26-91; Elementary Student Affinity Group Advisor; TRAILS; Temporary

Temporary Work Site: TRAILS Outdoor School

Salary: $948 - $1,896 (2025-26 Salary Schedule; 2026-27 Salary Schedule to be determined)

Start Date: 08/31/2026

About the Role

An Affinity Group is made up of people who share a common identifier, such as race, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Affinity members can speak from the "I" perspective, allowing for exploration of identity, celebration of shared identity, and a safe space to discuss common challenges. Each elementary school has one Affinity Group Advisor who:

• Coordinates and facilitates one elementary student affinity group, including a minimum of one 45-minute meeting per month.
• Supports the facilitation of up to three other site student affinity groups, including meeting logistics, snacks, and planning.

Responsibilities

Professional Development

• Attend affinity group advisor orientation and professional development, including mentorship sessions.
• Participate in quarterly collaboration meetings with other affinity group advisors.
• Annually pass the District's required online training by the assigned due date.
• Attend monthly affinity group advisors PLC hosted by the SOESD.

Coordination and Facilitation

• Attend work regularly and be punctual.
• Coordinate and facilitate monthly meetings for one elementary student affinity group.
• Support the facilitation of other site affinity groups.
• Assist the Administrator in identifying interested facilitators (other site staff or community members).
• Conduct monthly debriefs with facilitators and assist with any issues that arise.
• Schedule meeting times and locations for all site student affinity groups in conjunction with the family calendar and approval from the site administrator.
• Coordinate with the site administrator to ensure an on-site emergency contact is available if meetings occur outside of school hours.
• If virtual, set up calendar invites with Zoom links.
• Coordinate participant invitations:
  • Attain PowerSchool list of potential student participants from the site Administrator.
  • Work with the group facilitator to draft and send email and hard-copy invites to potential student participants, always using BCC and envelopes to ensure confidentiality.
  • Invite new members via the networks of current group members.
• With facilitators and site Administrator oversight, be mindful of group membership and redefine who the group is for, if necessary.
• Keep confidential records of meeting attendance for each meeting, including collecting attendance sheets from facilitators of other affinity groups at the school.

Materials Management

• Each affinity group with a district-approved advisor or facilitator will receive funds to pay for snacks, materials, and activities. The advisor and facilitator(s) will plan for the year and stay within the allotted budget.
• Arrange purchases and orders for up to four affinity groups, complete reimbursement paperwork, and submit it to the site office manager.
• With Administrator oversight, review and vet any reading materials, video clips, etc., before they are shared with groups.

Communication

• Collaborate with and support building affinity group facilitator(s).
• Without breaking confidentiality, work with the group facilitator, school administrator, and SOESD SOBASS/Indian Ed. Specialists, District Equity Director (if needed) to communicate:
  • Building or district-level issues.
  • Updates about the group.
  • Need for support in facilitating the group.
  • Need for support in the group's collective action plans.
  • Advocacy for the group in school and community settings.
• Provide photos, updates, and news of the group’s existence, purpose, and accomplishments to the Site Administrator for inclusion in school newsletters and website news.
• Share information with students about upcoming regional events hosted by the SOESD and SOU geared to each affinity group.
• Professionally represent the school and District in interactions with parents, community members, staff, and students, and resolve conflict professionally.

Facilitation

• In the initial meeting, lay out the purpose of the group and create community agreements with participant input.
• Structure meetings as appropriate for grade level, time allotted, and expressed needs of the group.
• Facilitate community-building and social-emotional well-being of the group.
• Facilitate sharing of lived experience, invite group celebration, and support.
• Assist students in processing difficult topics, issues, and discussions.
• Plan for collective action, utilizing district policy and practices, such as:
  • Hold an event for student participation within the larger school community.
  • Share salient themes with a school administrator (without breaking confidentiality).
  • Other leadership projects as determined by the group.
• Solicit feedback from group members via the SOESD satisfaction survey and adjust accordingly. Submit survey results to the district and SOESD as part of ongoing applications to funding sources.
• Work with the Site Administrator and families to coordinate speakers to share with students at an affinity group meeting. If speakers are not school district employees, they will need to complete the regular volunteer approval process.
• Coordinate student participation in regional events hosted by the SOESD and SOU.

• All elementary affinity groups can meet as often as desired but must meet for a minimum of 45 minutes each month.

Qualifications

• Current employees of the Ashland School District are strongly preferred. If no current employee is able to lead an affinity group, a community member can be hired as an employee to fill this role.
• Personally identify with the same affinity as students in the affinity group, or demonstrate strong allyship for the particular affinity group.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Regularly required to communicate with others, including understanding and being understood.
• Move between buildings, visiting sites throughout the district.
• Use a variety of digital systems, software, and hardware.
• May require some travel outside the district.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate but occasionally high depending on activities.
• Occasionally exposed to wet or humid conditions and outdoor weather conditions.
• May be exposed to blood-borne pathogens.