Student Support Specialist

Job Description

The student support team provides coverage throughout the building and building grounds (including the grounds outside of the building) to provide a safe, supportive and nurturing environment for both students and staff. Student Support supports the day to day positive school culture environment by building strong relationships/mentorships with affective and tangible supports for students, overseeing disciplinary issues in the school, communicating, problem solving and working closely with staff and families to ensure student success through their understanding and adherence with school policies. Student support team will coordinate with student engagement department, school social workers, education, SPED and other departments, case-managers, advisors to assist and support dis-engaged students with a goal of re engagement. This includes assisting with ensuring students have an active personal learning plan/IEP, schedule, technology and also food, and proper clothing through one on one conversations and deliveries as needed to students who are highly mobile or unable to come to the school to receive these resources. Also provide student transportation with at least one other staff member when needed and approved by the executive director.

Daily Activities/Responsibilities

Responsible for performing duties including assisting in creating a positive learning environment for all students. Establishing strong relationships/mentorships with students and families; acquaint student support staff with students with knowledge on how to access student PLP’s/IEP’S; establish strong and collaborative interdepartmental communications; resolve conflicts that interfere with student learning and supports using cultural competencies and conflict resolution/mediation best practices; incorporate Check and Connect practices; initiate and manage affinity student group meetings and activities focused on overcoming barriers to learning; report and respond to matters related to student conflict or infractions; manage students being sent out of the school building and suspensions with final decisions made by executive director; transport students when necessary and approved by executive director in accordance with student transportation policies.

● The goal of the student support team is to provide for a supportive and safe learning environment.

● Student support helps secure the lobby, works with the front desk to check bags, provides coverage throughout the building and outside.

● Student support attends all care team meetings, visit and/or sit in advisories, classes, studios, gym and all spaces visited by students and may carry a small caseload of students.
● The student support team oversees day-to-day disciplinary issues in the school and works closely with student engagement, special education team, operations director, and executive director to ensure compliance of our school policies. Student Support will recommend students being sent home and suspensions to the executive director for final decisions. Student Support will provide and keep necessary documentation and records on all necessary student disciplinary matters and forward such documentation to the executive director for final approvals.
Student support team will always communicate with the student's advisor/SPED team if a student disciplinary matter may lead to the student being sent home or suspended. This communication with the advisor or SPED must happen immediately after a situation is safe to communicate.Students less than 18 will also have their families called if they are being considered to be sent home.
Student support will always convene a reentry meeting for students sent home or suspended before being let into the general population. Advisors/SPED and families will always be invited into these meetings. The purpose of these meetings are to restore the student back into the general population through responsibility and restoration through team problem solving, including with the student.

● Student support team also assists with school events, field trips, necessary student transportation needs approved by executive director, home visits,delivery of homework, technology,food,and critical supplies when necessary for students who are highly mobile or unable to come into our school building and receive school assistance or resources.

● Student support makes regular rounds and observe learning spaces and the student environment.

● Student support takes attendance and identifies students with attendance issues and holds regular retention meetings to help keep students off the drop list by reaching out to disengage students and students who are hard to reach.

● The student support team coordinates with the student engagement department, the school social work team, teachers, case managers, advisers and other support staff to assist and support them in the implementation of our school culture.

Student support team does end of the day rounds to make sure that the building is clear of all students at the end of the school day.

Qualifications

Applicants should be self-starters, excited for collaboration, be able to work with a variety of staff and students
Experience working with adolescents, youth agencies, social services, and school systems. - Experience with conflict mitigation through restorative practices.
Ability and willingness to work with families in a non-blaming approach.
- Advocacy skill, including good communication skills and the ability to negotiate, compromise, and confront conflict.
- Organizational skill, flexibility and ability to work in a variety of settings. Ability to work independently.

Institution Description

High School for Recording Arts is defined by its commitment to find and nurture the genius and creativity of every student despite any life challenges or setbacks. Our school is built around the recognition that every learner has special talents and strengths, passionate interests, impactful personal experiences, and unique perspectives on the world and learning. Our aim is to actively recruit students that have dropped out, are over-aged and under-credited, or have not found success in the traditional educational system. To better reach this traditionally neglected or abandoned group, we believe in creating a dynamic educational culture rooted in positive relationships, Hip Hop, the arts, and creativity that inspires our students to transcend individual barriers to success.

Application Instructions/Comments

Please cover letter and resume to:
Maureen Foss
maureen@hsra.org

Saintanne Tipton
saintanne@hsra.org