Community School Coordinator - Distinctive Schools

Title: Community School Coordinator
Location: CICS Longwood HS - 1309 W 95th St, Chicago, IL 60643
Reports To: Principal
Salary Range: Starting at $60,000, commensurate with experience
Employee Type: Regular Full Time
Start Date: March 2025

Distinctive Schools creates diverse, joyful, welcoming communities rooted in social justice and rigorous learning. We support all learners to be engaged, curious, and to achieve their full potential. Our students become confident advocates, creative problem-solvers, and collaborative leaders.

Position Overview

The Community School Coordinator (CSC) provides leadership and vision in the ongoing planning, development, direction, and evolution of the community school. This person is responsible for transforming the school into a comprehensive community school. The CSC partners with the school principal and the school-based instructional leadership team (ILT) to identify the school community’s assets and needs and develop a continuum of student and family services, and create a thriving Community School partnership that supports students and families, connects the school to the community, and fosters an atmosphere of academic excellence, inclusivity, and collective responsibility. The CSC facilitates the development and implementation of the strategic plan in collaboration with school and community members/partners; oversees the alignment of assets with needs; and manages the integration of before and after school programs and wraparound services with the academic program and schedule. The Coordinator may also engage in fundraising activities.

Responsibilities

Culture

• Build and foster positive and professional relationships with all stakeholders - students, staff, families, and community members
• Honor community and stakeholder input when making decisions
• Foster positive climate and culture
• Maintain visibility with all stakeholders
• Represent the school and the organization at community events to gain real-time insights into how to forge sustainable partnerships in service of the Community School

Program Planning and Management 75%

• Meet regularly with the school principal to advise on how to integrate partners and community members into existing school structures
• Meet regularly with the Deputy Chief of Engagement and the Director of Engagement and Community Schools to research and secure academic and non-academic opportunities
• Oversee all program partners providing before- and/or after-school and weekend services at the community school
• Plan and make recommendations for the implementation of high quality program activities that meet the mission and vision of the program and align to the needs of the community
• Leverage community assets and partnerships to provide resources and learning opportunities for families
• Identify, collect, and disseminate family resources that meet the community’s identified needs
• Align resources and partnerships to Campus Growth Plan goals and priorities.
• Seek and collect feedback from teachers, staff, families, and students to identify ongoing needs of students and families
• Respond to families questions and concerns in partnership with the school principal
• Assume responsibility for additional school programs based on principal and network team requests
• Manage before/aftercare staff members to assure they have training, information, and materials needed
• Communicate with school staff, before/aftercare staff, students, and families on scheduling, space, time, and logistics

Leadership Development 15%

• Attend and participate in regional and network professional development sessions
• Actively research and pursue in potential community partnership opportunities
• Seek and be receptive to professional feedback as a way to continually grow
• Represent Distinctive Schools and the campus at community events as a way to bolster partnerships and elevate the school’s presence
• Attend weekly instructional leadership team (ILT) meetings
• Contribute to the creation and execution of the Campus Growth Plan (CGP)
• The Community School Coordinator’s leadership practice will be measured and developed using a leadership framework

Enrollment Support 10%

• Support campus and DS Recruitment and Enrollment pipeline
• Creatively and confidently connect with families, informing and inspiring them to share their story about DS and the campus
• Collaborate with campus recruitment, enrollment leads, and Deputy Chief of Engagement
• Assist with the recruitment and enrollment events throughout the year (including summer)

Requirements (minimum)

Education: Bachelor’s Degree social work, counseling, education or related field

Qualifications

• 5 years’ teaching experience
• 3 years’ school leadership experience
• 5 years of experience working with children in educational, activity or social service including experience facilitating supportive and social emotional programming to youth and adolescents
• Experience working within a school setting, and functioning as team leader of a group of stakeholders, including school administration, faculty, and support service personnel
• Experience with community engagement; negotiating with a variety of stakeholders, leading shared decision-making and problem solving
• Technology demands:
  • Proficient with cloud based software solutions (such as GoogleSuite)
  • Ability to learn digital tools and programs as needed for the position
• Long standing member of the local community

Physical demands

• Ability to maintain a flexible schedule that includes evenings and some weekends
• Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 30% sitting, 50% walking, and 20% standing

Benefits

• 25+ Paid holidays & 15 days PTO annually
• 12 weeks family paid leave
• Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• 403b match
  • Fully match up to 3%
  • 50% match up to 5%
• Professional development including tuition reimbursement
• Gym and wellness discounts
• And more

Description Disclaimer: Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.

EEO:

Distinctive Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other personal characteristic protected by applicable law.

Distinctive Schools is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Distinctive Schools will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact talent@distinctiveschools.org or call 773.828.4191