Elementary School Navigator

The Elementary School Education Navigator is a new and critical position within HSVS’ American Dream Program. The Elementary School Education Navigator will provide quality, data-driven, individualized educational support to students in foster care and their families from grades K-5th. The Elementary School Education Navigator will work with the case planning team, students, families, and school staff to connect students with the services they need to raise their level of educational achievement and ensure that key transitions receive proper attention, particularly the middle selection process, tutoring support, school transfers, enrollment, and transportation. They will also be responsible for monitoring data, using data to help inform interventions, and inputting data into HSVS’ systems. Additionally, create a calm, trauma-informed environment, and adopt a non-judgmental, strengths-based, and collaborative approach to working with the students and families.

Job Responsibilities:

• Manage a caseload of all K-5th grade students in foster care to ensure students are receiving proper educational supports and are doing well academically.
• Work with the Caseworker, foster parent, birth parent/caretaker, and tutors to address any educational concerns.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with the schools; provide advocacy on behalf of the child(ren)/youth.
• Ensure school stability if a student is relocating homes.
• Provide individualized, in-home assistance to all 5th grade students and their families with the middle school selection process each year to help ensure students enter quality, best-fit middle schools.
• Review NYC Department of Education (NYC DOE) monthly data, attendance, and transcripts to identify struggling students; work with youth, case workers, and parents to ensure improved attendance, and/or provide additional academic supports.
• Connect students who are below grade level to quality tutoring.
• Arrange referrals for IEP evaluations and behavioral/academic supports within the school.
• Negotiate with DOE staff to ensure the implementation of recommended and appropriate educational services.
• Connect K-5 students and families to afterschool programs and summer activities.
• Complete Tutoring referrals, and monitor their performance by observing tutoring sessions, reviewing progress notes to ensure tutoring sessions are quality and taking place on a consistent basis.
• Review NYC Department of Education (NYC DOE) monthly data, attendance, and transcripts to identify struggling students; work with youth, case workers, and parents to ensure improved attendance, and/or provide additional academic supports: Track K-5 School data, goals, and steps monthly on excel spreadsheet tracker. Complete comprehensive progress notes on the K-5 Tracker and on Connections by the assigned deadlines.
• Participate and engage in weekly, monthly, and ongoing virtual and in-person agency-wide, Youth Development, and Education Team, ACS, Fair Futures, Advocates for Children, professional development, and DOE related meetings, training, events, programs, and workshops.
• Collaborate with the Transportation Liaison to connect all youth in grades K-5th to transportation, communicating with foster parents and transportation vendor to ensure youth are picked up and dropped off at the correct time, and locations. Submit progress notes transportation vendor invoice to Transportation Liaison.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Social Work, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Minimum of two years working with youth, preferably in foster care, education, advocacy, or within the NYC Department of Education (NYC DOE).
• Strong understanding of the NYC DOE system, special education services, and middle school selection process.
• Experience in academic support services, including IEP referrals, tutoring coordination, and school advocacy.
• Ability to review and analyze attendance, academic performance, and DOE data to identify and support struggling students.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for tracking student progress and goals.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills to work effectively with foster parents, birth parents/caretakers, caseworkers, and school staff.
• Strong problem-solving and advocacy skills to ensure school stability and the implementation of appropriate educational supports.
• Organizational and time management skills to meet deadlines for documentation, progress notes, and program requirements.
• Ability to engage in professional development, training, and meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel within NYC for school visits, in-home assistance, and meetings.

Benefits:

At HeartShare we offer a comprehensive benefit package based on full-time/part-time status. You can expect:

• Paid time off (holidays, vacation in accordance with school calendar, sick and personal)
• Professional development opportunities
• Team environment
• Medical and dental benefits
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Optional insurance (life, disability, etc.)
• 403(B) retirement plans
• Flexible spending account (dependent care, medical, parking, and transit)
• Employee assistance program

HeartShare is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). If you need to request accommodation during the recruiting process, please reach out to Leaves@heartshare.org.

About HeartShare

For over 100 years, HeartShare has dedicated itself to improving the lives of people needing special services and support. The HeartShare team, now 2,100 employees and growing, helps individuals develop to their fullest potential and lead meaningful and enriched lives.

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