The Middle School Educational Specialist is responsible for ensuring and monitoring the educational needs and placement of children in foster care placed in 6th grade, or age eleven and above. The Specialist is to provide educational advocacy and ensure students are receiving the supports/services they need to succeed and progress academically.

Reports To: Special Services Supervisor, Family Foster Care

Location: 7 West Burnside Avenue, 2^nd Floor, Bronx, NY 10453

Hours: 35 Hours/Week; Non Exempt

Salary: $50,000 to $55,000

Major Duties:

• Ability to work from a strength-based, trauma informed, youth development lens, while maintain healthy boundaries
• Conduct school visits
• Strong ability to relate to young people, engage them in conversation, and provide support and encouragement
• Negotiate with DOE staff to ensure the implementation of recommended and appropriate educational services;
• Ensure school stability if a student is relocating homes.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders (i.e. ACS Office of Education Support and Policy Planning, schools, DOE staff, community-based partners, etc.)
• Participate in various internal clinical and/or planning meetings (i.e. Family Team Conferences (FTC’s), Education Roundtables, Therapeutic Treatment meetings, and Red Flag meetings).
• Represent Good Shepherd Services and the needs of GSS children and youth at community meetings such as the ACS Education Forum, trainings, and other education-related working groups.
• Monitor the academic performance of students on caseload by conducting school visits
• Ability to navigate compelling educational issues, be resourceful, and work independently.
• Ability to organize one’s time and prioritize responsibilities in order to plan and carry out all duties.
• Work with Case Planner, foster parent, birth parent/caregiver and tutor and other identified supports within the school to meet the needs of the student.
• Provide individualized assistance with the high school selection process to 8^th grade students and their families
• Connect students to afterschool and summer extracurricular activities.
• Reviews all new intakes, incoming school reports and psychological screenings/evaluations for the assigned age group to ensure that educational issues for children are addressed.
• Assists with educational placement of children new to the program, children already in care, and those transitioning out of care
• Resolution of any problem’s children may experience in their school placement, i.e., participation in suspension and other hearings, arranging for special services.
• Assists with and monitors the progress of all referrals and evaluations for special education services. Attends Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings at schools and ensures that children receive appropriate special education services.
• Ensures all documentation of services is obtained and filed in the appropriate education section of the case record.
• Participates in ACS meetings for educational personnel to maintain current on any changes in regulations or procedures and to disseminate such information to GSS staff.
• Provides/coordinates in-service training to staff and foster/birth parents on the educational system, in order to develop their education advocacy skills and keep them up to date on any changes in regulations or procedures
• Works with Advocates for Children and other outside organizations if legal or other advocacy is needed to ensure the child’s eligibility and access to needed educational services from the DOE.
• Works with parents and foster parents to ensure that they are aware of the child’s educational needs and are engaged with the teacher/school personnel.
• Documents all education related activity in Connections and Care4
• Generates statistics and outcome information on education issues as required.
• Effectively use and practice the Sanctuary Model tools: safety plans, community meetings, psycho-educational groups, team meetings, red flag reviews, treatment planning conferences (or similar) and self care, when applicable, in the department/program to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.
• Promote and model the seven Sanctuary Model commitments to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s Degree in Education and/or a related field with at least 2 years experience in foster care and/or 1 year foster care plus 1 year of education advocacy work (preferred).
• Solid knowledge of the NYC public school system including education resources, children’s rights and DOE regulations/procedures.
• Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, especially Word and Excel
• Excellent organizational skills