Arlington Public Schools - VA Is Hiring A Bilingual Family Specialist

Join Our Team as a Bilingual Family Specialist! 🌟

Human Resources is excited to announce an opening for a 1.0 FTE Bilingual Family Specialist at Long Branch Elementary. This vital role bridges bicultural families with Arlington Public Schools, fostering relationships, cultural understanding, and community involvement.

Position Overview

This role acts as a liaison, supporting families through communication facilitation, resource sharing, and parental empowerment, ensuring a strong connection between families and the school district.

Responsibilities 🎯

• Welcoming & Enrollment: Assist new immigrant families with enrollment, school tours, and sharing key information about school and district programs. Build connections with staff, families, and the community.
• Communication Management: Confidentially handle messages, questions, and responses from parents and staff in a timely manner.
• Parent Workshops: Lead bilingual workshops to enhance parents’ understanding of school expectations, navigation skills, leadership confidence, and academic monitoring.
• Academic Planning Support: Help parents engage in planning for their child's school success.
• Outreach Programs: Plan and deliver community events, meetings, presentations, and workshops for families and staff, including one-on-one consultations and mass communications.
• Parent Groups & Advocacy: Establish and maintain parent meetings to explore interests and needs, promoting leadership and participation.
• Resource Connection: Link families to resources for academic, behavioral, mental health, and family support, located within schools, districts, or the community.
• Family Support: Assist with emergencies, medical, transportation needs, or other urgent situations through coordination with staff or organizations.
• Technological Assistance: Support parents with accessing platforms like ParentVUE, report cards, and student learning tools.
• Interpretation & Communication: Interpret at school meetings, facilitate parent conferences, and train staff in communication tools such as Language Line or Talking Points.
• District Engagement: Guide parents through surveys, questionnaires, and engagement activities to ensure diverse voices are represented.
• Professional Development: Attend training sessions, collaborate with central office staff, and support PTA meetings.
• Other Duties: Perform additional tasks to support families and the school community as needed.

Qualifications & Experience 📚

• Required: High School Diploma or G.E.D., plus two (2) years of experience in social services, community relations, or related fields.
• Preferred: Bachelor's Degree in Sociology, Psychology, Social Work, or Education, with three (3) to five (5) years of relevant experience.
• Language Skills: Bilingual proficiency in English and the target language, demonstrated through a passing assessment score (oral and written).

Salary 💰

Hourly rate based on the 26/27 pay plan.