Position Summary:
Under the direction of the Instructional Supervisor, the Instructional Specialist – Multilingual Family Engagement is responsible for providing leadership and support in formulating, developing, implementing, sustaining and evaluating the district’s family engagement programming strategies for multilingual learners in Prince George’s County Public Schools. The incumbent of this position will coordinate communication and activities to provide support to families of multilingual learners as well as teachers, community members, school administrators and other staff to better engage families of multilingual learners. The Instructional Specialist serves as a liaison between the English Language Development (ELD) Office and school sites. This position requires home visits, occasional evening meetings, organizing meetings and workshops, and providing training to enhance families’ ability to support their children, specifically multilingual learners, in school.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Supports schools and centers with planning, developing and conducting school-based and English Language Development/Title III district-wide family workshops and events to inform parents and families about the ELD program and strategies to implement at home;
- Coordinates and integrates family engagement programs and activities for families of multilingual learners with other programs such as Early Childhood, Special Education, Student Services, Family and Community Engagement, and Community Schools;
- Conducts professional development for leadership teams and school staff to enhance family engagement of multilingual learners;
- Assists school teams in developing, putting into action, and assessing family engagement for their multilingual learner families, and provides strategies on how to include families in their school community;
- Navigates the Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) organization and K-12 curriculum, programs of studies, policies, and federal and state testing practices related to instruction and the Maryland College and Career-Ready State Standards;
- Develops, manages and regularly updates resources for schools to engage families of their multilingual learners, as well as district-wide resources available for families of multilingual learners;
- Designs and implements a comprehensive family engagement plan for the English Language Development Office;
- Coordinates the effective utilization of Title III supplemental resources designated for family engagement activities, including identifying, ordering and distributing resources to enhance the planning and implementation of family engagement activities;
- Supports the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of multilingual learners and their families;
- Collaborates with community resource organizations, including various federal, state and county agencies;
- Creates and analyzes surveys for program planning and evaluation; and
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Bilingual in English and Spanish in reading, writing, speaking and listening preferred;
- Knowledge of the district organization, operations, regulations, policies and objectives related to family engagement and English Language Development;
- Ability to apply principles and best practices for multilingual learners and family engagement;
- Effective interpersonal and human relations skills; communicates effectively both orally and in writing;
- Ability to proactively work in partnership with others to achieve a common goal or necessary objectives; builds rapport and cooperative relationships with others;
- Experience organizing groups and events, making presentations, working with volunteers and/or community organizations, and coaching others;
- Keeps abreast of latest research, best practices, developments and techniques in family engagement;
- Experience in determining program evaluation criteria and implementing ongoing program evaluation;
- Effective planning and organization skills, as well as the ability to multi-task and meet deadlines;
- Ability to work flexible hours to accommodate training and family engagement sessions, including evenings and weekends;
- Demonstrated leadership and administrative competency and experience of leading teams; and
- Experience working with computers and other technology.
Education and/or Experience Requirements:
Master's degree from an accredited college or university in education, education policy, administration, or a related field required. A minimum of five (5) years of English language development teaching experience and working with families of multilingual leaners required.
Certification:
Holds or is eligible for certification/licensure appropriate to area of assignment issued by the Maryland State Department of Education.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
No direct supervisory responsibilities.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, talk, hear, walk, sit, and use fingers, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, the ability to adjust focus, and depth perception. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 25 lbs.
Working Environment:
The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.
Additional Information:
None.
