Fair Futures Middle School Education Specialist

About the role

The Education Specialist works with up to 50 middle school students (grades 6–8) and their families, providing educational advocacy and ensuring students receive the supports and services they need to succeed. The Specialist offers individualized assistance with high-school selection for all 8th-grade students and, when possible, supports 5th-grade students with the middle-school transition. The role ensures students choose quality, best-fit schools that align with their academic, social, and extracurricular needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual assistance to students and parents, collaborating with case planners, tutors, schools, and mental health providers to identify environments and institutions that best meet each child’s needs based on academics, school size, proximity, family preferences, and extracurricular activities.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with schools; advocate on behalf of students.
• Work with case planners, foster parents, biological parents/caregivers, and tutors to address educational concerns.
• Request schools to make referrals for IEP evaluations and behavioral/academic supports.
• Negotiate with DOE staff to ensure implementation of recommended and appropriate educational services.
• Negotiate with ACCESS VR counselors for appropriate services.
• Ensure school stability during student relocations, in consultation with case planners and parents.
• Use an online platform to record progress, create automated reports, and track NYC DOE monthly data on attendance, grades, promotion status, school enrollment, tutoring history, and transcripts.
• Use data to identify struggling students and work with case planners and parents to improve attendance or provide additional academic supports.
• Guide students and families through the school selection process, establishing trust, explaining its importance, and providing information when a selection may not be appropriate.
• Provide individualized assistance to 5th-grade students with the middle-school selection process.
• Follow up regularly with tutor coaches regarding students’ performance, needs, and concerns.
• Connect students to appropriate afterschool and summer activities.
• Outreach to parents to discuss special education services, attendance concerns, behavioral issues, and school transfers.
• Include foster parents in educational planning, as they often interact regularly with school staff.
• Coordinate with case planners on academic progress, follow up on needs/concerns, and provide monthly reports including progress notes and key academic data.
• Collaborate with schools to explore options for afterschool tutoring, special education services, and other supports.
• Schedule school visits to meet with students and counselors together.
• Work with community resources, including tutoring programs, mental health services, and afterschool programs, to provide broad-spectrum support for students’ educational and emotional success.
• Offer long-term individualized interventions for students with complex or ongoing educational needs, as well as targeted short-term supports to ensure access to appropriate services or opportunities.
• Secure representation for students facing suspension.
• Advocate for students with disabilities to receive the most appropriate services available.
• Request referrals from schools for special education evaluations when additional services may benefit the student.
• Assist in developing IEPs that focus on the student’s best interests and ensure they receive necessary services for success.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum two years of experience in an education-related field, with a background in instructional, administrative, or advocacy-related roles.
• Experience working with students and families in foster care is strongly preferred.
• Ability to navigate complex educational issues, work independently, and prioritize responsibilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in team settings and build relationships with external partners.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to engage and build relationships with children, families, school partners, and tutoring providers.
• Strong written, verbal, and listening communication skills for counseling clients and maintaining documentation.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships, obtain and verify information through interviews, and prepare clear, accurate case records.
• Good knowledge of social casework principles, practices, and regulations governing the care and treatment of children.
• Ability to act decisively for client protection and remain calm during times of tension and stress.
• Values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Experience related to services for families and children, preferably in medical or child welfare fields.

Skills

• Ability to work with traumatized children and students.
• Engagement skills from a strength-based, collaborative approach.
• Proactive, tenacious, and resourceful in advocating for students.
• Love for working with children, youth, and families.
• Good knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations governing child care and treatment.
• Ability to accurately report the functioning of families and individuals.

Travel Requirements

This position is based in Brooklyn, NY, with routine travel required throughout the city. A valid NYS Driver’s License is required if using a personal or agency vehicle for work-related travel.

About Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York

Little Flower is a nonprofit organization that has improved the well-being of children, youth, and families across New York City and Long Island since 1929. Our staff of over 500 provides prevention services, foster care, residential treatment, adoption services, and medical and mental health support. A career with Little Flower offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families.