Salt Lake City School District (SLCSD)

Refugee Services Coordinator

Contract (181 Day Calendar)
FTE: 1.0

Anticipated Start: August 30, 2022
Priority Screen Date: August 19, 2022

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
This position is benefits eligible
Starting wage: $34,489 annualized (48-A)

Note: This position is grant funded for one year. Employment will cease on June 9, 2023 when the grant has ended. Continued employment is contingent upon continued grant funding.

Purpose Statement

The Refugee Services Coordinator will advances the capacity of assigned schools to engage refugee families in the academic success of their students as well as building the capacity of families to engage in a strong partnership with the school; acts as a liaison between parents/guardians, community agencies, state agencies, and school personnel to support parent and community involvement, communication, decision-making, learning at home, and parenting skills; assists school in aligning parent and student needs to district and community programs and services; arranges provides translation/interpreting services as needed; and serves multiple schools and communities as needed.

This position reports to the District ALS Languages/Refugee Services Coordinator

Minimum Qualifications

• High school or equivalent
• Ability to pass a fingerprint and criminal background check
• 3 years of job-related experience in a public school or with students/families in crisis OR post-high school education and experience
• Valid Driver's license and evidence of insurability
• Speak, read, write, and present professionally, analyze, and interpret English written and verbal communications

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience exercising reasonable judgement with minimal supervisory input
• Experience with self-motivation and ability to maintain a schedule based on needs of the student, family, and/or school
• Experience navigating and resolving complex issues that prohibit academic success
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and experienced using data-based software
• Fluency in a language other than English.

Essential Functions

• Adapt to changing work priorities and work with frequent interruptions, as required.
• Assist school administration and staff to provide information about school requirements, support services and school events to the school community
• Assist school administration to identify students who may be at risk of academic or social difficulty
• Collaborate with school staff to ensure that proper focus is given to providing academic support to refugee students by tracking progress of refugee seniors towards graduation as well as ensuring WIDA and GPA scores are improving for an identified caseload of refugee students.
• Collaborate with school personnel and families to develop family engagement initiatives to enhance family connectedness for student learning and development
• Communicate effectively with diverse individuals and groups of people while maintaining confidentiality and building positive working relationships with employees and stakeholders.
• Coordinate with community partners (e.g., Refugee Services Office, Asian Association of Utah, Catholic Community Services, International Rescue Committee, etc.) and district departments (e.g., translation and assessment departments, etc.) to provide resources and programming to increase the capacity of families to engage in the academic success of their students
• Create an environment of safety for students, families, schools, and communities by adhering to safety rules, laws, and practices
• Create, secure, organize, and maintain a variety of documents and records of activity (paper and electronic) to document relevant information (e.g., student and family interactions and outcomes, data needed for reports, grants, compliance, etc.)
• Develop authentic relationships with students and families (e.g. providing welcoming orientations for newly resettled refugees and their parents, teaching students and families about American social skills and norms, school routines, understanding the American education system, child safety & welfare, etc.)
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance to fulfill job requirements efficiently and effectively.
• Participate in meetings, workshops, seminars, as assigned for the purpose of conveying and/or or gathering information required to perform functions.
• Prepare informative communication that is accurate and uses standard conventions of the language in which the communication is written.
• Assist in reviewing and editing communication designed for parents or the community to ensure accuracy. (e.g. memos, newsletters, letters, and notification of school and community events, etc.) for the purpose of supporting student achievement
• Provide opportunities for families to build their capacity to support their children's learning and development
• Provide information to faculty and staff to develop a school culture that honors and recognizes families' existing knowledge, skills, and forms of engagement
• Provide support through coordinating with teachers and other staff and authentically engaging parents in the educational process of their children
• Refer students and their families to services provided in the school or through outside agencies to ensure that student and family needs are met
• Speak, read, write, analyze, understand, and follow written and verbal communication in English including grammar and punctuation; listen to, and understand information and ideas presented verbally or in writing.
• Support a team environment by collaborating with own and other work units to effectively perform the duties of the position.
• Work under limited supervision, utilizing time-management and prioritization strategies, accurately processing detailed information and meeting deadlines.
• Work closely with school administration, teachers, and staff to develop programming to create and sustain school and district cultures that welcome, invite and promote family engagement
• As needed, roll, push, pull, bend, reach, stoop, and lift up to 30 pounds.
• Other duties as assigned.

Working Environment

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 30% sitting, 37% walking, and 33% standing. The job is performed under some temperature extremes and under conditions with some exposure to risk of injury and/or illness.