FLACS III - Family and Community Liaison 26-27

ABOUT US

Family Life Academy Charter School (commonly called FLACS) is a nonprofit network of high-performing charter schools in the South Bronx. Family Life Academy Charter Schools, together with the Latino Pastoral Action Center and parents, create the conditions for self-empowerment for all its K-12 students to excel academically, take responsibility for their own learning, and affirm human values, today, in college, and beyond. We are guided by this mission and through it, we have revolutionized education for students from K-12. 

Family Life Academy Charter Schools is currently seeking dynamic operations staff who

• Value collaboration with like-minded individuals who believe that education is activism.
• Want to work in an environment where all students are scholars and academic excellence is the norm.
• Believe that young people can be leaders who can create positive change in their communities and that schools should be safe, warm and caring environments. 

Desire to work in a place where their skills will be nurtured through an embedded professional development program.

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY LIAISON JOB DESCRIPTION

Under the supervision of the Principal, the Family and Community Liaison is part of the FLACS office team. This position is responsible for increasing involvement of current families in the school and for increasing the visibility of FLACS in the community to attract future families. They will engage with and involve parents in the school community by working with the principal, school staff, network staff parent associations, and community groups. 

The Family and Community Liaison focuses on creating a welcoming environment for current and future parents. They will identify parent and school/community issues and work with the principal to see they are addressed in a timely manner. They provide information on programs/services available to current and future families as well as school and/or district activities and procedures; refer families to other agencies; and foster an ongoing partnership between the home and school. They make connections within the community and promote the visibility of the FLACS Network to attract future FLACS families. This role works closely with the Network level positions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a first point of contact for parents with concerns and issues (for example, school policies or facilities issues) and serve as a liaison between parents and other staff members in addressing these concerns and issues.
• Increase involvement of current families in the school by working closely with the school, parent and community organizations.
• Conduct outreach to current parents to engage them in their children’s education through phone calls, messages on ParentSquare and emails. 
• Convene at minimum once monthly parent meetings, workshops and/or events around topics of key concerns to parents.
• Support the Parent Association in holding their monthly meetings and other PA hosted events.
• Attend the student lottery and support the registration of students after the lottery.
• Attend special community, city, and/or state events as requested by the principal or network leadership.
• Maintain ongoing contact with community organizations including .
• Organize back-to-school night, parent workshops, and other events to increase parental and community involvement and create a welcoming school environment to parents. 
• Translate school-based written communications into Spanish and provide oral translation at school-based parent workshops and meetings.
• Use ParentSquare to communicate with current FLACS families, including for personal outreach and for whole-school and group posts. 
• Support the principal in other areas where communication with parents is essential, i.e.  bussing, food, health, sports, school trips, etc. to ensure the safety and welfare of the students.

Professional Responsibilities:

• Upholds the FLACS’ mission, core beliefs, and educational philosophy.
• Reflects on their practice and is a lifelong learner who strives to improve effectiveness and guide professional growth.
• Engages and collaborates with colleagues and the community to develop and sustain a common culture that supports high expectations for student learning.
• Evidence of self-motivation and willingness to be a team player.

Qualifications:

• An Associate’s degree (or equivalent); Bachelor’s degree preferred. 
• Two years of experience in community work in an area related to the duties described above.
• Proficiency in Spanish is required. 
• DASA trained or completed training within the first month of the school year.

It is the policy of FLACS to provide educational and employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, alienage and citizenship status, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender (sex) or prior record of arrest or convictions (except as provided bylaw) and to maintain an environment of free of discriminatory harassment, including sexual harassment, or retaliation, as required by civil rights law.