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Jobs · OTHR · Illinois

Parent Involvement Specialist

Chicago Public Schools · Chicago, IL · 3 wk ago
OTHRFull-time

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 45,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) works to support networks, schools, and families with all issues related to special education including instruction, interventions, and legal and compliance support.

About the role

Reporting to the Manager, Academic Access, the Parent Involvement Specialist will coordinate, monitor, and support the Department’s goal of improving collaborative relationships between parents, advocacy agencies, educators, and administrative personnel. A key focus will be supporting the District’s family involvement initiatives with a strategic focus on families of students with disabilities.

Responsibilities

  • Provide workshops and training to parents and educators of students with disabilities that focus on collaboration, effective communication, and working with parents as equal educational partners
  • Collaborate with an advisory committee of parents of students with disabilities, special education personnel, school administration, and personnel of advocacy agencies to provide recommendations to the Chief Officer of the Office of Special Education on improving the overall quality of special education programs and services
  • Attend local special education advisory boards/committees as needed to provide communication to parents at the local levels
  • Establish relationships with existing parent involvement departments, initiatives, or sister agencies to ensure parents of students with disabilities participate in those efforts
  • Develop and utilize needs assessments for parents of students with disabilities to guide the District’s efforts in supporting parent involvement
  • Collect, maintain, and analyze parent involvement data to determine the correlation of improved involvement to improved student outcomes
  • Establish partnerships with advocacy agencies to create supportive networks for parents that focus on collaborative relationships with schools and educators
  • Provide and/or coordinate workshops for parents of students with disabilities on topics that assist them with understanding and navigating the special education process
  • Promote the use of early conflict resolution to help parents and educators maintain positive working relationships
  • Other duties as assigned

Requirements

  • High school diploma or GED equivalent (required)
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (preferred)
  • Minimum of two (2) years of experience supporting parents of students with disabilities (required)
  • Bilingual in English and Spanish (preferred)

Skills

  • Effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills
  • Knowledge of policies and procedures relating to Federal and Illinois special education laws and regulations
  • Ability to comprehend and implement OSD processes and procedures
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with others
  • Knowledge of and ability to use modern office equipment, including Microsoft Office software and internal CPS databases
  • Ability to work independently and manage confidential information
  • Experience in developing, coordinating, and delivering professional training and workshops
  • Demonstrated sensitivity to cultural and linguistic differences of families and educators

Benefits

Health & Wellness

  • Comprehensive health coverage options for employees and eligible dependents
  • Medical plan options
  • Pharmacy benefits
  • Dental and vision coverage
  • Behavioral health and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Employee Wellness Program

Financial Security

  • Basic life insurance
  • Life and disability insurance
  • Pension plans
  • Supplemental retirement plans (403(b) and 457(b))
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
  • Spot Pet Insurance

Work-Life Balance

  • Paid leave
  • Sick leave
  • Vacation days
  • Parental leave
  • Short-term disability
  • Religious holidays

Pay

Estimated annual salary range: $44,000.00

Schedule

  • Full-time, exempt position
  • Paid on a salary basis

Conditions of Employment

  • Employees must establish and maintain Chicago residency within six months of hire date and throughout employment (does not apply to temporary/part-time positions)
  • All employees must be residents of Illinois

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