Parent Teacher Officer (PTO), SEAMAAC

Posted by on April 12, 2010

SEAMAAC, INC.
JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE:         Parent Teacher Officer (PTO)

DEPARTMENT:    Education

REPORTS TO:    Anti Truancy Intervention Prevention Services (ATIPS) Coordinator

JOB SCHEDULE:       15- 20 hours per week – flexible scheduling
Temporary (November 2009 – June 2010)

EXEMPTION STATUS:    Non-Exempt

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:
SEAMAAC’s mission is to support immigrants, refugees and their families as they seek access to opportunities which would advance the condition of their new lives in the United States.  In the Education Department, SEAMAAC offers a continuum of services to children and their families that honors cultural heritage and promote leadership.  Programming includes After-school/Summer Camp and Leadership Development for youth in Elementary and High Schools, family/community dinners and door-to-door outreach campaigns, as well as adult ESL programs.  Through collaboration with the Health and Social Services Department, SEAMAAC also offers intergeneration programming for elders and youth.

PRIMARY FUNCTION(S):

The program goal is to improve students’ school attendance and increase families’ involvement with the schools and increase families’ access to information and resources.

The Staff members of SEAMAAC’s ATIPS program perform outreach in the community on behalf of the School District of Philadelphia and SEAMAAC.  Under the supervision of the ATIPS Supervisor, staff partner with the schools and community to connect with the families of students who are identified to have 3 to 7 unexcused absences.

ATIPS staff members are responsible for visiting families in their homes to offer information on their child’s attendance record at their school and share information on the school district’s truancy law.  As the first line of social service personnel in touch with a family, PTO’s or ATIPS outreach staff will also offer SEAMAAC and community resources that may help support children and their families.  This includes inviting families to SEAMAAC’s monthly family dinner at our satellite office in South Philadelphia and supporting the organizing of these family dinners.

QUALIFICATIONS

•    Proficiency in a Southeast Asian Language strongly preferred (e.g. Indonesian, Khmer and Vietnamese)
•    High School diploma or GED preferred
•    Experience and connection to the immigrant/refugee community
•    A desire to serve the community
•    Good communication skills
•    Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with diverse staff and work in a team environment
•    Demonstrated ability to handle a heavy workload, exercise discretion, maintain confidentiality, handle multiple priorities and use sound judgment
•    Demonstrated ability to problem-solve
•    An ability to travel around local neighborhoods extensively
•    Criminal, Child, FBI and health clearances required.

DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS:
•    Understanding of and commitment to SEAMAAC’s principles, concerns, and considerations in regard to issues of race, class, nationality, religion, age, gender and sexual orientation, and disabilities.
•    As part of the Education Department that promotes lifelong learning, staff are expected to set the example and to continue learning through internal and external trainings.
•    Support the children and families in a manner that fosters independence, growth and development and will facilitate the children and families achieving their stated goals.
•    Attend quarterly Professional Development meetings provided by Office of Attendance and Truancy.
•    Focus on visiting the homes of students as identified by the District and reconnect them to the school and other needed services.
•    Conduct required visits per the guidelines and instructions given by the District.
•    Support the school with implementation of their attendance improvement plans.
•    Provide resource information as needed.
•    Disseminate Truancy and Attendance information in the community.
•    Support with the collection and maintenance of monthly data reports.
•    PTOs are not case managers.
•    Work closely with the single point of contact for attendance at their assigned school through weekly meetings and/or weekly student feedback or reports.
•    Actively participate in organization-wide and community work efforts and events – must work well in a team environment.
•    Attend regular supervision meetings with supervisor.
•    Flexible hours, requires extensive travel and weekend assignments.
•    Translation/interpretation assignments, as required.
•    And such other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

•    Hourly rate: $10
•    This position does not include health benefits

SEAMAAC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Interested applicants should submit a resume and detailed cover letter to:

Nguyen Ho
Human Resources Coordinator
SEAMAAC, Inc.
1711 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148
P: (215) 467-0690
F: (215) 467-5301
E-mail: nguyenho@seamaac.org
http://www.seamaac.org (Website)