Michigan Connections Academy (MICA) is a tuition-free, online public school serving students in grades K–12 throughout Michigan. MICA is authorized by Ferris State University Charter Schools Office and governed by an independent Board of Directors. The school is operated by Michigan Connections Academy, a nonprofit corporation, through a contract with CA of Michigan, LLC, to provide its educational program and other services. Connections Academy, a division of Connections Education, is accredited by AdvancED.
Position Summary
The Family & Community Outreach Coordinator will be responsible for developing school-based family engagement systems and activities that create strong supports for teaching, learning and student achievement. The MICA Family and Community Outreach Coordinator will be responsible for supporting families, teachers and the community in their efforts to assist students in achieving academic excellence as well as supporting the school’s marketing and customer service efforts. The coordinator will also provide support for “Club Orange”, the Connections Education caretaker program, and the MICA administration and board in outreach and support to families in communicating priorities and goals of the school, and engaging student and families in increasing their involvement and commitment to the school. This position, in conjunction with the principal and will focus on building the critical partnership between families and schools. Specifically, the Coordinator will work toward three goals:
- Improve parents’ levels of trust and support for their school by using proactive strategies to build relationships with parents and facilitate relationship building between staff and parents, and parents and parents.
- Enhance families’ capacity to support their children’s learning and serve as leaders in their children’s school.
- Work with staff, families and community organizations to create a school environment that is consistently welcoming to families.
The Family & Community Outreach Coordinator responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
- Coordinate new parent contacts, orientations and trainings.
- Assist with student truancy and engagement issues.
- Organize, strengthen and support of “Club Orange” in helping parents coordinate parent lead school, marketing and support activities.
- Lead the development, in conjunction with the MICA leadership team, and Implementation of the school's overall family engagement action plan.
- Assist the school marketing lead and Connections Education marketing department to develop and implement the yearly marketing plan.
- Work with the MICA Manager of Counseling Services to provide families with information on school, Connections Education and community support services. Work with the advisors to assist families in accessing appropriate resources that will support their child's learning.
- Collect information on and coordinate the participation in contests and competitive activities such as spelling bees, academic bowls, etc. including the development of sustainable competitive programs.
- Establish and maintain consistent, effective and timely communication with families, especially new families, in a variety of ways.
- Working with the principal and school staff, establish an environment in which families feel safe, welcomed and free to voice their opinions.
- Act as an advocate/liaison to assist parents and school staff to resolve issues at the school level. Serve as mediator when necessary, using respectful strategies to bring conflicts to resolution.
- Build and strengthen relationships with local community partners.
- Develop and maintain a current database of families at the school to support family engagement activities.
- Take part in ongoing training and professional development provided by MICA and Connections Education.
- Keep records of various activities to be used as part of the evaluation of the pilot project.
- Other duties specifically related to the engagement of families and the community as designated by the principal.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree or commensurate experience.
- Approximately 30% travel required
- Experience working with diverse communities.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage time well.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Experience in developing and/or leading workshops and trainings.
- Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
- Michigan Residency
Preferred:
- Bilingual capacity.
- Conflict resolution, mediation and/or negotiation skills.
- Experience in virtual school setting.
- Experience with school or community services coordination.
Michigan Connections Academy strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
