Parent Liaison – Nature Explore Classroom

The Nature Explore Classroom Parent Liaison, under the general supervision and direction of the building administrator, acts as a public relations liaison between the school and parents/families by planning, coordinating, communicating and facilitating parent involvement activities within the Nature Explore Center that empowers parents to become active participants in the education of their children and helps parents to support their children’s learning in the Nature Explore Center and at home; recruits, trains and coordinates parents and community members in volunteer opportunities; provides information in order to encourage communication with parents/families and school administration; monitors and makes recommendations in landscaping and maintenance, and assists with the budgeting and accounting of fundraising dollars.

Job Summary:

1. Recruits, trains, and coordinates parents and community members in volunteer opportunities; works with the administration, teachers, Advisory Councils, and other staff to determine volunteer needs; contacts and assigns appropriate volunteers; and maintains records of volunteer assignments/hours, including maintaining background check information for parent and community member volunteers as needed.

2. Develops and implements programs and activities designed to engage parents/families and learners in Nature Classroom best practices with approval from administration and in collaboration with teachers, advisory councils, and other staff; coordinates and organizes parents and community members in volunteer opportunities based upon landscaping and maintenance needs and Nature Classroom programming needs, including, but not limited to weeding, planting, hauling, and events; coordinates with department marketing to connect with parents and community members to serve on the Nature Explore Classroom committee or to attend special events at school; serves as a contact person for parents to call with questions about the Nature Explore Classroom or specific activities and events.

3. Assists administration with the budgeting and accounting for Nature Explore Classroom purchases; operates Nature Explore Classroom activities within a defined budget.

4. Attends meetings and participates as a member of the District’s Parent Involvement Committee and program committees as needed; provides updates and shares information regarding activities, obtains feedback, gathers information and direction in order to plan and implement activities, and provides input.
    

Qualifications:

1. Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.

2. Relevant experience working with parents/students/families and/or community members.

3. Demonstrated understanding of class and cultural backgrounds of families and how to work effectively with families from different class and cultural backgrounds; ability to think and act in ways that respect ethnic, cultural and language diversity.

4. Ability to communicate effectively – both oral and written – with teachers, parents/families, administrators, and students.

5. Effective interpersonal skills; ability to communicate via a variety of means (e.g., telephone, email, etc.) to solicit and communicate information and recruit volunteers.

6. Ability to advocate for children and parents/families; interest in parent/family involvement in schools.

7. Ability to organize time, materials/resources, and people effectively.

8. Ability to delegate work effectively.

9. Experience with gardening and landscaping maintenance.

10. Experience with event and activity planning

Application Procedure:
Apply online

Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our qualifications described.

Equity is one of ISD728’s core values and is essential to our goal of putting children first to ensure college and career readiness. A diverse workforce fuels innovation and allows us to better understand, communicate with, and educate our students. ISD728 will not deny anyone the opportunity for training or employment because of sex, race, religion, color, creed, national origin, marital status, age, sexual preference, disability, or status with regard to public assistance.