Specialist II–Attendance Control Student Engagement

Specialist II�Attendance Control Student Engagement

Reports to: Assistant Director � Student Engagement & School Completion (SESC)
PC: 22430
Grade 203
187 Days
Salary: $50,195 - $60,476
FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Purpose

Implement initiatives to ensure students graduate from high school fully prepared for a career and/or post-secondary education.  Provides services that address issues of school completion, equity, community empowerment, and student leadership development.  Addresses initiatives that prevent, intervene, and provide wraparound services using a restorative approach. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Services & Support

• Engages students identified by the campus administrative team as truant or at-risk of dropping out.
• Contacts families of truant or at-risk students to develop Student Support Plans/Student Attendance Review Team (SART) contract.
• Works closely with administration and instructional staff in monitoring attendance of at-risk students.
• Locates and visits homes of students identified as truant or at-risk of dropout.
• Assists with documentation related to truancy action; maintains current chronological records and submits quarterly written progress reports.
• Works directly with students and families in developing support plans to facilitate a successful path to graduation and to provide appropriate intervention measures.
• Assists with "leaver" investigations; monitors and updates "leaver" files as needed.
• Supports campuses in addressing attendance/dropout issues so that early intervention may be provided.
• Works with students, parents, and FWISD staff to resolve barriers for school success.
• Investigates reports of children not enrolled in school within the assigned pyramid.
• Assists with collection of documentation to be used for court actions; provides evidence as custodian of record for utilization in the Attendance Truancy Court.

Program Management

• Strives to improve campus attendance and decrease dropouts.
• Assists with documentation related to truancy action; maintains current chronological records and submits quarterly written progress reports.
• Submits recommendations to Campus Level Administrative staff regarding truancy action.
• Attends monthly departmental staff meetings and campus meetings as requested. Facilitates SART meetings.
• Maintains high visibility in the school and community; promotes school attendance through presentations to campus level staff at Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)/Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meetings, campus assemblies, and community forums.

• Upholds service logs for use in tracking students and providing services, including but not limited to tracking and maintaining data on warning letters, home visits, SART meetings, family services, court actions, and dispositions.

   

Safety

• Performs preventive maintenance on tools and equipment and ensures equipment is in safe operating condition.
• Follows established safety procedures and techniques to perform job duties including lifting and climbing; operates tools and equipment according to established safety procedures.
• Corrects unsafe conditions in work area and promptly reports any conditions that are not immediately correctable to supervisor.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None.

Personal Work Relationships

• All Fort Worth ISD employees must maintain a commitment to the District's mission, vision, and strategic goals.
• Exhibits high professionalism, standards of conduct and work ethic.
• Demonstrates high quality customer service; builds rapport/relationship with the consumer.
• Demonstrates cultural competence in interactions with others; is respectful of co-workers; communicates and performs as a team player; promotes teamwork; responds and acts appropriately in confrontational situations.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Performs all job-related duties as assigned and in accordance with Board rules, policies and regulations.  All employees are expected to comply with lawful directives in rare situations driven by need where a team effort is required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of District policies, procedures, and regulations as well as Texas state laws regarding attendance and truancy.
• Knowledge of community resources available to students and their families.
• Skill in reading reports to monitor student attendance and updating service logs.
• Skill in reading maps, giving driving directions, and understanding driving directions received from various means (such as hand-written, email, or telephone).
• Skill in working with initiatives that require collaboration with District and outside agencies and organizations.
• Skill in talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Skill working with a diverse, urban population preferably focused on families.
• Ability to present information in one-on-one, small group, and large group situations to students, parents, and District staff.
• Ability to handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure.
• Ability to accurately prepare and maintain records, files, and reports.
• Ability to work in a team environment, including teams from other departments.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of individuals.
• Ability to process and handle confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to organize and prioritize tasks, work under pressure, and meet multiple deadlines.
• Ability to use software to create spreadsheets, databases, and do word processing.
• Ability to organize and coordinate work.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both oral and written forms.
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.

Travel Requirements

• Travels to school district buildings, professional meetings, and student's homes as required.

Physical & Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• Tools/Equipment Used:  Standard office equipment, including computer and peripherals.
• Posture:  Prolonged sitting; frequent kneeling/squatting, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting.
• Motion:  Frequent repetitive hand motions, including keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching.
• Lifting:  Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds).
• Environment:  Works inside and outside (exposure to sun, heat, cold, and inclement weather); frequent districtwide travel to student's homes; may require occasional irregular and/or prolonged hours; works evening or weekend shifts as needed in order to effectively engage students and their families.
• Attendance:  Regular and punctual attendance at the worksite is required for this position.
• Mental Demands:  Maintains emotional control under stress; works with frequent interruptions.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Education:
  • Bachelor's degree from accredited college or university required;
  • Major in Social Science preferred.
• Certification/License:
  • Clear and valid Texas Driver's License required;
  • Must be able to obtain within 3 years of employment National Dropout Prevention Specialist certification;
  • Must be able to obtain within 3 years of employment Trauma � Skilled Specialist Certification.
  • Must be able to obtain within 18 months of employment the following certifications:
    • Basic Mediation;
    • Advance Mediation;
    • Restorative Practices.
• Experience: 4 years' required, including a combination of the following:
  • At least 1 year working with youth in high-risk situations;
  • At least 1 year of casework experience including home visits and community outreach.
• Language: Bilingual (English/Spanish) working proficiency preferred in some settings.

This document is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.