Parent and Family Engagement Coordinator, Elementary School

ABOUT MERIDIAN PCS
Meridian is a PreK-8th grade school located in Washington DC’s vibrant U Street Corridor. Our mission is to inspire a passion for learning in our students and to help them build their self-confidence and self-respect through academic achievement.

Our 650+ students are a diverse mix of African-American, Latino, Asian, African, and White students. Almost 30% of our students are English language learners, and we have one of the largest Hispanic populations in DC charter schools. We are committed to building a community of teachers and staff who reflect the rich diversity of our student body.

Meridian is committed to serving families from our local communities; and one-third of our students live within a half mile of the school. The U Street Corridor was once the heart of black culture in DC and offers a tangible historical archive for our students, and Columbia Heights is one of the most racially and economically diverse neighborhoods in the District. We are also proud of the fact that Meridian is a school of choice for parents— all eight wards of the city are represented among our student population.

Meridian’s strengths include two beautiful and historic campuses, with nearby outdoor and recreational grounds; state of the art technology for students and teachers; updated and aligned curricula; an academic program laser-focused on student growth, achievement, and social-emotional development; extensive professional development and support for teachers and leaders; and a school culture grounded in student achievement, collaboration, and student-centered learning.

Join us as we continue to take Meridian from good to great! For additional information about Meridian visit mpcs-dc.org.

ABOUT THE POSITION
We are seeking a Parent and Family Engagement Coordinator at our Elementary School (ES), to support family engagement, student enrollment, and community partnerships through communication, events, parent/family focused initiatives and relationship building. The Parent and Family Engagement Coordinator currently reports to both the Principal and Director of Development and Community Partnerships and will eventually report to the Family and Community Manager. The ES Parent and Family Engagement Coordinator will be responsible for the following:

• Serve as a point of contact for family concerns and refer parents/guardians to appropriate school administrators or social service providers; maintain the elementary school’s Parent Center so that it is a welcoming and useful resource for all families
• Manage outreach initiatives to increase student enrollment, strengthen community partnerships, and offer families new opportunities for involvement in the Meridian community
• Develop and distribute Meridian’s internal and external communications and expand the school’s social media presence specific to their respective campus assignment
• Cultivate external partnerships with local businesses, non-profit organizations, and neighborhood groups to support student and family needs and strengthen Meridian’s ties to the local community
• As a member of the Enrollment/Recruitment Team, support with student recruitment and enrollment including Open Houses, EdFest, school tours, respond to questions about application procedures, and complete residency verification including conducting home visits as necessary
• Lead and assist with the planning, coordination and, execution of school events, campaigns, and theme weeks
• Liaise with the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and other parent-led initiatives
• Serve as one of the school’s trained medication administrators; Meridian will provide training in First Aid and Epipen administration with partner organizations
• Provide coverage within Family Engagement center including directly supporting parents, contacting families, scheduling meetings and connecting families to resources
• Collaborate with others for events and campus-specific and school-wide initiatives
• Lead the planning and execution of monthly Parent Engagement events and activities

QUALIFICATIONS
Ideal candidates will have the following education and experience:

• Associates Degree in education, a social science or a related field, OR a Bachelor’s degree in education and/or a social science, from an accredited university is required
• Bilingual Amharic/English or Spanish/English is strongly preferred
• Two or more years of experience in a school, camp, after-school program, or youth serving organization is required
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to articulate the school’s mission, vision, core values, strengths, policies and procedures in public settings
• Excellent collaboration and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated success working with diverse families is required
• Proficiency in Google Suite Apps
• Experience with Student Information Systems such as PowerSchool is strongly preferred
• Experience using electronic communication platforms such as Swift Reach, Remind, and MailChimp, and desktop publishing and design software such as Adobe Suite and apps such as Canva, Poster My Wall, and Piktochart
• Previous experience building and maintaining community partnerships
• Commitment to build school, family and community partnerships that support improved student outcomes
• ***This position will require the candidate to work at least one evening per month for parent and family events and occasional weekends for Recruitment events such as EdFest.

HOW TO APPLY
Do you embody a love of learning? Do you believe in the importance of educating the whole child? Do you want to help Meridian continue to grow from good to great? Apply today!

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

In accordance with Mayor's Order 2021-109, Meridian Public Charter School requires all staff to provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or obtain an approval for exemption due to medical or religious reasons.

Meridian Public Charter School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The School’s EEO policy prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sex, age, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Meridian PCS prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and will reasonably accommodate applicants with a disability, upon request, and will also ensure reasonable accommodation for employees with a disability. Under this policy, equal employment opportunity is required in recruitment, hiring, training and development, promotion, termination, compensation, benefits, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment as required by applicable law.