Equity Specialist – American Indian Education

Job Summary: Under the direction of Coordinator of Indian Education, the Indian Education Equity Specialist enhances student learning by helping students, parents, teachers, administrators, and other school staff to center racial equity and cultural relevancy into student engagement, parent engagement, community engagement, and staff development. Furthermore, to build and maintain supportive relationships that strengthen student and family connections to school and support the elimination of racial disparities, racial isolation, and to achieve equitable student achievement.

Responsibilities and tasks include:  

The primary role of the Equity Specialist is to engage students and families in programming that centers racial equity and cultural relevancy. An additional role is to provide staff development that centers racial equity and cultural relevancy. Duties include collaborating with teachers and other school staff to establish learning partnerships through youth and parent programming; collaborating with school administrators, teachers, human services teams, and other school staff to identify and connect with students who are in need of additional support; liaising and collaborating with school administrator, human services team, and community resources to identify and provide appropriate services for families that transform their schooling experience for equitable results; helping students and families engage their cultural capital to experience schooling in a transformative way; providing outreach services to encourage the involvement of families in transforming the system to ensure equitable student achievement for all; supporting classroom teachers by preparing site Equity Teams to engage in educational transformation that results in equitable student achievement and culturally relevant learning environments; managing data and developing report information; and communicating and collaborating with stakeholders. Lead and learn for racial equity and cultural relevancy in system departments and committees in order to engage in system equity transformation.

The American Indian Education Equity Specialist will provide guidance, leadership and support to schools and departments in the form of professional development, coaching, and other duties as assigned. Assistance provided to schools and district staff will align with the core beliefs of the American Indian education department that include the following:  Supporting and strengthening increased educational outcomes for American Indian students by promoting culturally responsive instruction, curriculum development, and assessment; family and student engagement; and partnerships with departments, schools and the broader community. 

American Indian Education empowers American Indian students and their families and enhances their potential through culture-based educational programming. The program reflects key values of families and staff:

1. Importance of our children;
2. Importance of education; and
3. Importance of American Indian culture and heritage. 

We are seeking candidates who possess demonstrated leadership skills within a school/district environment; have experience working with American Indian students and families; and be able to demonstrate experience in designing, implementing, and collaborating when providing adult training opportunities and professional development using Indigenous pedagogy and MN state standards. Qualified candidates should advocate for student learning, convey innovative ideas to teachers and school teams, provide strong interpersonal communication skills, utilize problem solving skills effectively, and guide teams towards equitable, evidence based instructional and culturally responsive practices.

Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Initiate, design and implement culturally specific professional development to district leaders, administrators, and both licensed and unlicensed staff who work within the district within approximately 30 schools with focus in the area of American Indian education.
• Build relationships with licensed staff in order to coach on: designing and implementing curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment (including progress monitoring and strategic interventions) which includes MN State Standards, specifically American Indian Standard requirements, into all student instruction, curriculum and assessment with intentional use of current student data that accelerates achievement and increases academic outcomes of American Indian students while promoting positive American Indian family engagement.
• Synthesize through collaboration all previous ISD 279 curriculum efforts and work with Learning & Achievement Team members in content areas to link specific materials and district standards.
• Research, recommend, and model how to implement academic, functional and social emotional evidence based practices to improve student outcomes within a school community.
• Research, recommend, model, and disseminate current research and best practice in all areas for learners in Indian Education with intense focus on literacy.
• Identify exemplary programs, supplemental components, learning materials and assessment methods for Indian Education.
• Increase parent and community awareness of curriculum initiatives for Indian Education.
• Assist the Coordinator, and other staff within the department, in conducting staff, student and parent information meetings regarding Indian Education initiatives and conducting needs assessments.
• Attend events and act on behalf of the Director and department as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications Include:

• Bachelor’s degree or 2 year college and 3-5 years related experience.  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree in Social Services/Social Work & Counseling, Education, Social Justice, Youth Studies, American Indian Studies or other related field of study

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities include: 

Salary:  $52,680 – $62,183 annually.  View salary grid on Page 2, Section 1 of the Salaried Professional’s contract
Job Type/Schedule: Full-time (40/hrs/week), School year, 186 days
Bargaining Unit: Salaried Professionals

Osseo Area Schools offers:

• Meaningful and impactful work 
• Opportunities to grow professionally
• A variety of benefits
• and more 
   

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: 

Osseo Area School District ISD 279 is an Equal Opportunity, and veteran-friendly employer.

Osseo Area School District ISD 279 ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. Osseo Area School District is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the district and strongly encourages persons to apply who can strengthen our diversity. For more information, view the District’s Equal Opportunity and Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment and Violence Policy. 

Veteran’s Preference: If you are an eligible veteran, please submit a legible copy of your DD214 with your application. 

Accommodation: If you have a disability that requires an accommodation during the selection process, please email Human Resources at HR@district279.org or call 763-391-7007.

Background Check Upon Conditional Offer: 

Background checks are conducted upon receiving a conditional offer. Employees must complete a background check and are responsible for the background fee. A passing background is required.  Criminal convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.