Job Title:     Afghan Family Engagement Specialist

Location:      Academic Programs

Pay Grade:    Hourly

Work Calendar: N/A

FLSA Status:  N/A

GENERAL PURPOSE

This position is a two year, grant-funded position.

The Afghan Family Engagement Specialist (AFES) reports to the Director of Student Access and Opportunity, under the direction of the Federal Grants Family Engagement Coordinator and the SSAS Specialist.. This position will require approximately 10-15 hours/week. The Afghan FES supports and strengthens the ties between identified Afghan families and schools. This position promotes the link between the schools, the families and the community. The FES encourages and helps coordinate parent education and involvement in division programs and school programs to ensure equity of opportunity and access to all identified Afghan refugees and their families.

MAIN JOB TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Promote family/parental involvement and education in division and school programs and activities.

• Provide input on Afghan parental engagement in the schools and help create communication systems for families to be notified of important events and training.
• Work in collaboration with school principals and other stakeholders/groups to achieve measurable outcomes and meet school and district goals and represent the district at a variety of school and community meetings as needed.
• Collect family engagement data aligned with program events.
• Work with leadership and parental representatives to keep them informed of events and best practices in family engagement.
• Create flyers and other marketing materials to promote events related to the SSAS program.
• Promote parent and community volunteerism, create and foster community partnerships with faith-based organizations, businesses, and non-profit organizations that offer services to meet the needs of Afghan families and facilitate family participation in various activities that result in family empowerment and advocacy.
• Work with the Parent center to promote parent training sessions, workshops and family support services.
• Inform Afghan families of community resources that could provide needed assistance (through the Welcome Center or other avenues).

Support and demonstrate core values of Stafford Schools

• Respond to written and oral requests for information promptly and thoroughly.
• Maintain a clean, neat appearance, appropriate to position.
• Maintain a record of appropriate attendance and punctuality.
• Serve as a role model for students, colleagues, and the general public.
• Work in close harmony with colleagues, supervisors, and co-workers.
• Comply with all District and School policies and regulations, including but not limited to guidelines for confidentiality.
• Perform other related duties as required/assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Knowledge of the Virginia school system or experience in international education preferred.
• Must be familiar with the Afghan refugee community and support agencies, to include the Office of Catholic Charities.
• Experience working in an educational, or family support service setting.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge
  • Local Afghan community and the ability to market educational information to them
  • Appropriate use of written and verbal communication and thorough knowledge of English, Pashto and/or Dari
  • Familiar with the Afghan refugee community and support agencies, to include the Office of Catholic Charities
• Skills
  • Strong interpersonal skills and positive relationships with the public
  • Computer skills in Google Suite and Microsoft application
  • Fluent in English and another language specifically Pashto or Dari
• Abilities
  • Accommodate events after hours
  • Interpret and translate Pashto and Dari in real time
  • Work cooperatively in a team environment to meet goals
  • Organize and perform work independently
  • Meet deadlines for all work even when working on multiple projects
  • Show sustained effort and enthusiasm in quality and quantity of work

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work environment is primarily inside but may require outdoor duties, with Moderate noise levels, temperatures that are may be subject to hot or cold weather and no exposure to chemicals or other negative air quality elements.
• The work is light work, requiring exertion of up to 20 pounds of force to move or lift objects.
• The following physical and mental abilities are representative of those expected to complete the essential functions of the job: standing for prolonged periods; sitting for prolonged periods; moving the hands, wrists, or fingers repetitively; moving with force on the back or lower body repetitively; feeling, grasping, or holding objections by hand; identifying colors visually; identifying objects in low light or distant conditions; communicating via spoken language; communicating via written language; perceiving sounds; making decisions using logic and rational thinking.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations shall be made, as required by law, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.

Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties, just as though they were actually written out in this job description.