Student Support Specialist Maya Angelou PCS SY 24 - 25

The Organization

Maya empowers opportunity and justice-involved youth to transform the trajectory of their lives. We do this by engaging each of our scholars in a restorative, relevant school experience that prioritizes personalized academic support, well-being, and preparation for the post-Maya pathway of their choice. With an education in our network of schools, our scholars will do more than succeed – they will thrive!

If you are interested in learning more about Maya Angelou Schools and See Forever Foundation, please visit our website at www.seeforever.org.

The Touchstone

At the Maya Angelou Schools, the key to our success is rooted in building trusting, respectful, and nurturing relationships with each other. We strive to create safe spaces for all to be able to reach their limitless potential. We are at our best when we work together to ensure the unique needs of our community are met. We empower each other to grow successfully so we can see forever! This is how we live the Maya Way, even when no one is watching.

Position Overview

The Student Support Specialist will serve as a support specialist, data lead, enrollment support, and school culture support as needed within their assigned grade levels. Each Student Support Specialist is required to work collaboratively with all school personnel (teachers, administrators, support staff) to remove the barriers that prevent students from accessing instruction. Some of those barriers may include attendance challenges, academic and instructional needs, engagement issues, lack of basic needs, and personal matters that impede their ability to have a healthy school experience. We believe that every student benefits from having dedicated professionals whose major responsibility is a student’s emotional growth and well-being. This position reports to the Principal and works collaboratively with the Academic Dean of the High School campus.

Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Maintaining comprehensive files for assigned caseload and working closely and collaboratively with the Academic Deans, Clinical Counselors, Administrative Team, Teachers, Support Staff, Culture Team, and school office personnel to support all students in the assigned caseload
• Monitoring student attendance, behavior, and academics on a daily/weekly basis and elevating attendance issues and concerns to Academic Deans and Principal also includes conducting routine home visits as part of their attendance monitoring
• Aggressively monitoring and responding to truancy by calling and mailing appropriate letters to families, notifying state agencies (when relevant), and submitting truancy reports to Court Social Services in a timely manner, including collaborating with the Special Education Department with data validation and truancy reports
• Supporting the coordination of (Student Success Team (SST) meetings and Student Success Talks, along with implementing strategies to foster confidence and improve self-esteem in students
• Developing initiatives and incentives to increase student engagement and re-engage students (field trips, student engagement committees, summer activities, caseload competitions, or group meetings) also includes attending and actively participating in all student-related conferences/re-entry meetings, as requested
• Collaborating with other support staff to facilitate student town hall meetings
• Conducting weekly student observations of students in assigned caseload
• Collaborating with teachers to improve student academic outcomes and help students develop healthy social and emotional outlooks that will help them succeed in class and beyond
• Scheduling and facilitating conferences with students and parents and/or community-based organizations related to students’ truancy, discipline, and academic outcomes
• Coordinating efforts with the Postsecondary Student Success Department to ensure a seamless transition to our internship opportunities for our students
• Supporting families and students during virtual and remote learning phases
• Participates in required professional development and meeting
• Performing other duties as assigned

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent documentation, organizational, and communication skills (both orally and written).
• Excellent case management skills
• Prior direct service experience working truant and disconnected youth
• Demonstrates team spirit, initiative, and a willingness to collaborate with all members of the school community
• Ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively as a member of a multidisciplinary team
• History of effectively assessing the psycho-educational needs of students and families
• Strong problem-solving and crisis intervention skills
• Comprehensive computer skills: MS Word, data entry, and an understanding of a variety of programs necessary to meet the requirements of this role

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (required), Master’s degree (preferred) in social work, education, psychology, counseling, or related field
• Must have experience working with opportunity youth in an academic setting
• Must have experience working in community-based mental health, family health/mental health, and or school settings
• Must have strong skills in documenting efforts and interventions
• Must have a commitment to working from a strength-based and/or youth development perspective
• Capacity to communicate formulate innovative but functional approaches to resolutions of problems
• Possesses a valid driver's license to travel to student homes & community resources (required)

Salary and Benefits

Our salaries are comparable to those of other public schools in the District of Columbia area. In addition, See Forever offers a robust benefits plan, including health care coverage, HSA/FSA and dependent care accounts, voluntary dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability options, commuter benefits, a 401k retirement savings plan, student loan refinancing options, and the opportunity to positively impact students with a broad range of experiences and backgrounds.

See Forever is an equal-opportunity employer. We believe a diverse staff is a better, more effective staff.