Bilingual Education Specialist

Bilingual Education Specialist, Helpline

Advocates For Children (AFC) is a dynamic social justice organization that strives to ensure a high-quality education for New York students who face barriers to academic success, focusing on students from low- income backgrounds. AFC works on behalf of children and youth who are at greatest risk of academic failure due to poverty, race, ethnicity, disability, homelessness, immigration status/limited English proficiency, or involvement in the child welfare or juvenile/criminal legal systems. We use uniquely integrated strategies to advance systemic reform, empower families and communities, and advocate for the educational rights of individual students. For more information on AFC, see www.advocatesforchildren.org.

The Jill Chaifetz Education Helpline assists New York City parents who are trying to help their children succeed in school.  AFC is looking for a Bilingual Education Specialist to respond to the families and professionals who reach out to AFC for assistance with school-related matters.  The Bilingual Education Specialist provides information about a wide range of school-related issues including special education, suspensions, transfers and promotion.  They speak with callers about their individual concerns and help callers understand how to best navigate the NYC public school system. They also conduct intake for callers who seek representation from AFC's experienced attorneys to protect their education-related rights. This position will report to the Director of AFC’s Helpline.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

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• Answer questions from parents, teachers, community advocates, representatives of local politicians, and others regarding school-related issues. 
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• Conduct initial intake and recommend cases for representation.
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• Assist AFC in identifying and reporting on current trends in education law.
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• Request and review documents (IEPs, evaluations, suspension packets, etc.), and review school histories to provide an in-depth summary of findings and to better guide families.
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• Record contemporaneous and accurate entries in Salesforce database.
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• Develop a strong understanding of DOE regulations and protocols and stay on top of new developments in public schools.
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• Meet with supervisors to discuss approval of cases and next steps, then relay information to families.  
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• Communicate with DOE/outside organizations to understand issues families are facing and case history to better assist families.
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• Follow up with families to ensure that escalations have provided a resolution.
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• Maintain updated information and referral sources for AFC guides and tip sheets. Review and update internal documentation for Helpline staff.  
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• Participate in committees and collaborative efforts to benefit the office as appropriate.
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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

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• Understanding of and alignment with AFC’s mission. Please review AFC’s work at advocatesforchildren.org.
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• Bachelor’s Degree with preferred concentrations in areas like social work, psychology, counseling, mental health, etc.
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• Fluency in Spanish with ability to converse with students/families whose first language is Spanish.
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• Ability to effectively engage across cultures, identities, and ethnicities, particularly Black and Latinx families.
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• Desire to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism principles.
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• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
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• Strong organizational skills and resourcefulness.
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• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
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• Commitment to increasing access to quality education for all children in New York City.
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• Excellent interpersonal skills.
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• Must have the ability to learn complex material and explain it clearly and simply.
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PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

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• Direct service/casework experience with students and families.
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• Familiarity with the New York City public school system especially with discipline or special education issues.
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• Familiarity with Salesforce.
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ADDITIONAL DETAILS

This is a full-time position, with a salary in the range of $51,500 - $57,380, depending on experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package.  AFC’s current compensation package includes medical and dental insurance, with a plan option that covers full payment of medical plan premiums for staff and their qualified dependents.  AFC has generous time-off policies that include 10 federal holidays, office closure between Christmas and New Year’s Day, and 15 vacation days and 15 paid time off days in the first year of employment.  AFC also offers a 403(b) plan with a fully vested employer match and coverage of the premium cost of life insurance and long-term disability insurance.

Currently, this AFC position is expected to work at least 2 days a week in the office and remotely on the remaining days.

AFC is an affirmative action employer that actively seeks to recruit and retain a diverse staff and especially encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, parents of persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or gender expressions and persons of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

AFC is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability or other protected characteristic. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. For more information and to request an accommodation, contact Human Resources at HR@advocatesforchildren.org.

Due to a high volume of applicants, only complete applications from qualified candidates will be contacted. No phone calls please.