Senior Education Specialist (EFFC)

Title: Senior Educational Specialist, FAMILY FOSTER CARE

Reports To: Education Supervisor, Enhanced Family Foster Care

Location:7 West Burnside Avenue, 2nd Floor, Bronx, NY 10453

Hours: 35 Hours/Week; Exempt

Salary: $53,000-$58,000/annually

The Senior Education Specialist will maintain an active caseload and perform all core responsibilities of an Education Specialist while providing additional coordination, guidance, and support to the Education Team.

• Supporting the onboarding and training of new Education Specialists through shadowing, coaching, and guidance during school visits and educational meetings, as well as providing support with navigating Connections, updating education tabs, and documenting progress notes.
• Supporting the Education Supervisor with developing, maintaining, and monitoring team-wide trackers related to educational processes and deadlines, including but not limited to preschool applications, Summer Rising applications, middle school applications, and high school applications.
• Monitoring and tracking tutoring services and referrals across the Education Team.
• Compiling team reinvestment logs into one comprehensive log for submission to the Education Supervisor and Director, ensuring information is organized, accurate, and up to date.
• Serving as a point of contact for Education Specialists who need assistance with coverage when scheduling conflicts arise, caseload demands overlap, or additional support is needed.
• Co-facilitating trainings for Education Specialists and other relevant staff on educational processes, procedures, best practices, and other education-related topics as needed.
• Serving as a resource and point of support for Education Specialists by helping troubleshoot barriers, sharing best practices, and promoting consistency in educational advocacy and service delivery across the team. The Senior Education Specialist serves as a resource to both the Education Team and leadership by promoting organization, consistency, accountability, and high-quality educational advocacy while supporting compliance with educational mandates and agency expectations.

EDUCATION SPECIALIST RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review new intakes and psychological screenings/evaluations for the assigned age group to ensure that developmental and/or educational concerns are addressed;
• Assist parents/guardians and case planning team with initiating any Individualized Education Plan evaluation processes
• Submit and monitor the progress of all referrals and evaluations for special education services and/or early intervention services for youth;
• Provide continuous support and trainings to foster parents, parents, and case planning team as it relates to education for youth in foster care
• Serve as the agency liaison for school staff and guardians
• Attend and represent special services team at mandatory agency and ACS trainings, NYC DOE trainings to remain up to date on policies and procedures;
• Maintain professional boundaries with youth, foster parents, parents, and staff;
• Keep case records and education data information up to date and filed in the appropriate section of the case record;
• Commit to working from a strength based prospective;
• Document progress notes in Connections;
• Outreach and maintain ongoing communication with foster parents and parents to ensure that they are aware of the youth’s educational and/or developmental needs and are communicating with school and/or early intervention personnel;
• Attend and participate in IEP and Turning 5 meetings
• Ensures that all documentation of services is obtained and filed in the appropriate education section of the case record;
• Works with Advocates for Children and other outside organizations if legal or other advocacy is needed to ensure the child’s eligibility and access to special education services
• Works with parents and foster parents to ensure that they are aware of the child’s educational needs and are engaged with the School Based Support Team (SBST)
• Generates statistics and outcome information on education issues as required..
• Promote and model the seven Sanctuary Model commitments to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required with at least 2 years’ experience education
• Minimum of 2 years as a Fair Futures Coach or in an equivalent role within a foster care or youth services program strongly preferred.
• Solid knowledge of the NYC public school system including education resources, children’s rights and DOE regulations/procedures.
• Experience with special education and early intervention
• Ability to be flexible to meet the demands of youth in care
• Ability to work as a team and with multiple persons
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite, especially Word and Excel
• Excellent written, communication. And organizational skills
• Must have a commitment to work from a strength based and/or youth & family development perspective.

General Requirements: All staff is expected to be committed to the mission, vision, and values of Good Shepherd Services, which includes involvement in quality improvement activities and a willingness to work within a culturally diverse environment.