on school premises who are not student or staff and advises as to school expectations and either directs visitors to school offices or provide guidance on best next step based on school expectations;
• Shares periodically with principals' issues impacting school culture, incidents and conditions affecting security, either orally or in writing;
• Interacts and develops relationships with students in order to act as a sounding board so students have someone to talk to about their school or personal problems, and either assists them or refers them to someone who can help them;
• Facilitates professional development for staff and community aimed at decreasing disproportionate outcomes in types of disciplinary actions;
• Advises parents, teachers, counselors or principal about potential or actual student issues concerning class-cutting, truancy, disciplinary or other school or personal problems;
• May supervise the loading of buses and follows buses on routes or on field trips to make sure a positive culture develops;
• Works toward calming down students and conferring with them as to the importance of remaining in school and supporting school-wide expectations and culture;
• Checks student attendance by verifying daily records against teacher attendance records, records absences or class cuts, notes late students, verifies absence notes and contacts parent;
• Participates in the development and implementation of district security plans;
• May act as liaison with local and state police agencies;
• May answer requests from parents, probation officers and counselors regarding attendance and, in essence, acts as a liaison between home and school;

May act as a contact with the outside community for the benefit of the students to help them get jobs or into programs and assists in arranging for community based school activities such as field trips.

Full Performance Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics and Key Qualities of Culture and Community Engagement Specialist:

• Working knowledge of children and young adults;

• Understands the impact of Equity-based Culturally Responsive approaches to supporting students and families;
• Uses restorative approaches and works to eliminate punitive practices;
• Demonstrated effectiveness in developing relationships;
• Demonstrated ability to build alliances with a diverse group of stakeholders;
• Demonstrated skill in using data to make decisions and effect change;
• Experience in planning and leading projects;
• Facilitation skills and consensus building abilities;
• Effective communication skills - both oral and written;
• Good problem solver;
• Growth mindset;

• Demonstrated ability to learn;
• Ability to perform the actions to support a positive school culture and ensure the safety of persons and security of the school building;
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in carrying out supervision and duties;
• Ability to relate to and get along with and connect with diverse groups of students respectfully;
• Ability to understand and carry out written or oral directions;
• Ability to articulate the problems and concerns of students to the school administration;
• Concern for the welfare of all students and the larger Schenectady community;
• Understands the value of receiving an education and ability to transmit this experience to students daily.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered College with an Associate's degree and/or one (1) year of experience in youth related service work, recreation, education, or any other activity involving service to or activities with youth, which shall have involved setting limits, enforcing rules, or applying defined sanctions; OR

Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma, and/or three (3) years of experience in youth related service work, recreation, education, or any other activity involving service to or activities with youth, which shall have involved setting limits, enforcing rules, or applying defined sanctions; OR

An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A), and (B), above.

This position is a provisional civil service appointment and applicant must meet civil service requirements including residency in Schenectady County. Successful candidates are required to take civil service exam when offered.

The Schenectady City School District is committed to hiring members of protected classes and residents of the City of Schenectady. For more information on the District's recruitment and hiring plan, please contact the Human Resources Office at 881-2000 ext. 40133.The Schenectady City School District does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, race or gender. This policy is in compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Regulations and By-Laws of the Board of Education of the Schenectady City School District.