Education Specialist

POSITION: Education Specialist

REPORTS TO: Children’s Services-Education\Workforce Supervisor (Fair

Futures)

COMPANY: Lutheran Social Services of New York

CLASSIFICATION: Full-Time

EXEMPT/NONEXEMPT: Exempt ANNUAL SALARY: $50,000- $55,000

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
The Education Specialist provides educational advocacy, conducts academic proactive performance

monitoring, ensures students are receiving the support they need to succeed and makes referrals

to quality tutoring and extracurricular activities. The Education Specialist also provides

individualized assistance with school selection processes to students and their families. The

Specialist will ensure the applications of schools the student submits are quality, best fit. As part of

a team, the Educational Specialist coordinates with Case Planners, Socio-therapist, Foster Parents,

and other Treatment Team members on the student’s academic progress and follows up on any

needs or concerns.

MAJOR RESPONSIBLITIES:
Approach work with a positive attitude, with an ethic of service and integrity rooted in the

values, mission, vision, and philosophy of Lutheran Social Services of NY (LSSNY).

Understand that the focus of all LSSNY’s work is for the betterment of those LSSNY serves.

Comply willingly with all organizational policies and procedures and support all functions

that attain and maintain accreditation and compliance with regulatory agencies.

Contribute to organizational excellence at the individual, team, department, divisional, and

agency wide levels.

Exhibit integrity, professionalism, and respect both in the workplace and in the

communities we serve.

SKILLS & ABILITIES:
Ability to navigate complex educational issues, be resourceful, and work

independently.

Ability to organize time and prioritize responsibilities to plan and carry out all

duties.

Ability to effectively collaborate in team settings and build relationships with

external partners.

Duties:
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with schools; provide advocacy on

behalf of students.

Work with Case Planner, foster parent, birth parent/caregiver and tutor to address

educational concerns.

Advocate for both long-term individualized interventions for students with

complex or ongoing educational needs and targeted short-term support to ensure

that every student has access to a particular service or opportunity.

Request that the school make referrals for IEP evaluations and

behavioral/academic support within the school.

Negotiate with DOE staff to ensure the implementation of recommended and

appropriate educational and counseling services.

Secure representation for the students who have, or are at risk of, receiving a

suspension.

Ensure school stability if a student is relocating homes, in consultation with the

Case Planner and parent.

Provide individualized guidance to ensure that the schools the students are

applying to are quality, best-fit schools.

Work with community resources including in-home quality tutoring programs,

mental health services, afterschool programs and extracurricular services, to

ensure students receive assistance on a broad spectrum that fosters continued

success educationally as well as emotionally.

Participates in professional development, including those mandated by the

program/funders/agency.

Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal rules and regulations, including HIPPA.

Other duties as required by direct supervisor or needs of the program/agency

QUALIFICATIONS:
Master's in education preferred. Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field is

required.

At least two years of education-related experience in an instructional, administrative, or

advocacy-related position.

Must be willing to travel to various NYC (New York City) boroughs.

Experience working with students and families in foster care is strongly preferred.

Bilingual Spanish preferred.

Basic competency in Microsoft Office for Windows applications is required.