Manager, Family Advocacy

At Rocketship Public Schools, we believe in the infinite possibility of human potential. We believe that every student deserves the right to dream, to discover, and to develop their unique potential. And it is our responsibility and our privilege to unleash the potential inside every Rocketeer we serve. Our non-profit network of public elementary charter schools propels student achievement, develops exceptional educators, and partners with parents who enable high-quality public schools to thrive in their community. We are a collective of parents, teachers, leaders, and students working together to transform the future for underserved communities across our country. At Rocketship Public Schools, we are unleashing potential.

Position Summary:

Based in the Milwaukee area and reporting to the Chief of Staff, the Manager, Family Advocacy will lead an initiative to support both Milwaukee Rocketship campuses in becoming Community Schools that support our families holistically to access community resources, and engage in advocacy and organizing around education issues in the community. They will work to design integrated student support by addressing out-of-school barriers to learning through partnerships with social and health service agencies and providers. They will work to gain family and community engagement by securing partnerships & resources for adults in relation to educational opportunities, such as ESL classes, green card or citizenship preparation, computer skills, etc. The Manager of Family Advocacy will also work in collaboration with the Manager, Family Partnerships to address chronic absenteeism.

Not only will this individual serving as an advocate for our families in the community, but they will also work to train and support parents and families to become their own advocates through their partnership with our parent leadership & organizing team. They will provide learning and leadership opportunities for families to engage civically and advocate for the needs of their families and communities through meeting with local public officials, attending Hill Days, running campaigns to advocate for the best options and resources for their community, and engage in voter registration and education campaigns.

This position requires previous training and experience working with outside community resources. It requires a knowledge of the Rocketship Milwaukee community. It requires a knowledge of local partnerships and social services. It requires skills in the areas of program design, project management, influence, and ability to build relationships with key stakeholders. This position requires managerial experience as well as experience interacting effectively with school-level administrators, and parents and families.

Essential Functions:

• • Duties will include, but not be limited to:
  • Design, develop, and execute implementation of a wrap around program for families across our 2 Milwaukee school sites in order to support students with the highest level of need
  • Develop partnerships with external stakeholders and community resources related to housing, budgeting, career and education, immigration, childcare, health care, and more
  • Identify and secure resources that support the various needs of Rocketeers (health, dental, financial, immigration, etc.); Manage relationships with external stakeholders providing services in Rocketship schools
  • In collaboration with School Leaders and Central NeST Team, develop partnerships by establishing and implementing protocols to manage and maintain quality, deep and focused partnerships such that everyone on the school site is working towards common goals for student success and wellness.
  • Recruit and train parents to engage in leadership and organizing work through participation in a Parent Organizing Committee. Educate parent organizers in the achievement gap and other local education equity issues and support them in developing initiatives to advocate and partner with local public officials and community leaders to address them and ensure the voices of our families are heard in decision-making spaces.
  • Consistently meet with parents and families one-on-one to support their individual community leadership development and participation in community organizing and advocacy efforts
  • Facilitate training, parent meetings, and gatherings virtually and in-person to present education issues, advocacy efforts, and engagement opportunities to both parents and school staff in order to ensure awareness and strong engagement from Rocketship families in important education initiatives.
  • Run voter registration and education initiatives, in partnership with parent organizers and school staff, in advance of local and federal elections to ensure families have the resources and support they need to exercise their right to vote and make informed voting decisions.
  • Maintain a close working relationship with other members of the Network Support Team (NeST-Rocketship's centralized office that operates in support of its schools and regions), the regional executive director, school leaders, family partnership, ISE Team, Parent Leadership Team, other MTSS Team members, and all school staff (teachers, school leaders, support staff, etc.)
  • Ensure the Milwaukee Regional Team is viewed as positive supports to the organization's mission that are fully aligned with Rocketship's Core Characteristics (Innovation, Pursuit of Excellence, Authenticity, Community, and Tenacity), and not as bureaucratic obstacles to serving the needs of the students

Qualifications:

• • Preferred: Master's in Education, Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or related experience
  • Fluent in Spanish (highly preferred)
  • 5+ years of community outreach experience supporting parents who have experienced trauma and/or crises (e.g., homelessness, domestic violence), and have deep knowledge of the resources available to families.
  • 2+ years of management or leadership experience (highly preferred)
  • 1+ years of community organizing or political advocacy experience (highly preferred)
  • Experience building rapport and partnership with community organizations and leaders (highly preferred)
  • Commitment to Rocketship's special education inclusion model and overall mission to close the achievement gap within our lifetime and experience supporting diverse learners
  • Communicator with strong writing and public speaking skills, and feel comfortable leading and facilitating large groups
  • Coach and advocate for others in a way that is compassionate, strength-based and non-judgmental
  • Embody empathy and embrace cultural differences; you recognize and know how to navigate groups and individuals representing a range of needs, abilities and socioeconomic backgrounds
  • Balance multiple priorities - meeting with families, preparing for sessions, entering data - gracefully and with practiced personal organization and time management
  • Natural problem solver, fixer and finder of resources; in moments of tension, you defuse and resolve conflict
  • Extremely self-aware and self motivated, and have a strong desire to learn.
  • Comfortable in ambiguity and environments that change rapidly
  • Recognize that working with families often requires work on evenings and weekends
  • Familiarity with socio-emotional learning competencies, trauma informed education practices, multi-tiered systems of supports (MTSS), and restorative practices a plus
  • Strong organizational skills as demonstrated by the ability to effectively manage multiple tasks
  • Thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment Ability to be flexible and adaptive in a work environment that is still evolving
  • Perform a variety of specialized and responsible tasks: maintain records, establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, parents, other school personnel, meet schedule and compliance deadlines
  • Possession of a valid Wisconsin driver's license: willingness to provide own transportation in conduct of work assignments as you will be required to travel from site to site to work with students and faculty at all sites (mileage reimbursed)

COVID-19:

Rocketship is committed to the health and safety of our Rocketeers and complies with federal and state vaccine guidelines. For this reason, Rocketship is requiring employees in most regions, including National, California, District of Columbia, and Wisconsin employees, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Tennessee and Texas regions are not included in this requirement. Under this requirement, applicable employees are subject to vaccination as a condition of employment or subject to religious or medical exemptions.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with both adults and children. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally climb ladders. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to high.

Compensation:

Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent health and wellness benefits, 403b retirement plan, flexible spending account (FSA), and generous paid time off.

Rocketship Public Schools provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Rocketship Public Schools complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Rocketship Public Schools expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Rocketship Public Schools' employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated. Click here for our Sexual Harassment Policy and here for our Title IX Policy . For questions, concerns, or complaints, please contact Equity/Discrimination Title IX Compliance Officer, Address: 350 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 109, Redwood City, CA 94065. Phone: 877-806-0920 ext. 115.