Skip to main content

This job has expired

Community Outreach Specialist

Employer
Alexandria City Public Schools
Location
Alexandria, Virginia
Closing date
Oct 21, 2020

View more

Industry
Education
Function
School and Teaching
Hours
Full Time
Career Level
Experienced (Non-Manager)

Job Details

Job Description:

The community outreach specialist will support the Department of School and Community Relations. The specialist's main responsibilities are to conduct outreach that empowers families to be actively engaged in their child's education, communicate division-wide messages to a diverse community and set up two-way channels to help ACPS better communicate with and understand the needs of traditionally underrepresented communities. In addition, the individual needs to be able to facilitate relationships with a variety of communities and stakeholders, including civic associations, the chamber of commerce, realtors, faith-based organizations, and conduct research for drawing up community engagement plans.

The position requires a creative, energetic individual who is fluent in English and Spanish and has exceptional interpersonal communication skills. The successful candidate will be able to make connections in the diverse and multilingual communities of ACPS.

The community outreach specialist's work requires attendance and outreach at community meetings and events, which includes some evenings and weekends. This position reports to the school engagement & community outreach manager.

Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.

Certificates & Licenses: None required.

Experience: Two years' experience working in communications, community engagement or a related field with increasing levels of responsibility.

Key Competencies:
  • Fluent in English and Spanish. Ability to translate and interpret between the two languages is a highly preferred skill for this position.
  • Knowledge of electronic communications, including social media, and proficiency using it as a method of encouraging meaningful community engagement in multiple languages through translation.
  • The successful candidate will understand the power of storytelling and know how to use it effectively.
  • An ability to connect with and convey messages to all kinds of communities in a meaningful way.
  • Exceptional planning, organizational and research skills.

Essential Functions:
  • Work with school engagement & community outreach manager to implement department outreach plans for various activities and initiatives, targeting special populations including English Learners, African-American, Students with Disabilities, community partners, volunteers, etc.
  • Work with school engagement & community outreach manager to support "high-touch" outreach activities in targeted high-need communities to strengthen a culture of trust and transparency and identify parent leaders for participation on various committees.
  • Devise creative ways to ensure that all parts of the community have access to information about department initiatives and ACPS projects.
  • Plan and attend small- and large-scale events from focus groups to community meetings.
  • Ensure language accessibility of department materials and events -- minimally in Spanish, Amharic, and Arabic -- by working with ACPS' Office of English Learner Services to secure translation and interpretation services
  • Support the Spanish translation and interpretation of content, including the ACPS website, emergency alerts, video scripts, fliers and other materials for School and Community Relations, as needed
  • Coordinate "hi-tech" outreach activities, including ACPS Spanish-language social media channels and campaigns, to strengthen connections with online ACPS Spanish-speaking community
  • Devise creative ways to ensure that all parts of the community have access to information about department initiatives and ACPS projects.
  • Understand the larger projects being undertaken by ACPS and communicate those concepts simply and effectively, and encourage participation from all segments of our community, including English Learner families, new immigrant families and groups of varying socio-economic levels.
  • Work with the Office of Communications to support the School PR Liaison Program and other initiatives such as back-to-school welcome packets.
  • Establish and maintain working relationships with community groups and civic associations across the City to better understand factors for consideration in drawing up community engagement plans
  • Collaborate with the Office of Communications to implement the school distribution process for community fliers and other promotional materials in line with ACPS policies.
  • Work with the executive director of community partnerships and engagement to ensure that ACPS partners are supported and promoted in accordance with ACPS policy.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Clearances:
  • Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance.
  • Tuberculosis Skin Test.


WP

Primary Location:
Central Office
Salary Range:
$55,296.00 - $68,006.40 / Support SUP-29
Shift Type:
Full-Time

Company

Alexandria City Public Schools is one of the most diverse school systems in the country and we celebrate that diversity. Our students come from more than 80 different countries, speak more than 60 languages, and represent a rainbow of ethnic and cultural groups. They are economically diverse, but all are rich in that the residents of Alexandria are dedicated to ensuring that each and every one of them achieves success.

The children of Alexandria have benefited significantly from the strong support of City Council and the Alexandria community over the years. Tremendous gains have been made in student achievement and ACPS continues to be in the forefront of technology integration.

T.C. Williams High School is on the cutting edge, both inside and out. The award-winning building features numerous environmentally sound features, such as a 450,000-gallon underground cistern that collects and stores rainwater for building use, and a rooftop garden that provides stormwater management. The redesigned educational program at T.C. consists of smaller learning communities designed to increase academic achievement and the level of student engagement. Students feel more connected to caring adults, and teachers have more opportunity to know and support their students.

The City of Alexandria was recently named one of the Top 100 Communities for Young People by America's Promise, partly because of the quality of our schools and programs. A recent City survey indicates that the number of people who made the decision to live in Alexandria based on the quality of the schools has increased since 2004. We have many reasons to celebrate. ACPS is truly an urban success!

Company info
Location
2000 N Beauregard St
Alexandria
VA
22314
US

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert