Community School Director

Community School Director at John Bowne High School

Commonpoint is a non-profit, multi-service agency with flagship sites in Little Neck, Bayside, Forest Hills, East Elmhurst, Jamaica, and Crotona (Bronx), with 80 additional sites throughout the community that provide a diverse array of programs and services to over 85,000 individuals. The mission is to sustain and enhance the quality of family and individual life for all members of our community, regardless of religion, ethnic or cultural background, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual preference, age, or disability, within a pervasive and inclusive environment that facilitates individual growth, meets individual needs and builds community. We accomplish this mission through a broad range of social, educational, and recreational services that reach community members of all ages and backgrounds.

The Community School Director at John Bowne High School is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of Commonpoint and the Office of Community Schools programming at John Bowne High School in Queens, NY. The Director is on site at the school 5 days a week, and is responsible for management, integration, and coordination of student and family support services at the school, as well as programming and partnerships. The Director is responsible for arranging, coordinating, and implementing the initiative's strategies, services, and resources in consultation with the school administration. Liaises with the school, other Community-Based Organization (CBO) partners and vendors, and city agencies on behalf of the initiative at the school level; participates in the development and manages the implementation of the Community Schools Model consistent with the requirements of the grant and with the expectations of the principal and Commonpoint. The Community School Director participates in weekly and monthly attendance meetings and meetings with stakeholders as needed. Within our framework of a holistic, strength-focused, and family-supported practice, an individual hired as the Community School Director in the High School and College Success division will report directly to the Senior Director of High School & College Success.

Education & Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Education, Social Work, Mental Health Counseling or Administration is required.
• LMSW preferred, SIFI certification is a plus.
• At least three (3) years working with adolescents in an urban environment providing services that reduce barriers, facilitate educational success, and social emotional well-being.
• Candidates must possess excellent interpersonal, public speaking, writing, organization, problem-solving, and management skills. Successful candidates will possess the ability to work collaboratively, demonstrate professional presence, and establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse staff and clientele.
• Ability to effectively balance and manage multiple projects with competing priorities.
• Intermediate level knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and G-Suite; use of the internet required in online reporting systems for data entry.
• Ability to travel to our multiple locations.
• Fiscal Management experience with grants.
• Flexible schedule and willingness to work school hours, as well as some weekends/evenings for parent/teacher conferences and school or agency events
• Interest in adolescent development, academic improvement, social emotional learning, Family and/or community organizing, working with school communities, and Community Schools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Spanish, Cantonese, or another of the 8 DOE most common languages is a plus.

Responsibilities:

• Supervise a team to deliver high-quality services to the students at John Bowne High School.
• Work hand-in-hand with CBO staff and school administration to increase school-wide attendance, improve school culture, and eliminate barriers to success for the student population.
• Ability to administer outcomes-based youth programming, including planning, staffing, budgeting, and maintaining accurate records.
• Identify roadblocks to the successful implementation of services, community-based and mental health services, and strategize solutions in consultation with the school leadership team and
• Ability to regularly track and report on the evidence of impact, monthly dashboards, and assets and needs assessments.
• Host two community forums a year to connect with families to resources and offerings within the role.
• Fiscal oversight of multiple budgets.
• Ability to host school-wide initiatives and events to serve the entire student population.
• Facilitate a coordinated, coherent climate and culture plan that includes consistent expectations, incentives, and team-building activities at the direction of agency leadership.
• Establish and support the facilitation of case conferencing dedicated to identifying students exhibiting one or more barriers, identifying appropriate interventions, and revisiting these students at subsequent meetings.
• Establish, co-plan, and lead semi-monthly collaborative meetings to ensure ongoing communication and coordination of efforts or other site-based partnerships.
• Develop and distribute program reports to school leadership, teacher teams, and partners.
• Participate in ongoing personal professional growth activities and relevant agency-required meetings.
• Must attend all required Community School convenings.
• Communicate regularly with Commonpoint management and others to monitor progress and discuss implementation support strategies.
• Serve as a thought partner to the school leadership team (attend all cabinet and SLT meetings).
• Work with the parent coordinator to ensure families have meaningful opportunities to participate in the school.
• Work closely with the designated Community School Program Manager to ensure programmatic compliance and submission of all required documentation, including CEP Goals, Asset & Needs Assessment, and collaborative meeting agendas.

General Tasks of All Commonpoint Staff:

• Promote and implement the Core Values of the Jewish Community Center.
• Participation in all staff meetings and staff training seminars.
• Participation in agency-wide programs and program committees, as assigned.
• Active involvement, as a supervisee, in the supervision process.
• Support the mission of Commonpoint.
• Other tasks appropriate to Commonpoint staff, as assigned.

Commonpoint reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. Commonpoint is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

To apply, please submit a cover letter and résumé, as a PDF document only, to Elizabeth Kugelman at View email address on click.appcast.io. Please indicate "Community School Director at John Bowne High School" in the subject line. Due to the high volume of applicants, only qualified candidates will be contacted.