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Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 600+ schools and employing approximately 40,000 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.  In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity.  Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

Located within the Office of Student Support and Engagement (OSSE), the Student Outreach and Re-engagement (SOAR) Center is a cross-agency collaborative focused on the re-engagement and re-enrollment of chronically truant and out-of-school youth.  The SOAR program is intended to ensure the successful transition and graduation of students who have dropped out of school and desire to re-enroll in a program that will assist them in developing their path to graduation. The SOAR teams work closely with District and Options Schools, which offer additional supports and services for students who need a new pathway toward high school graduation, who have been out of school and seek to return, or who may need opportunities to earn credits in an accelerated program. 

The Student Engagement Specialist will be responsible for facilitating the reconnection of disengaged students to school via the appropriate academic and social-emotional interventions. Student Engagement Specialists play multiple roles in locating and reconnecting students who are chronically truant, including working with community partners to locate and engage out-of-school students, and completing comprehensive intake interviews and assessments of each individual student’s needs. This position will build and maintain strong relationships with the student, family, and school community to support successful placement in the learning environment and ensure the interventions are effective. This position will also monitor students’ progress while receiving services, and after re-enrolling into school.  The Student Engagement Specialist will report to the SOAR Center Re-Engagement Program Coordinator.

The Student Engagement Specialist will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Develop a supportive and trusting relationship with at-risk students
• Conduct a comprehensive intake interview to identify the student’s interests, strengths, and specific barriers or challenges impeding successful engagement in school and academic performance 
• Review student transcripts, records, and historical school data to guide student conversations, school placement recommendations, and transition/support plans
• Utilize active listening, motivational interviewing, and empathetic, non-judgmental conversation to deeply engage with and learn about students  
• Work with students to establish academic and career interests and goals, and to utilize those in the determination of the best school fit
• Work with the school counselor, social service workers, and community partners to develop individualized intervention and graduation plans to address social/emotional issues impacting performance  
• Monitor student academic progress, attendance, and behavior and provide personalized interventions as needed to keep the student enrolled in the school and on-track for graduation
• Facilitate events and workshops for character building and career exploration
• Maintain accurate records of student progress and submit monthly student activity logs and required documentation
• Conduct home visits and provide support to families in acquiring needed services to ensure student success
• Work with students to explore career interests and opportunities and establish personal goals.
• Assist students with exploring multiple educational pathways that meet their academic goals.
• Work with receiving schools to facilitate enrollment and monitor student persistence.
• Work with students, parents, and schools to develop individual success plans for each student.
• Maintain all confidential student records, student plans, and performance tracking reports.
• Maintain database for tracking student participant information, activity delivery, and program participation data.
• Other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Student Engagement Specialist must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

• Highschool diploma or GED equivalent is required
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university preferred

Experience Required:

• Minimum of five (5) years of work experience in social services, health services, education, or related outreach work is required.
• Two (2) years of this relevant experience may be considered in combination with a preferred degree.
• Experience with high school students and CPS schools, systems, and policies preferred
• Experience with Restorative Justice practices and Motivational Interviewing preferred
• Language proficiency in both English and Spanish preferred

Knowledge, Skills Abilities

• Dedicated to providing every child with access to high-quality education; acts as an advocate for students, and role models this behavior for fellow team members
• Comfortable working in a non-traditional learning environment; capable of working with minimal supervision outside of a formalized, central office setting
• Willingness to learn and adapt in the midst of new and shifting program and priorities with a "can-do," solutions-oriented approach to learning and problem-solving
• Experience in creating and managing a student-friendly environment
• Strong interpersonal skills, and an engaging, collaborative leadership style; demonstrated success building positive relationships with students, staff and parents
• Outstanding organization skills and ability to maintain detailed files and records, prioritize workload and handle multiple competing priorities and deadlines
• Skilled in evaluating and meeting the social service needs of at-risk students, and coordinating the efforts of various social service agencies and community organizations
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Able to work flexible hours as needed to attend evening meetings and to meet needs of students and families
• Must possess computer skills including Microsoft Office, and Google Suite

Other requirements:

• Access to transportation to travel to other sites is required

Valid Driver’s License and vehicle access preferred

Conditions of Employment:As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency -Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.

Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 -Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. “Up-to-date” on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.