Bilingual Community Liaison Coordinator

Bilingual Community Liaison Coordinator

The Bilingual Community Liaison Coordinator for grades 912 is responsible for supporting communication between the school district and multilingual families. This position ensures equitable access to educational programs by providing interpreting and translation services, coordinating parent communication, and supporting compliance with state and federal requirements, particularly for special education processes and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

1. Communication & Family Engagement
   • Serve as a liaison between school staff and Spanish-speaking families to support student achievement.
   • Assist Spanish-speaking families in accessing school resources, understanding school expectations, and navigating district procedures.
   • Conduct outreach to families (phone calls, meetings, and follow-ups) in Spanish.
   • Support parent engagement initiatives and facilitate communication related to academic progress, attendance, and graduation requirements.
2. Translation & Interpretation
   • Must be a certified translator/interpreter (Spanish required).
   • Provide interpretation services for:
     • Parent-teacher conferences
     • School meetings and events
     • Discipline meetings and hearings
     • IEP meetings and all special education-related conferences
   • Translate written documents including:
     • School communications
     • District forms
     • Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) upon request
     • Notices of recommended educational placement (NOREPs) and procedural safeguards
3. Special Education & IEP Compliance
   • Attend and interpret all IEP meetings for assigned 912 students as needed.
   • Collaborate with special education staff to ensure meaningful parent participation for Spanish-speaking families.
   • Coordinate and schedule IEP meetings, ensuring appropriate participants are included (e.g., case managers, administrators, general education teachers, specialists).
   • Maintain confidentiality and ensure compliance with IDEA, FERPA, and district policies.
   • Assist Spanish-speaking families in understanding IEP documents, services, and rights.
4. Student & School Support
   • Assist administrators, counselors, teachers, and support staff with communication needs involving Spanish-speaking students and families.
   • Support student registration and enrollment for newly arrived students (912 focus).
   • Assist with attendance follow-up and intervention communication.
   • Communicate health, academic, and behavioral concerns to families in Spanish.
5. Coordination & Scheduling
   • Assist with scheduling:
     • Parent-teacher conferences
     • Student meetings
     • IEP meetings and related services meetings
   • Ensure all required personnel are invited and logistical details are clearly communicated to Spanish-speaking families.
6. Community & Cultural Support
   • Promote cultural awareness and responsiveness among district staff working with Spanish-speaking families.
   • Connect Spanish-speaking families with community agencies and external resources.
   • Facilitate understanding of post-secondary opportunities (college, career, technical pathways).
7. Other Duties
   • Maintain accurate records of translation/interpreting services.
   • Assist with training staff on working effectively with Spanish-speaking families.
   • Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

To successfully perform this position, a person must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Minimum qualifications are listed below:

1. High school diploma required; associate's or bachelor's degree preferred
2. Certification in translation/interpretation (Spanish) required
3. Bilingual in Spanish (spoken and written) required
4. Knowledge of educational terminology, especially special education/IEP processes preferred
5. Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
6. Ability to maintain confidentiality
7. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data systems
8. Required clearances and compliance with district hiring requirements
9. Current Act 24 (82), Act 34, Act 114, Act 151 and Act 168 clearances, pre-employment drug test and physical with TB test.

Terms of employment: 220 days; 8 hours per day. Salary and benefits according to the agreement between the Hazleton Area School District and the HAESPA.

The Hazleton Area School District is an equal opportunity employment, educational and service organization.