Indigenous Education Liaison

Brainerd Public Schools – Indigenous Education Student Liaison Role

Brainerd Public Schools is seeking a full-time Indigenous Education Student Liaison with cultural knowledge of local Indigenous communities and traditions to improve the educational experience and outcomes of Indigenous students in Brainerd Public Schools. 

The purpose of the position is to engage with students, staff and families to promote and support Indigenous student belonging, learning and well-being. The Student Liaison will work in partnership with district staff, Indigenous families, and students to advocate for a learning environment that reflects and welcomes their Indigenous cultures. 

The ideal candidate will have a proven ability to build reciprocal relationships with individuals from Indigenous communities and to foster collaboration with school staff. They will be an advocate for more equitable outcomes for Indigenous students, with attention to the academic, social-emotional, and college and career outcomes of the district’s Native American students. An ideal candidate will have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED and may have previous experience working with youth or in school settings as a mentor, educator, or other support staff. 

Who We Are

Brainerd Public Schools serves over 6,000 students per year across 516 square miles, including Cass, Crow Wing and Morrison Counties. Brainerd Public Schools has six elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and three alternative programming sites. The Indigenous Education Student Liaison serves more than 200 Native American students across these sites. 

What You’ll Do

The Indigenous Education Student Liaison is based at Brainerd High School and reports to the Brainerd High School Principal/ Brainerd Learning Center Principal. The Student Liaison will also work weekly at Forestview Middle School. The Student Liaison will collaborate frequently with the Indigenous Education Coordinator, various administrators, teachers, and staff. 

The Student Liaison is responsible for the following:

• Promote clear communication between school, students, and families

• Collaborate with teachers and other educators to ensure students’ needs are met with culturally appropriate support, intervention, etc. 

• Maintain communication with, and encouragement to individual students and groups

• Collaborate with families, district and building leaders to implement and support the goals and objectives of the Indigenous Education Program and state and federal grant requirements

• Support building leaders with implementing strategies for identifying Indigenous students

• Assist with the coordination and attendance at events and field trips as needed 

• Support transition needs (ie: middle school/high school, post-secondary and career preparation, etc.)

• Attend IEP and student-specific meetings to advocate for student needs following IDEA guidelines and working towards Dreamcatcher implementation

• Serve as Advisor to the Indigenous Peoples Club at Brainerd High School

• Involve families in planning and implementing Indigenous education activities 

The Student Liaison will also work closely with the Indigenous Education Coordinator and District Leadership on the following areas: 

• Supporting the organization of workshops, classroom/school presentations, and seminars on Indigenous traditions.

• Providing cultural competency guidance to assist teachers in gaining a greater awareness and understanding of the Native American culture.

• Supporting with the identification of vetted educational resources to support inclusion of Indigenous themes and topics in different academic content areas.

• Working collaboratively with district and site leaders to ensure that curriculum and instruction is relevant to the needs, interests and cultural heritage of American Indian Students.

• Participating in restorative practice training and promoting the use of restorative practices through an Indigenous lens. 

• Attending American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC) meetings. 

What Else You Should Know

Brainerd Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and we value having a diverse staff who come from communities that are most impacted by the Student Liaison role. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our qualifications described. 

The position is full-time, 40 hours per week and 10 months (184 work days) per year, and offices out of Brainerd High School. The role requires travel to sites within Brainerd Public Schools to meet with students, parents, and staff. The District will pay for all professional in-district  and out-of-district travel when an employee uses their personal vehicle for district business. This mileage will be reimbursed at the current IRS rate. The hourly wage for this position ranges from $19.67 to $24.26 with the exact wage dependent on education and experience. We also offer excellent benefits such as health insurance benefits, paid sick leave, paid personal leave and holidays, and 403(b) annuity matching program.