Afterschool Program Security - MDCPS Employee

Security Guard – After-School Program

About Big Ideas Educational Services

Big Ideas Educational Services provides high-quality after-school and summer programs where students can learn, grow, connect, and have fun in a safe and supportive environment.

Our programs combine academic enrichment, STEM, literacy, arts, recreation, and social-emotional development to help students strengthen academic skills, build confidence, develop positive relationships, and experience success beyond the traditional classroom.

Creating a safe and welcoming environment is at the heart of everything we do. Our Security Guards are valued members of the site team who help ensure students, families, staff, and school facilities remain safe and secure throughout program operations.

Position: Security Guard – After-School Program

The Security Guard is responsible for supporting the safety, security, attendance accountability, and orderly operation of the Big Ideas after-school program.

This is a highly visible and family-facing position. Security staff are often among the first Big Ideas team members families see when arriving at the program and among the last they interact with during dismissal. Security staff must be comfortable greeting families, communicating professionally, providing appropriate assistance, and helping create a welcoming experience while consistently enforcing program safety procedures.

Security staff are also required to learn and utilize Brightwheel, Big Ideas' attendance and student management system, as part of daily arrival and dismissal procedures.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain a visible and professional security presence throughout assigned program areas and school premises.
• Patrol designated areas to identify and address potential safety or security concerns.
• Monitor school entrances, exits, doors, gates, and designated access points during program hours.
• Monitor and authorize the entrance and departure of staff, families, visitors, vendors, and other individuals in accordance with program and school procedures.
• Help prevent unauthorized individuals from entering designated program areas.
• Support safe, organized, and efficient student arrival and dismissal procedures.
• Learn and consistently utilize the Brightwheel attendance tracking system as required for daily program operations.
• Assist with verifying student attendance, arrivals, departures, and authorized pickups through Brightwheel and established Big Ideas procedures.
• Help ensure students are properly signed in and signed out and immediately report attendance or dismissal discrepancies to the Site Manager.
• Follow Big Ideas procedures regarding authorized pickups and student release. Students may only be released in accordance with established program procedures.
• Warmly greet students and families during arrival and dismissal and help create a positive, welcoming environment.
• Communicate clearly, respectfully, and professionally with parents and caregivers.
• Be comfortable answering appropriate general questions from families and directing enrollment, attendance, behavioral, academic, or other program-specific concerns to the appropriate Big Ideas team member.
• Maintain professionalism and appropriate boundaries when communicating with students and families.
• Assist with managing parent and authorized pickup traffic during dismissal.
• Remain alert to unusual activity, disturbances, safety hazards, or other concerns and immediately communicate them to site leadership.
• Respond appropriately to alarms, disturbances, emergencies, or unauthorized individuals on school property.
• Contact law enforcement, fire rescue, or other emergency services when required by the situation and established procedures.
• Help maintain order and protect students, staff, visitors, and school property.
• Follow emergency response, evacuation, lockdown, and other applicable school safety procedures.
• Work closely with the Site Manager and other program staff to address safety concerns and support smooth daily operations.
• Follow schedules and assignments provided by the Site Manager or designated supervisor.
• Complete required incident documentation and immediately report significant safety, security, attendance, or dismissal concerns.
• Follow Big Ideas policies, procedures, staff handbook expectations, and established chain of command.
• Participate in required meetings, Brightwheel training, safety training, emergency preparedness activities, and site meetings.
• Perform other reasonable safety and site-support responsibilities as assigned.

Technology & Attendance Responsibilities

Security staff are expected to be comfortable learning and using technology as part of their daily responsibilities.

Big Ideas will provide training on Brightwheel, our attendance and student management platform. Security staff must be willing and able to:

• Learn and use Brightwheel consistently.
• Access student attendance and dismissal information as appropriate for their role.
• Support accurate student sign-in and sign-out procedures.
• Assist with confirming authorized student pickups according to Big Ideas procedures.
• Identify and immediately communicate attendance or dismissal discrepancies.
• Follow all confidentiality requirements when accessing student and family information.
• Participate in additional Brightwheel training when procedures or system requirements are updated.

The ability and willingness to learn and consistently use Brightwheel is an essential requirement of this position.

Family Engagement & Customer Service

Security at Big Ideas is about more than monitoring the building. Our security team also contributes to the experience families have with our program.

Security staff are expected to:

• Greet students and families in a warm and professional manner.
• Be approachable and available to assist families during arrival and dismissal.
• Communicate respectfully, even when enforcing program rules or safety procedures.
• Remain calm and professional when a parent or caregiver has a concern.
• Know when to answer a general question and when to refer a family to the Site Manager or appropriate Big Ideas staff member.
• Help create an environment where families feel welcomed, respected, and confident that their children are safe.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who is:

• Observant and safety-focused – you pay attention to your surroundings and recognize potential concerns.
• Comfortable with technology – you are willing and able to learn Brightwheel and use it as part of your daily responsibilities.
• Friendly and approachable – you enjoy greeting and interacting with students and families.
• Dependable – you understand that consistent attendance and punctuality are essential in a school safety position.
• Calm under pressure – you can respond appropriately and professionally when unexpected situations occur.
• Professional – you communicate respectfully while maintaining appropriate boundaries and enforcing safety procedures.
• Team-oriented – you work collaboratively with site leadership, teachers, activity leaders, custodial staff, and school personnel.
• Proactive – you recognize concerns, communicate them quickly, and take appropriate action within your role.
• Trustworthy – you demonstrate integrity, good judgment, and respect for confidential student and family information.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be a current Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) employee.
• High school diploma or higher.
• Must successfully meet all applicable Level 2 background screening and clearance requirements.
• One to two years of experience working in a school, childcare, youth program, security, or related environment preferred.
• Experience working with elementary-aged students and families preferred.
• Willingness and ability to learn and consistently utilize Brightwheel.
• Basic comfort using a smartphone, tablet, computer, or similar technology.
• Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to greet and communicate professionally with parents, caregivers, students, staff, and visitors.
• Ability to exercise patience, sound judgment, and appropriate authority when working with children.
• Ability to build positive professional relationships with students, families, school personnel, and Big Ideas staff.
• Ability to follow established security, attendance, arrival, and dismissal procedures.
• Demonstrated integrity, professionalism, reliability, and ethical conduct.
• Consistent attendance and punctuality are required.

Why Join Big Ideas?

Working with Big Ideas gives you an opportunity to make an impact beyond the traditional school day. You will become part of a team committed to providing students with a safe, positive, welcoming, and enriching place to learn and grow after school.