Purpose: The District Support Liaison worker assists students by providing services that identify and address the social-emotional-environmental issues that interfere with academic learning. Working with parents/guardians, teachers, administrators and utilizing community resources, the support specialist will implement strategies that facilitate positive school adjustment for the student
Responsible to: Building Principal and Director of Special Services
Payment rate: As Established by the Board of Education
Qualifications:
- Health and Inoculation Certificate on file in the Central Office.
- Master’s level Social Work degree required.
- Required to have a current, valid license issued by the Behavioral Science Regulatory Board (BSRB) in the state of Kansas.
- Recommended to have completed a practicum in the school setting.
- Recommended to have completed a college-level course on school social work.
Essential Functions:
- Serve as a student advocate.
- Assist in the determination of an appropriate action plan for improving student learning and attendance.
- Assist in determining obstacles to student learning by providing insight into the social, emotional, physical, and educational status of students and families.
- Facilitate the elimination of obstacles to student learning
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills regarding social, emotional, physical, and educational needs of students and families.
- Assist in establishing a positive learning environment.
- Respond to the social and emotional needs of students.
- Ensure that all activities conform to local, state, and federal guidelines, rules and regulations.
- Respond to change productively and perform other duties as assigned.
- Provide direct services to children and their families at elementary and secondary levels, through group and individual counseling, this may include parenting classes.
- Work with a Child Study Team collaborating with various disciplines.
- Facilitate the work of multi-disciplinary team (MDT)
- Support principals, counselors, and student support specialists.
- Serve as a liaison between school, home and community.
- Be a resource for identifying community services for families.
- Provide case management and crisis intervention.
- Gathers and reviews data to identify students with increasing attendance issues.
- Collaborates with school staff and parents to develop interventions for students who are truant and develops individual service plans to improve attendance.
- Practice and understand laws related to truancy and absenteeism.
- Mobilize school and community resources to enable the child to learn as effectively as possible in a student's education program.
- Serve as liaison and facilitator of community agency services, family and schools, and supervising the referral of students to appropriate community agencies.
Physical Requirements/Environmental Conditions:
- Requires prolonged sitting or standing.
- Occasionally requires physical exertion to manually move, lift, carry, pull, or push heavy objects or materials.
- Occasionally requires stooping, bending, and reaching.
- Must work indoors and outdoors year-round.
- Frequently requires extended hours.
General Responsibilities:
- Support and facilitate the mission and vision of the Emporia Public Schools.
- Assist in facilitating the Student Improvement Team process as assigned.
- Help eliminate student attendance problems.
- Personally contact parents of students identified to be in need. Gather sufficient knowledge of the home and community resources available to that student.
- Provide guidance and/or counseling to students and support to families.
- Serve as a primary communicator between parents and educators and other agencies in appropriate settings.
- Consult with administrators and staff concerning social and cultural issues affecting student achievement.
- Maintain appropriate, confidential records and provide timely reports as needed.
- Be knowledgeable of new practices or information which could improve student achievement.
- Perform other duties as may be assigned by an administrator.
- Provide for effective programs and processes to support the general welfare of students with regard to school and school activities.
- Prepare and submit documentation / reports as required by the superintendent and Board of Education; and state and federal guidelines.
- Comply with legal and regulatory requirements as provided by state and federal law.
- Uphold and enforce board policy, administrative procedures, and school rules/regulations including but not limited to:
- Acceptable use of technology
- Sexual and racial harassment
- Child abuse reporting
- Health and safety including all precautions of the Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan
- Communicate effectively with administrators, parents, staff, and community organizations with regard to district operations.
- Interact with students, parents, and staff in a professional manner demonstrating tolerance of individual differences, patience, and sensitivity.
- Demonstrate professionalism through appropriate work habits, including regular and punctual attendance; accurate recordkeeping and timely submission of required reports; participate in building/district level committee tasks.
- Respect the confidentiality of records and information regarding students, parents, and teachers in accordance with accepted professional ethics, and state and federal laws.
- Act as a liaison to community resources as appropriate to the effective operation of the district.
- Maintain safe and well-organized instructional spaces.
- Be prepared to implement the Building Crisis Plan; actively participate in response drills.
- Respond to change in a productive manner.
- Strive to communicate the positive aspects of our school program to the public in word and deed.
- Other duties as assigned by the Superintendent.