Treehouse Hiring for Education Specialist Job at Washington State Full Time

Positions currently available in West Seattle, Tukwila, Kent, Bellevue, Federal Way, Clover Park, Spokane.

About Treehouse: Treehouse is a rapidly growing nonprofit with a 30-year history of addressing the academic and other essential support needs of children, youth, and young adults experiencing foster care. Our services operate throughout Washington State, and we are an emerging leader in the national foster care conversation.

Nationwide only about half of youth in foster care graduate from high school. That’s why Treehouse partners with youth in care statewide as they set and achieve goals to earn their diplomas and make plans for the future.

Join a team that is passionately committed to youth succeeding. With a mission of giving kids and youth in foster care a childhood and a future, we provide education-focused coaching. We partner to offer experiences and essentials that foster community connections, exploration, and growth. We fight for systems changes and join forces to pass landmark reforms that reduce inequities responsible for unjust barriers.

Well-loved, community-based, and fiercely optimistic, Treehouse is uniquely positioned to partner with youth, schools, organizations, caregivers, social workers, and funders. Together, we improve outcomes from childhood through high school graduation and beyond, including a successful launch into adulthood.

About the Position: The Education Specialist will work closely with high school administration, faculty, and staff, as well as the Department of Children Youth & Families and community partners, to support a caseload of youth experiencing foster care. The Educational Specialist partners with youth to develop goals and support plans that allow youth to experience high school on par with their peers and reach on-time high school completion. Specialists will meet with youth weekly to provide educational support, offer coaching and mentoring services while identifying and allocating needed resources. Education Specialists will regularly monitor youth attendance, behavior, and course performance through the use of school district data interfaces such as Skyward. They will perform personalized, timely interventions focused on problem-solving, skill-building, goal setting, and academic achievement. Specialists will work closely with youth and their support teams to assist youth in developing and implementing a post-high school plan for their future. Meet the Treehouse Class of 2021: https://www.treehouseforkids.org/classof2021/

Essential Functions:

• Manage an assigned youth caseload in designated schools, using established case procedures.
• Effectively build psychologically safe and affirming working relationships with assigned youth.
• Using an equity lens, review educational history and systematically evaluate the educational needs of each youth on your caseload through regular interaction with youth, caregivers, social workers, school staff, and other service providers.
• Assess each youth’s needs using established measurement tools.
• With each youth, establish and monitor progress on Student-Centered Plan for High School completion and the future.
• Acquire consent forms, collect school records and administer required pre/post-tests on schedule.
• Monitor Attendance, Behavior, and Course Performance (ABC) for risk factors and facilitate interventions to address risks as necessary. Coach/mentor youth on problem-solving, self-advocacy, academic mindset, self-regulation, persistence, and positive behavior.
• Inform and encourage each youth to be involved in the appropriate school or community-based activities. Refer youth for resources to support education, social/emotional development, or other needs.
• Provide advocacy around school enrollment and continuity, appropriate education services, and appropriate discipline.
• Work closely with appropriate individuals/groups to help ensure each youth’s educational rights are upheld under federal and Washington State law.
• Schedule and facilitate interagency meetings, negotiate services, facilitate transportation plans, assist with credit transfer or retrieval, negotiate disciplinary appeals, etc.
• Manage effective working relationships at assigned school buildings with school personnel.
• Develop and support an appropriate team for every youth by building effective ongoing relationships with social workers, caregivers, school staff, and other collaborators.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and updated case records for each youth in the program’s database.
• Provide reports to social workers and caregivers.

Secondary Functions:

• Provide recommendations on success stories to represent organizational mission upon request.
• Attend all-staff and team meetings.
• Supervise assigned volunteers to support the needs of youth on your caseload.
• Support overall Treehouse operations as an ambassador for the mission.
• Attend trainings and workshops as requested.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education, General Education, School Counseling, or Social Services related field or equivalent work experience.
• 2 years experience providing educational or social services support to youth.
• Experience providing affirming and engaging support services to youth and caregivers from diverse and traditionally underserved or historically marginalized populations, including students of color, low-income students, or students with disabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to build working relationships with individuals of various ages, cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, and abilities.
• Ability to set boundaries and utilize support services to manage the personal impact of working with youth who have been placed at risk.
• Ability to maintain records and data to support effective evaluation processes and analysis, and use program data to inform decision making and service delivery strategies.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to multi-task and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours.
• Regular attendance and punctuality are required.
• Must thrive working independently outside of a business office while maintaining relationships with coworkers and managers.
• Ability and aptitude with Microsoft Office Suite and other technology necessary for successful day-to-day functioning in a business environment.
• Reliable transportation, and if driving on Treehouse business, a current driver’s license and at least minimum WA State driver insurance coverage are required.
• Must clear nationwide criminal background check and driving record background check.Preferred

• Professional experience working with or advocating for youth experiencing foster care or youth from other vulnerable populations.
• Knowledge of educational and community resources available to promote educational attainment for youth.

Physical and Mental Requirements:

• Mental Effort – Requires attention to detail, interacting with others in-person, through email, and via web conferencing, using critical thinking and listening skills, and active participation at meetings.
• Physical Requirements – May include long periods of sitting, working on a computer, accessing various work areas on multiple floors. Walking to various work areas, going up and downstairs, talking using the phone, working with other office/computer equipment, attending meetings, and sitting at desk or table while listening, talking, and taking notes.
• Working Conditions – This position primarily works remotely and independently at multiple schools and public settings. Frequently visits and attends meetings in a business office environment. The Treehouse office building is a dog-friendly work environment.

As of October 18, 2021, Treehouse staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as indicated by the CDC. If hired, you will be required to submit proof of vaccination on the first day of hire. Staff may make requests for a reasonable accommodation based on a medical disability or for sincerely held religious beliefs that would not cause undue hardship or pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.

Please apply here: https://www.treehouseforkids.org

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.32 – $22.58 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

COVID-19 considerations:
Treehouse staff are required to be fully vaccinated and to wear masks when in public settings. Masks, sanitizer and other protection equipment is supplied to employees.

Education:

• Associate (Preferred)

Experience:

• providing education or social services support to youth: 2 years (Required)

Work Location: Multiple Locations