What are the responsibilities and job description for the Transitional Services Specialist position at Windham School District?
Title: Transitional Services Specialist
Wage/Hour Status: Exempt
Pay Group: A50 Salary Plan
Primary Purpose: Provide services to at risk youth to promote successful transition to secondary school completion and to facilitate further education or employment. Guide teachers, counselors, and administrators in the implementation of processes to enhance transition services. Assist in transition activities for students served in Title I programs. Support communication efforts with family members.
Qualifications
Education/Certification/Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Education, Psychology, Social Work, Criminal Justice, or related field.
Five years full-time, wage-earning experience in criminal justice, education, job placement or case work services.
Post graduate education may substitute for the required five years of experience on a year for year basis with a maximum substitution of four years.
Experience within a criminal justice system is preferred.
Experience in case management, reintegration planning, continuing education, job placement, or transitional services for at risk youth such as neglected, delinquent, and justice involved youth.
Special Knowledge/Skills:
Extensive knowledge of the labor market and job opportunities as it relates to formerly incarcerated individuals.
Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to convey ideas and instructions clearly and concisely.
Knowledge of counseling practices, preplacement programs and higher education services, alternative education programs, and job training and mentoring resources related to justice involved youth.
Knowledge of education agency operations and alternative education systems, special education requirements, child welfare, the juvenile justice system, housing, and job market data.
Skill in developing record keeping systems, and in organizing and maintaining accurate records.
Strong communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills with a diverse community.
Knowledge of Windham School District (WSD) organizational structure, policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
Ability to maintain a broad knowledge of secondary, post-secondary, and career related reintegration opportunities.
Major Responsibilities and Duties:
1. Provide guidance and assistance to teachers, counselors, administrators and other staff with implementation of transitional services in accordance with federal and state statutes and Windham policy.
2. Assess and monitor the progress of district initiatives for transitional services for underserved populations.
3. Provide transition casework services to at risk youth and parents/family members for youth incarcerated in Texas Department of Criminal Justice Youth Program (YOP) facilities, for the under 22 population at designated Title I campuses, and for the young adult population at additional campuses to include the provision of relevant information regarding local resources.
4. Assess needs of young adult learners so that students who are within two years of sentence completion are prioritized for services.
5. Coordinate effectively and collaboratively with other local education agencies, state agencies, TDCJ departments, businesses and industries for at risk youth with education, job training, and/or employment.
6. Prepare, maintain, and update the district's transition files and database.
7. Develop and provide professional development activities regarding transitional services as needed.
8. Research, evaluate, and recommend transitional resources, software, and equipment to meet the needs of at-risk youth in classrooms and other settings.
9. Prepare and update state-wide, county, and local transition information resources.
10. Travel extensively throughout the district.
11. Provide guidance and assist Special Education staff as needed to help with transitional services.
12. Coordinate the implementation of specialized projects and programs as assigned.
13. Implement the policies established by federal and state law, State Board of Education (SBOE) rules and board policy in the area of transition services under Title I.
14. Provide seminars, lectures, and class instruction on transitional topics for Title I eligible students.
15. Assist in the development, support, and monitoring of Title I programming components aligned with state guidance and regulations.
16. Promote parent and family involvement to provide a communication avenue and support.
Policy, Reports, and Law:
17. Maintain confidentiality in handling sensitive information received in the performance of the job duties.
18. Perform duties in a professional manner through daily, punctual attendance at location of work assignment.
19. Follow Windham School District policies and procedures in completing assigned job duties.
20. Execute duties in a professional manner through daily, punctual attendance at location of work assignment.
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Working Conditions
Additional Requirements With or Without Reasonable Accommodation
Mental Demands:
Ability to communicate (verbal and written), ability to instruct, ability to speak, ability to reason, ability to compile data, ability to interpret policy, ability to interpret procedures and data, ability to concentrate, ability to memorize, ability to alphabetize, ability to understand verbal and written instructions, ability to organize, ability to analyze, ability to maintain emotional control, ability to maintain confidentiality, ability to work with frequent interruptions.
Physical Demands:
Ability to perform full duties of position, lift and carry less than 31 pounds, walking, sitting, standing, climbing stairs and ramps, kneeling, stooping, reaching, hearing (with aid), visual acuity, speaking, extensive travel by car, van, or airplane, driving of car/van, distinguishing colors, occasional prolonged and irregular work hours.
Environmental Demands:
Work inside and outside, noise, radiant/electrical energy, work alone, work with others, around machines with moving parts and objects, possible exposure to microwaves in use, exposure to hot and cold temperatures, exposure to dust and cleaning chemicals.
The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.
