Job Title: Attendance & Student Engagement Specialist (Teacher on Special Assignment)
Reports to: Assistant Director of Student Services/High School Principal
FTE: 1.0
Pay Range: 44,929-102,918
Salary placement is based on education and experience as indicated in the Teacher's Collectively Bargained Agreement.
Job Summary
The Attendance & Student Engagement Specialist (Teacher on Special Assignment) is responsible for supporting student attendance and engagement through direct interventions, data analysis, and collaboration with families and school staff at the Secondary building. This role involves working one-on-one and in small groups with students in grades 6-12 to identify and address attendance barriers, develop individualized attendance improvement plans, and implement strategies such as restorative practices, social-emotional learning (SEL), and executive functioning support. The Specialist will serve as a liaison between students, families, and community resources, conduct home visits, and facilitate family meetings to improve attendance and student success. Additionally, the position requires monitoring attendance data, ensuring compliance with truancy laws, and providing professional development to staff on best practices for attendance interventions. This role demands strong communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills, with a commitment to equity and culturally responsive practices.
Job Functions
Student Support & Intervention Skills:
- Knowledge of attendance laws, policies, and interventions
- Experience with multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) for attendance
- Ability to conduct one-on-one and small group interventions with students to address barriers to attendance
- Skills in developing and implementing individualized attendance improvement plans for at-risk students
- Experience in restorative practices, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed care to re-engage students
- Ability to build positive, trusting relationships with students to encourage attendance and school engagement
- Experience facilitating check-ins, mentoring, and goal-setting sessions with chronically absent students
- Skills in social-emotional learning (SEL) strategies to address student challenges impacting attendance
- Ability to work with students on executive functioning skills, time management, and overcoming school-related anxiety
Communication & Collaboration:
- Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with students, families, and staff
- Experience leading family meetings and student conferences to discuss attendance concerns and action plans
- Ability to collaborate with teachers, counselors, administrators, and social workers to support student engagement
- Capacity to serve as a liaison between students, families, and community resources to address barriers like transportation, mental health, and housing insecurity
- Skills in culturally responsive communication to engage diverse student populations and families
- Provide professional development and implementation support on evidence-based and promising practices related to attendance embedded within MTSS
Data & Compliance:
- Ability to track, analyze, and interpret attendance data
- Experience with student information systems (SIS) for attendance monitoring
- Understanding of legal requirements for truancy and reporting procedures, including assisting when questions arise regarding requirements and policies
- Skills in documenting and filing reports with counties and other agencies
- Ability to assess root causes of absenteeism
- Capacity to handle sensitive situations with confidentiality and professionalism
Home Visits & Community Engagement:
- Conduct home visits to address barriers to attendance
- Connecting families with resources and support services
- Knowledge of community programs that support student attendance and engagement
Professionalism & Leadership:
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Ability to work independently and take initiative
- Commitment to equity and culturally responsive practices
- Leadership skills to provide training and support for school staff
- Other duties as assigned
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Knowledge of:
- Laws and regulations, including legal issues and requirements related to student attendance and the truancy process.
- Techniques for providing effective case management services to high-risk youth and families
- Effective strategies for working with diverse community groups and populations
- Effective strategies for working effectively as a team member with other youth and adults
- Effective applications of technology and presentation strategies
Experience and Training:
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in the fields of education, psychology, counseling, social work, health or related field
- Valid Minnesota teaching license issued by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB)
- Two years experience working with at-risk youth at a middle or high school age
- Two years successful experience in coordinating and facilitating group interactions, meetings, and/or training.
- Demonstrated successful experience working with educational or social service programs and/or services
Physical Requirements
The physical demands and working environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the primary functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary functions. Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, operate a computer and other office equipment, reach with hands and arms, and frequently lift and/or move up to 15 pounds and occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee is frequently required to kneel, reach, stand, walk and climb stairs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.
Benefits at South St. Paul Public Schools:
HealthPartners medical coverage for medical and dental
403(b) retirement with district match
TRA (Teacher Retirement Association) benefits
Flexible spending account
Paid time off and leave benefits
Complete benefits details available through Human Resources. Benefits vary by position and contract.