Family Engagement Manager

POSITION OVERVIEW: A passion for families, students, and the community will go far in this position. Family Engagement Manager is responsible for ensuring the region meets student transition goals from elementary to middle school and middle to high school. They will also support the Title I program by supporting schools with executing a family engagement plan and tracking results for DESE compliance. In addition to coordinating student transition and family engagement, this role will support decreasing student attrition and increasing attendance by the development of systems.  

STATEMENT OF IMPACT: This role will have a direct impact on student recruitment, student retention, marketing, and family engagement. This role will have an indirect impact on KIPP’s academics, family satisfaction, and finances. KIPP St. Louis is a region that has undergone rapid growth and has a regional priority to grow bigger and get better.  A huge part of this “bigger and better” model requires the region to gain and keep the trust of families quickly to ensure they stay with us until college or career.  By having a point person to work closely with families, plus support schools making their family engagement program more effective, we will reduce the number of students that transfer and increase our impact. 

Who we are:

KIPP St. Louis is a part of a national network of free, open-enrollment, public charter schools offering a choice to families and children in St. Louis city. As the largest charter school system in the city, we are driven and committed to our mission, vision, and equity statement.

Mission: Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Vision: Every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities.

Equity Statement: KIPP St. Louis is committed to becoming an anti-racist and anti-sexist organization by confronting inequities, barriers, and oppressive policies and systems.

KIPP St. Louis currently educates over 2,000 students and at full growth, we will educate nearly 3,600 students and hundreds of alumni. Today, our St. Louis network consists of two middle schools, three elementary schools, and a high school. 

Position type: Full time, exempt, 12 month

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Management of Family Engagement Specialist Team
2. Regional Wide Family Events & Groups
3. Family Community Partners
4. Family Resources
5. Title I Compliance: Spring and Fall meetings; 
6. Family Surveys & Data
7. Oversee family engagement specialists
8. Regionwide parent board  

Family Engagement Regionwide & School based

• Leads coordination and support for the family engagement specialists (FES) Team
• Support schools with building relationships that foster strong partnerships with community organizations and enhance the effectiveness of communication between families, networks, and schools
• Work with Family Engagement Specialist team on expanding their goals to include working with the community and families; apply accountability measures for program-based teams to check their progress and success on these goals.
• Support and implement a long-term strategic plan for Family Engagement rooted in KIPP’s mission, vision, theory of action, and evidence-based research.
• Work with leaders to create a scope and sequence for how to work with families throughout the year.

Student Transition Lead

• Hosts transition events (IE Ladder Day and more)  with student recruitment coordinator
• Gathers key student retention and attrition data to help with the student transition from 8th to 9th grade 
• Assists with preparing students for standardized tests necessary such as the SSAT/ACT. 
• Arranges for KIPP Middle School students to visit KIPP St. Louis High School  and plan transition events that help support families and students during the 8th to 9th grade transition process 
• Advises 8th grade students and families on an ongoing basis on the high school application process, holding general workshops and information sessions for parents as necessary to ensure that families understand how to support their children through this process. 
• Works with both KIPP Middle Schools, including the School Leader, to keep them informed about high school placement activities and to gain their assistance with the application process where applicable, e.g. standardized test preparation, completing recommendations and producing application essays. 
• Coordinate summer orientation experience for incoming 9th grade students to prepare students for their freshman year
• Meet with 9th grade students quarterly or as necessary. This will likely include frequent meetings with students that need more support (for example, weekly check-ins by phone or bi-weekly school visits). 
• Communicates with school MHPS, administrators, parents and other stakeholders regarding student progress 

Parent Engagement & Liaison 

• Facilitate Title I meetings, and submit the annual Title I plan to DESSE 
• Support school staff with implementing parent engagement with fidelity
• Leads Region Wide parent board; Lead parent ambassador program to provide opportunities for advocacy
• Support schools in creating strategies with schools that promote student retention and family engagement.
• Support with parental concerns at a regional level
• Develop processes and systems to evaluate progress and measure the impact of Family Engagement initiatives.
• With direction from the VP of Equity, review and analyze data sources. Use data to inform decisions and to provide recommendations to all stakeholders.
• Assess family involvement and partnership with both schools and families using a Community Engagement Framework.

Data Management & Analysis

• Develop consistent communication and feedback mechanisms to ensure KIPP can identify, discuss, and address gap deficits impacting students, families, and communities. Develop communication systems to share best practices, highlight achievements/successes, and keep staff apprised of key initiatives and activities.
•  Assess family involvement and partnership with both schools and families using a Community Engagement Framework.
• Initiates surveys and other data collection methods to conduct progress monitoring

This job posting/description may not cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Additional Details

• This is a full-time, salaried position
• Includes evening and weekend hours
• Must have transportation
• Spanish speaking applicants a plus

What you bring to the table:

• Bachelor's degree required; Masters (preferred)
• Passion about student, family, community and staff engagement
• Proven skills in leadership, group facilitation, marketing, communication, and data collection experience
• At least 2-3 years of community engagement/facilitation/grassroot organizing experience with within a nonprofit organization serving underserved or urban communities highly recommended; 
• Marketing and communications experience within a non-profit 
• Experience managing social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter and e-marketing tools
• Strong writing, editing and verbal communication skills;
• Strong Microsoft Office skills: Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint;
• Strong design skills in InDesign, Adobe Illustrator and Final Cut Pro 
• Highly organized; ability to manage multiple projects at once and meet deadlines; 
• Ability to break down complex information into comprehensive parts, ask questions, synthesize and analyze; 
• Strong interpersonal skills required to work with a broad group of stakeholders; ability to work as part of a team; 
• Willingness to develop a working knowledge of other languages and develop materials that will support ESL families

What we bring to the table: Starting at $55,000; pay commensurate with education and direct experience

We are a fast paced, energetic team and family with passionate people who are leading a movement and to cultivate the their best working environment we provide the following:

• $0 deductible healthcare plan option, including medical, vision and dental
• Employer Paid Short Term Disability
• $50,000 life insurance policy at no cost to the employee
• Retirement plan through PSRSSL with a 13% match and an optional 403b as a supplement to our pension program
• Employee Recognition: When we succeed together, we celebrate together with our annual gala award ceremony, holiday party, and more!
• Public Service student loan forgiveness program qualified employer
• Longevity Bonuses: 2, 5, and 10 year financial rewards
• Generous time off:
  • Paid leave for illness, personal days, bereavement, jury duty, and military-related leave
  • Paid parental leave for new families
  • Paid holidays, as well as a one week Thanksgiving break, a two-week winter break, a week-long spring break
  • Wellness days and Fabulous Fridays (leave at 1:30 on Friday once a month)
• On-going professional  development opportunities:
  • Weekly coaching sessions
  • Weekly school-based professional development
  • Five in-person PD days during the year for all KIPP St. Louis teachers

If you are interested in working at KIPP St. Louis, please visit our website to find out how to apply!

www.kippstl.org

KIPP St. Louis is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying for employment at our school. KIPP St. Louis does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.