Student Advocate

North Cook ISC is officially certified as a "Great Place to Work!"

• Work Calendar - August 1 - June 30 annually (11 months)
• Work Schedule - Student Advocates will follow the teacher calendar plus August and June days. Student Advocates do not work in July
• • Winter break off (paid)
  • Spring break off (paid)
  • School holidays off (paid)
• Work Location - Assigned to a school within the North Cook County Region

This is a full time 11 month calendar student support position working for the North Cook Intermediate Service Center in collaboration with a specific North Cook School District that will be identified upon hiring. Specific work schedule to be developed by the Director of Student Advocacy - ALOP.


Job Summary:

• Maintains a caseload of 28-32 students based on school placement (4th-5th, 6th-8th or 9th-12th)
• Works with students, families and the educational support team in establishing/writing success plans setting realistic goals, schedules and plans for monitoring student academic and social/emotional success
• Monitors attendance, behavior and grades and is a first responder in the event of student' crises; maintains accurate records of student engagement & interactions
• Schedules, plans and participates in family outreach visits and family engagement events to promote family participation in the student's learning experiences and conducts wellness checks if needed and conducts home visits for family connection and attendance purposes when necessary
• Connects students' and families' to additional support services as needed and acts as a liaison to service providers
• Supports all school based initiatives actively and engages with all staff and administration to promote student success. Attends staff meetings & student problem-solving and staffing meetings as needed
• Fulfill other responsibilities as assigned

Preferred Skills:

• Strong commitment to serving struggling and historically underserved students
• Experience in working with community agencies in providing support networks to assist students and families
• Possess strong problem-solving and organizational skills; willingness to persist with students
• Advocacy skills, including the ability to negotiate, compromise, and confront conflict professionally
• Spanish speaking

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and/or office experience preferred, but not required
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Attention to detail and problem-solving skills
• Friendly and patient demeanor including conflict resolution skills
• Candidates should have experience supporting historically underrepresented youth.

Physical Demands: In performing the duties of an Student Advocate, the following physical demands are typical:

• Sedentary Work: The role primarily involves sitting at a desk or workstation for extended periods while using a computer, telephone, and other office equipment. However some work will require travel to a home or other location within the North Cook ISC region
• Mobility: Occasional walking and standing may be required for tasks such as filing documents, attending meetings, or moving between office areas. Some work may require climbing stairs or navigating to homes or other locations within the North Cook ISC region
• Lifting: Ability to lift and carry up to 10 pounds of office supplies or materials, such as boxes of paper or equipment
• Reaching and Grasping: Regular use of hands and arms to handle office supplies, operate a keyboard, and perform various administrative tasks
• Visual Acuity: Requires close vision to review documents, prepare reports, and use computer screens.
• Communication: Frequent use of verbal communication skills to interact with colleagues, clients, and vendors, as well as the ability to hear and understand conversations in a busy office environment
• Work environment: Work is completed in an indoor office environment

Accommodation Statement: North Cook ISC is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please contact the Director of Human Resources to discuss your needs.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement: NCISC is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees and applicants are treated with respect and fairness. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws

Benefits:

• Employee health insurance premium 100% paid by North Cook - PPO or HMO, Blue Cross Blue Shield (dependent coverage available at 50% cost share)
• Employee Dental insurance premium 100% paid by North Cook through MetLife (dependent coverage available at 50% cost share)
• Life insurance, MetLife - 1x annual salary + $50,000 AD&D
• Retirement benefits for this position are facilitated through the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) - Enrollment required
• 11 sick days (earned 1 per month of work), and 5 personal days each year