POSITION: Student Advocate
ORGANIZATION / LOCATION: Assigned School
REPORTS TO: Principal
REVISION / REVIEW DATE:
JOB CODE:49
UNION: Local2250
CLASSIFICATION: ACE/AFSCME
GRADE: 18
POSITION SUMMARY: Supervised by the Principal, the Student Advocates will be responsible for intervention services for the school’s most at-risk populations. Student advocates will build positive and productive relationships with students and leverage those relationships to fully engage students in the learning environment. This position is multi-faceted and the incumbent should be skilled or willing to be trained in the following areas: advocacy, crisis intervention, peer mediation, coaching, and mentoring. The primary focus of the Student Advocate is to work collaboratively with staff to promote a positive learning climate for students.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Develop
appropriate personalized relationships with all students on assigned caseload; Work
collaboratively with the school’s Dean of Students, to develop an effective
In-School Personal Development program while ensuring that all students who are
assigned are subjected to experiences and activities that will reduce their
rate of recidivist behaviors and that will support their academic and personal
growth; Conduct home
visits to communicate with parents and develop collaborative partnerships with
parents and community stakeholders that are designed to identify and respond to
student needs and to increase attendance, enhance academic achievement, and
student well-being; Work
collaboratively with the school’s professional school counselors, social
worker, psychologist, and pupil personnel workers to provide preventive support
and responsive assistance to all students on assigned caseload who are
experiencing personal, social, or academic difficulties; Advocate for
individual students and systemic change whenever necessary to promote an
environment more conducive to student achievement and well-being; Assist professional
school counselors, psychologist, pupil personnel workers, social workers, and
other faculty and staff as needed to address students’ needs as efficiently and
effectively as possible; Be
intimately aware of the school-wide student development agenda and actively
support all student development programming such as Positive Behavior
Intervention and Supports PBIS,
Advisory, Athletics, and Activities; Provide
consultation to administrators, teachers, and parents regarding individual or
group of students; and Consistently and enthusiastically promote the
expectation of high achievement for all students and reinforce and reward
school wide rules and expectations.
QUALIFICATIONS Ability to
learn new methods and techniques to positively impact adolescent student
development; Considerable
patience and ability to work with children; Ability to
work as an effective member of a team to address the needs of children. Ability to
follow oral and written instructions; and Ability
to communicate effectively with members of various stakeholder groups.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: Graduation from high school (Bachelor’s Degree preferred) or any other combination of applicable education, training, and experience which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position may be considered; At least two (2) years of volunteer or paid experience working with children is required to include coaching, mentoring, tutoring, etc.; Active participation in community organizations which serve the needs of students in the greater metropolitan area.
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: None Required.
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: Normal
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: None.
Prince George’s County Public Schools • www.pgcps.org • 14201 School Lane, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772