SUMMARY: Act as an intermediary and cultural /linguistic liaison for the students, their parents and/or guardians, schools, and agencies. Create a partnership with families, schools and communities to improve student, classroom, school, district and state outcomes with a shared responsibility of student success.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Provide training to schools regarding state initiatives on Parent Involvement in Education using best practice strategies to align with the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships. These include: Welcoming all families into the school community, communicating effectively, and supporting student success, speaking up for every child, sharing power, and collaborating with the community.

Promote student success through engagement for parent/family involvement in school including attendance, behavioral and academic issues.

Attend appropriate staff meetings and trainings at the district and state levels.

Act as an intermediary and linguistic/cultural liaison for students, parents/guardians, schools and agencies.

Facilitate communication, between students, parents/guardians, schools and agencies regarding school regulations, expectations, and cultural differences.

Provide translation and interpretation services for students, parents/guardians, school staff and for Parent Information Night meetings.

Make home visits and provide referrals and resource information for families.

Perform other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING: High school diploma/GED, or vocational school or short term courses.

EXPERIENCE: Up to and including two years of experience in the area of working with children, families and/or community agencies.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, & EQUIPMENT: Must be bilingual/ biliterate in native language and in English, basic computer skills and knowledge and use of the Internet. Ability to interact with families from diverse backgrounds (i.e. economically, culturally). Must pass translation/interpreter skills test (oral, reading and writing) of native language and English.

• Note: Some positions will indicate a preferred status regarding bilingual/biliterate skills.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, & REGISTRATIONS: Valid Colorado driver's license and car insurance required upon hire.

SUPERVISION/TECHNICAL RESPONSIBILITY: This job has no supervisory responsibilities. This position serves as a resource on a specific functional area such translation and interpretation for students, parents, staff throughout the District.

CONTACTS: Daily contact with persons in same unit/building to negotiate controversial or confidential matters, with persons outside department/building to maintain relationships, and with students to resolve problems or negotiate matters. May have weekly contact with parents to resolve problems or negotiate matters or extended family members to negotiate controversial or confidential matters.

SAFETY TO SELF AND OTHERS: Medium exposure of self to bruises due to typical minor school environment accidents.

The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below 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.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee is occasionally required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

MENTAL FUNCTIONS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to compare, analyze, communicate, coordinate, instruct, and use interpersonal skills. The employee is frequently required to synthesize, evaluate, and negotiate. The employee is occasionally required to copy, compute, and compile.

JUDGMENT AND DECISION MAKING: The responsibilities of this position are assigned by the Director of the ESL/Dual Language Programs. Position will negotiate sensitive and sometimes controversial matters between school staff and families. Must be an effective communicator and have the skills to resolve conflict, along with making sensitive decisions during these negotiations which balance the interests of both the families and school personnel. Requires a high level of independent judgment. Guidelines are established and provided by the District. Decisions are made conjunction with other home/school/community liaisons, principals, parents, teachers, ESL/Dual Language Administrator, ESL/DL Resource Teachers, and data technician. An error in decision making could cause inaccurate information to be given to families and to schools. This may occur if the person in this position does not ask the essential questions or incorrectly interprets information given by the family. The supervisor is involved occasionally in making decisions.

DIVERSITY OF DUTIES: The employee will have to attend trainings and workshops to acquire knowledge about District regulations and procedures. The employee will constantly interact and act as a cultural liaison with families, schools and various agencies' personnel in order to gather and then provide information about cultural differences and acculturation strategies, community services, and student achievement. The employee must be a sensitive negotiator and problem-solver.