School Success Mentor (PS 123)

About Graham Windham

In full partnership with families & communities, Graham Windham strives to make a life-altering difference to children, youth and families affected by abuse, neglect and delinquency by providing each child we serve with a strong foundation for life: a safe, loving, permanent family and the opportunity and preparation to thrive in school and in the world. With over 600 full-time employees serving children and families in multiple programs throughout Westchester County, Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Harlem, Graham Windham provides an exciting & enriching work experience.

Overview:

Community Schools is a strategy to organize resources and share leadership to integrate social services into the fabric of the schools. Community Schools are equipped to better serve the needs of families so that students come to school ready and able to learn.

Community Schools offer a holistic approach toward improving academic performance driven by strong, collaborative partnerships among principals, parents, teachers and CBOs. In Community Schools, parents are real and active partners in their children’s education, the school climate is joyful and positive, expanded learning opportunities are standard.

An integral part of this approach is the integration and alignment of school- and community-based services throughout an expanded learning day (such as health, mental health, counseling and academic enrichment). Critical to ensuring this alignment and coordination are part time staff members to work as a member of a team whose primary role is to empower families to partner with us to promote family engagement, healthy development and student achievement – the   Community School Success Mentor (CSSM).

The Community School Success Mentors at PS 123 connect with students and families during the traditional school day, during Expanded Learning Time (ELT), and in the evenings, both independently and/or with a lead teacher or partner afterschool staff.  Contact with students include tutoring, home visits,  assessment, engagement, case management and other support services to  support   chronically absent students and  low performing  academic students in the area of Language Arts or Mathematics.  Relationship building is core to this work which helps ensure that students increase their school attendance, and families receive the supports and services necessary to succeed in life. This position has been established to strengthen PS/MS 123 community school program’s ability to increase student attendance rates, academic scores and family engagement strategies simultaneously. The Success Mentors connect with the Community School Family Coach to provide daily tutoring and check ins on the students and families to ensure students report to school daily and to plan with families around predictable absences, in order to increase attendance.

Major Responsibilities

Tutoring/ELT

• Provide individual and small group tutoring to students in the PS 123 Library, and in hallway stations.
• Assist students in improving academic achievement by meeting with them on a regular basis to clarify learning problems and work on study skills.
• Connect with students in various areas of the school building including supervision on the hallways, cafeteria and during recess.
• Maintain regular contact with school staff, including teachers regarding student progress, and planning. Communicate concerns, strengths and observations of students.
• Other assistance might include reviewing class material, discussing the text, predicting test questions, formulating ideas for papers, or working on solutions to problems.
• Collaborate with CBO partners in order to support each other in classroom management and throughout classroom activities.

Family Engagement/Home Visits

• Welcome families into the school and share information about school services and programs.
• Creates, in partnership with families, service plans which address attendance, safety, behavioral, educational, and psychological and permanency needs.
• Monitors students daily attendance outcomes by facilitating regular outreach to parents  and students by conducting daily check ins of the student, while in attendance at school, school conferences, phone calls , etc.
• Collaborates with internal and external school service providers and other stakeholders through clear and timely verbal and written communication.
• Participate in recruitment efforts/activities for all community school programs and events
• Represent, advocate and collaborate with community agencies to support child, family, and agency outcomes.

Prevention and Intervention

• During September, October, January and February and April- conduct home visits at a minimum three times per week; Conduct home visits at least twice per week every other month; Provide tutoring on alternate days.
• Maintain on-going contact with Pupil personnel, DOE attendance teacher, Family Coach and other pertinent staff in order to share relevant home information and gain information regarding student performance in the classroom; Actively participate in Attendance Team Meetings weekly on Wednesdays at 12 p.m.                                                                                                                  
• Work with and follow up with parents to establish and maintain regular attendance for their child.
• Document and communicate all family and community contacts, including home visits, consultation and outreach
• Report and document suspected child abuse/neglect
• Other duties as assigned by the Community School Director and Family Coach; responsibilities could involve evenings on occasions, including parent teacher conference, etc.

Position Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience working with  students or families in a afterschool, community based, advocacy, or  support role.  Proficient computer skills, internet and e-mail, social media skills a plus.
• Must have flexible schedule to accommodate family needs, may include some evenings.
• Ability to work independently and maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Ability to work as a team member collaborating with staff, parents and community resources.

Position Type: Full- time

EOE