Director of Federal Programs and Community Engagement - Georgia Connections Academy

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise and evaluate Parent Engagement Specialists and the Federal Programs & Community Engagement Administrative Assistant
• Facilitate regular 1:1 meetings, team meetings, and performance development conversations
• Develop and manage team workflows, project management systems, calendars, and coverage plans
• Maintain comp time tracking and ensure adherence to organizational expectations
• Foster a collaborative, solutions-oriented, and high-performance team culture

Federal Programs & Compliance

• Oversee the development, submission, and monitoring of: Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA), School Improvement Plan (SIP), Consolidated Local Improvement Plan (CLIP), and ongoing progress monitoring
• Provide final review and strategic approval of all federal grant proposals and submissions
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and Connections Academy requirements
• Review and approve Time & Effort documentation
• Maintain teacher certification and professional development compliance
• Ensure implementation of instructional accommodations and ELPP documentation

Budget & Program Management

• Manage federal program budgets across the July 1–June 30 fiscal year
• Collaborate with school leaders to align spending with strategic priorities
• Ensure timely procurement, requisitions, and accurate documentation
• Monitor program expenditures for compliance and effectiveness

Family & Community Engagement

• Oversee ParentSquare utilization to ensure clear, consistent, and compliant communication
• Supervise planning and execution of: District and School-level Student Engagement Opportunities (SEOs), GACA University sessions, Parent Summer Orientation, and major school and district events
• Develop and implement Caretaker and Learning Coach Onboarding curriculum
• Ensure consistent collection of family feedback, success stories, and engagement data
• Lead initiatives to increase student and family participation in school programs
• Lead Summer Caretaker/Learning Coach Orientation

Strategic Communication & Branding

• Collaborate with internal teams to support branding, messaging, and content development
• Contribute to school-wide communication strategies across social media and publications
• Lead or present Federal Programs and Community Engagement updates at faculty meetings and strategic events

Partnerships & External Relations

• Cultivate and maintain business and community partnerships through outreach and networking (e.g., Chamber events)
• Represent the school in statewide leadership initiatives and innovation forums
• Collaborate with external partners to support programs such as: Graduation, Field trips, and Career and technical education (CTAE, DECA, STEAM)

Innovation & Special Projects

• Lead and implement innovative initiatives, including: PBIS/Reward Store systems, staff incentive programs tied to student engagement, and grant-funded engagement initiatives
• Ensure distribution and tracking of engagement materials (pins, lanyards, recognition items)
• Drive continuous improvement through data-informed decision-making