Family Engagement Specialist (Meridian PCS)

ABOUT MERIDIAN PCS

Meridian is a PreK-8th grade school with an elementary campus located in Washington DC’s vibrant U Street Corridor and a middle school campus a few blocks up the road in Columbia Heights. Our mission is to inspire a passion for learning in our students and to help them build their self-confidence and self-respect through academic achievement. 

Our 650+ students are a diverse mix of African-American, Latino, Asian, African, and White students. Almost 30% of our students are English language learners, and we serve one of the largest Latinx populations in DC charter schools. Meridian is committed to serving our local community, and one-third of our students live within a half mile of our campuses. We are also proud of the fact that Meridian is a school of choice for parents— all eight wards of the city are represented among our student population.

Meridian’s strengths include two beautiful campuses with nearby outdoor and recreational grounds; state of the art technology for students and teachers; updated and aligned curricula; an academic program laser-focused on student growth, achievement, and social-emotional development; extensive professional development and support for teachers and leaders; and a school culture grounded in student achievement, collaboration, and student-centered learning.=

For additional information about Meridian visit mpcs-dc.org. 

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Family Engagement Specialist is responsible for supporting Meridian’s efforts to engage families and the community in line with our organization’s strategic plan. The Family Engagement Specialist will support the principals and family engagement coordinators working on each of our two campuses to achieve goals around student recruitment and family engagement. The Family Engagement Specialist directly reports to the Director of Community Partnerships and Development.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Manage outreach initiatives to increase student enrollment, strengthen community partnerships, and offer families new opportunities for involvement in the Meridian community
• As a member of the Enrollment/Recruitment Team, assist with student recruitment and enrollment including organizing Open Houses, conduct school tours, respond to questions about application procedures, and complete residency verification including conducting home visits as necessary
• Manage and cultivate external school-based partnerships (e.g., community groups)
• Provide support to achieve family engagement goals to school-based family engagement coordinators and school principals
• Serve as a point of contact for family concerns and refer parents/guardians to appropriate school administrators or social service providers; maintain the school’s Parent Center so that it is a welcoming and useful resource for all families
• Assist with the planning, coordination, execution, and data collection for school events, campaigns, and theme weeks
• Provide professional development to teachers and other staff to enhance their capacity for working closely with our families
• Provide support and accountability to ensure the achievement of organizational goals

QUALIFICATIONS 

Successful candidates will possess the following qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university is required. Advanced degree in business, public policy or administration, or related discipline preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of work experience
• A passion for Meridian’s mission and our students and families
• Demonstrated track record of setting ambitious goals and driving results; experience using data to drive the decisions, know-how to change course as needed, and troubleshoot effectively to move projects forward and to completion
• Excellent organization and project management skills; ability to implement programs, manage details, and work independently
• Mulitasker with the ability to manage multiple projects and set priorities accordingly
• Excellent relationship builder with demonstrated experience managing diverse stakeholders, leading change, and promoting strong collaboration across teams
• Direct experience working with boards members, chairs, and committees strongly preferred
• Strong judgment and decision-making skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office (G-suite, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook)
• Fluency in Spanish or Amharic a plus

SALARY AND BENEFITS

A recent TNTP Insight Survey of our teachers placed our staff’s satisfaction with compensation in the top quartile of all charter schools in DC. We also lead the charter sector in compensation transparency, and publish our salary scales for teachers, apprentice teachers, and dedicated aides here.

Meridian teachers and staff are compensated competitively for their time and have opportunities to earn additional income through leadership opportunities at the school level, offering extracurricular clubs and sports for students, and facilitating tutoring programs.