Community School Specialist (Grant Funded) - GCPS

Full-time, exempt position within the Teacher Bargaining Unit. 11-month term (may transition to 12 months in the future) with a flexible schedule to meet early morning, evening, and weekend needs of the school community.

About the Role

The Community School Specialist, in partnership with school leadership and the community school steering committee, is responsible for the implementation, integration, alignment, marketing, and coordination of school activities, events, programs, and services that lead to increased student achievement, stronger families, and healthier neighborhoods.

Responsibilities

• Guide the work of the community school while managing and coordinating strategic partnerships that provide wraparound services to students, families, and the wider community.
• Assure fiscal accountability by applying effective practices in planning, budgeting, controlling, and assessing the use of budget and grant funds.
• Support grants or contracting processes for services required to fulfill the community school strategic plan.
• Implement essential wraparound services including physical, emotional, behavioral, and emotional wellbeing for students, families, and the community.
• Enhance physical wellness of students and families, including providing healthy food for in-school and out-of-school time and linkages to community providers.
• Promote behavioral health services, including access to mental health practitioners and providing professional development to school staff to provide trauma-informed interventions.
• Identify resources in the community that address the needs of families within the school community and communicate directly with families about those resources.
• Develop a Strategic Community School Action Plan that reflects the priorities of multiple stakeholder groups/partners to promote equity and prioritize the needs of students and families.
• Facilitate high-quality needs assessments on an ongoing basis that includes feedback from a broad cross-section of stakeholders to reduce barriers to student achievement and foster family stability.
• Conduct evaluations of the community school through timely submission of reports and data collection.
• Facilitate and staff the site-based Community School Steering Committee, serving as the contact person for the school with community partners.
• Collaborate with the school principal to establish ongoing relationships with community organizations, members, and businesses to increase their involvement and maximize contributions.
• Develop events and activities based on topics relevant to the school and student learning, and participate in related professional development.
• Provide family and community engagement and supports, including informing parents of academic course offerings, language classes, workforce development training, and available social services.
• Enhance student enrichment experiences, which may include implementing Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO).
• Improve student attendance and the learning environment by attending school-based meetings as needed (e.g., Instructional Leadership Team, PBIS, SST, IEP).
• Provide staff development regarding wraparound services, student resources, and data from surveys and needs assessments.
• Establish and enhance linkages to Judy Centers and other early education programs that feed into the school.
• Fulfill all contract requirements, including professional development, reporting, meetings, database management, and other deliverables.
• Develop marketing materials and create a social media presence on behalf of the school.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Minimum of three years of experience working in an educational setting or experience in social work or a related human services field.
• Demonstrated skill and experience in data analysis and strategic planning.
• Strong leadership, management, organization, communication, and human relations skills, including the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidential information and interact successfully with diverse stakeholders (students, parents, school staff, administration, community agencies).
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight and demonstrate attention to detail, accuracy, and quality awareness.
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective time and project management skills.
• Available to work a flexible schedule that includes evenings and some weekends.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and coordinate events that foster family and community participation.
• Comfort with the use of data and presenting data to small and large groups.
• Understanding and respect for the diversity of families’ economic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds, with a high degree of cultural awareness and competency.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work both independently and in a team environment, prioritizing tasks in a high-pressure environment.
• Experience in providing professional development on related topics.
• Willingness to engage in professional development and travel to meetings, training, and conferences, including multi-day events requiring overnight accommodations.
• Proficiency in technology and applications, including Microsoft Office Suite, Google, and student information management systems.
• Ability to work on multiple and concurrent tasks while experiencing frequent interruptions.
• History of professionalism and a strong work ethic.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member to meet intensive deadlines.
• Ability to serve as a positive role model in the workplace and within the community.
• Physical ability to stand, sit, walk, climb, balance, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, bend, push, pull, and carry moderately heavy objects (50-70 lbs).
• Good hearing, vision, depth perception, and peripheral vision, with significant dexterity of hands and fingers.
• Regular and predictable attendance.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in an educational-related field, social work, counseling, pupil personnel, psychology/sociology, administration and supervision, or a related human services field.
• Experience implementing programs at the school level and extensive knowledge of different types of program components and their compliance environment.
• Advanced understanding of the intricate workings of a public school system.
• Working knowledge of the Board of Education’s policies and school system’s administrative procedures.
• Working knowledge of the school system’s Master Plan, including the Board of Education’s vision, mission, and strategic goals.
• Working knowledge of advanced technology, such as social media, interactive media, and web-authoring applications.

Pay

Certified Salary Scale - 8 Hour Range: $63,168–$72,810 (commensurate with education and experience).

Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare (medical, dental, vision).
• Life insurance.
• Participation in the Maryland Retirement and Pension Plan, with optional 403(b) contributions.
• Paid sick leave, personal days, and vacation.
• Access to wellness programs and employee assistance resources.