Family Engagement Coordinator

About La Escuela Comunitaria del Bronx

La Escuela Comunitaria del Bronx (ECB) is a free, private and progressive inquiry-based,  dual language (Spanish-English) program that seeks to serve families and their children in the Bronx. Beginning with early childhood education, ECB seeks to promote student learning success and impactful community engagement by providing a challenging instructional program, expanded learning opportunities for both students as well as their advocates, and a full range of health and social services for members of the school community.  ECB opened in the Fall of 2023 with students in toddler classes  (2s/ 3s)  and will grow serving 5 year olds.  The Family Engagement Coordinator will play a pivotal role as a member of ECB, who values early childhood, play-based learning, inclusive practices, and multilingual development.  This is an amazing opportunity for dedicated individuals who thrive in an autonomous environment, are passionate about child and family work, and are seeking to form relationships with students and families. We  aim to provide a holistic approach to early childhood care and education, including health, nutrition, and support services. To learn more about our program, please visit www.ecbnyc.org.

Mindsets, Roles and Responsibilities:

The Family Engagement Coordinator (FEC)
is a  trusted community member who coordinates closely with ECB’s School Leadership and has extensive local knowledge and credibility. This staff member will be responsible for coordinating and/or facilitating support to ECB students and their families.  The FEC works hand-in-hand with the Social Worker,  teachers and families, to foster child and family well being. They build trusting relationships with families and provide services that are responsive to each family’s individual living situation, cultures, beliefs, values, languages, practices, and traditions. The FEC supports families to identify their strengths and available resources to work toward their goals for their children's development and family’s well-being. They will serve as the school’s family liaison, and be responsible for organizing parent groups. The FEC will:

• Engage families and caregivers in understanding and supporting the education of their children


• Implement the parent engagement and education program, supporting the families in their role as the primary influence on the children's lives


• Connect students and their families to a range of preventative, early intervention and intensive service programs that address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development of each child.


• Collaborate with school staff, including classroom teachers, to implement and promote the services.


• Develop and enhance partnerships with community agencies to meet the identified needs of students, families, and the school.


• Provide comprehensive community resource information to families, individualizing to respond to the family’ needs and concerns to the maximum extent possible.


• Collect child and family data and accurately enter into program online platforms in a timely manner


• Maintain attendance records, communicate absences with classroom staff, provide appropriate follow up when absences are frequent and communicate with HOS.


• Assess each family’s need for social services, develop a plan that responds to the family’s needs; deliver and/or coordinate the delivery of needed social services for each family


• Track and follow up on all referrals made in and out of school for families 


• Act as a teaching team resource 


• Performs other related duties, as required for the success of the program
  

Professional Qualifications:

Required:

• Complete Fluency in Spanish & English


• Associate or Bachelors in Human Services or Related Discipline


• Some experience working with children birth- five years old and their families


• Experience using data to guide practice


• Evidence of culturally competent practices


• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse staff, a diverse preschool student body and their families, as well as service providers within and outside the school.


• Initiative to take on a leadership role in the program and willingness to be a team player


• Strong computer and data entry skills


• Knowledge and familiarity of the community being served. 


• Proof of completion of  NYC DoH mandated workshops including but not limited to Mandated Reporter, Family Engagement, Health & Safety, Identifying and Responding to Anaphylaxis: Elijah’s Law

Preferred:

• Experience working in a progressive ECE Program


• Experience working with immigrant and multilingual families


• Experience working with children identified with developmental delays/disabilities


• An understanding of best practices in early childhood family engagement and curriculum, and/or willingness to build knowledge and skills in these areas

ECB offers a comprehensive benefits package including: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Retirement.