Culture & Climate Specialist (Immediate and Future Openings) - Apply Now!

Position Type:
Elementary School Teaching

Date Posted:
1/5/2022

Location:
LEARN Network
(High-Needs School)

Closing Date:
Until Filled

About LEARN

Founded in 2001, LEARN is a network of high-performing college preparatory, tuition-free public elementary and middle schools with the mission of providing children with the academic foundation and ambition to earn a college degree. There are 11 LEARN Schools serving 4,100 students in grades PK-8 across Chicago, Waukegan, North Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

It is our goal to create an environment, on every campus, in which our staff members feel supported, respected, and appreciated. Our staff work together at each school and across the network to share ideas, problem solve, and innovate to move our schools and students beyond the expected.

LEARN and our amazing educators, have received numerous recognitions for making an impact in public education, including the 2018 Chicago Magazine's Top Elementary Charter Schools and the 2018 Illinois Network of Charter Schools Principal of the Year Award.

LEARN's mission remains crystal clear: to provide children with the academic foundation and ambition to earn a college degree. LEARN is currently looking for hard-working and passionate professionals that are dedicated to transforming public education.
About the Opportunity

We are looking for a reflective practitioner who enjoys working with students and collaborating with colleagues.

The Culture & Climate Specialist will work with all stakeholders to ensure the day-to-day life of the school is a reflection of the Network's mission and values, while consistently demonstrating/enforcing high behavioral and character expectations. In the role of Culture & Climate Specialist, you will serve on the school's leadership and SEL teams, provide leadership to the school, and work collaboratively with all staff in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of our school-wide SEL and behavioral support systems. Additionally, you will utilize, model, and teach trauma-informed and restorative practices to support the development of behavior to develop strong character, and ultimately, help scholars make significant academic and social-emotional gains.

As a Culture & Climate Specialist, your primary tasks will include:

• Promoting school-wide development of an equitable, accessible, and inclusive school community
• Providing leadership in implementing school-wide trauma - informed and restorative practices, including training and support for staff and faculty members, students, and families
• Facilitating and supporting a feeling of community via student involvement in school-wide community building events, including coordinating student-led workshops, restoratives circles, and conferences
• Implementing individual or group based interventions; coordinating peer-led programming including restorative conversations, mediation and/or circle-keeping
• Supporting a sense of belonging by engaging students, families, and faculty/staff in restorative processes, using an anti - racist, culturally-responsive approach
• Working with school leadership and lead SEL teams to ensure a safe learning environment (i.e. develop/implement crisis and safety plans, serve on the crisis team, serve as a first responder as necessary, build relationships with local 1st responder agencies, employ de-escalation and CPI techniques as needed)
• With the school leader, ensuring our practices are aligned with local, State, and Federal legislation
• Establishing and monitoring skill based detentions, monitored time outs, and/or suspensions. Establishing a calm and safe refocus space in the classroom and the school
• Collaborating with school staff to engage students and adults in community-building and the restorative process
• Inputting data in relevant systems as appropriate. Using data to assess and improve programming and outcomes for students
• Working with school staff, leadership, and school/Network based teams to understand developmentally appropriate behaviors and promote social-emotional learning for all students, including through universal explicit SEL instruction and research based behavioral approaches (i.e. Responsive Classroom), and tiered SEL supports
• Supporting and/or coordinating the activities of student affinity groups and clubs
• Engaging in ongoing professional learning/development in research based best practices including but not limited to Restorative Practices, Trauma-Informed practices, Responsive Classroom, and Calm Classroom strategies; providing professional development as appropriate/required
• Providing recommendations and feedback to the school/Network Leadership Team
• Working with school leadership to plan relevant parent education events, social justice awareness, and community-building events
• Working with the lead SEL teams to address/support student and adult emotional wellness
• Serving on relevant school/Network teams or committees including but not limited to Crisis team, lead SEL team, Network BI and/or SEL team; implement relevant School/Network initiatives and/or requirements (i.e. Strategic plan, discipline referral process, SEL tiered instruction/support, menu of interventions)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training and/or Experience

This job is a great fit if:

• You have an Associates Degree in a relevant field; BA/Master's degree preferred
• You can demonstrates three years of successful experience working with students in a teaching, counseling, and/or administrative role
• You have familiarity with and ability to train others on research based best practices including Restorative Justice, trauma informed progressive discipline, non-exclusionary discipline, de-escalation, and CPI/MENTA
• You possess experience with behavioral systems and trauma-sensitive schools
• You effectively understand and communicate the developmental needs of students
• You display evidence of effective and culturally responsive work with diverse student and family populations
• You can meet deadlines, prioritize work, and are highly organized
• You show evidence of effective collaboration with professional colleagues
• You engage parents and students meaningfully and respectfully in their children's education
• You thrive in a diverse, intellectually challenging, fast-paced and collaborative environment
• You have excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills; you embody LEARN values, and maintain/model high levels of professionalism

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics

To succeed as a Culture and Climate Specialist, you display the following characteristics:

1. High degree of integrity and ethics.
2. Well-developed analytical and problem solving abilities.
3. Maintains a high level of energy and a consistent positive attitude.
4. Ability to express themselves effectively and concisely, both orally and in writing.
5. Demonstrated leadership and management ability.
6. Experience in development and implementation of policies and procedures.
7. Advanced skills with Microsoft Office applications and other accounting software.
8. Customer Service orientated, highly customer focused with both internal and external customers.
9. Team building and supervisory skills; organizational and staff development skills.
10. Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects, adhering to strict timelines.
11. Good negotiation and presentation skills.
12. Demonstrated ability to be cooperative and assist co-worker to accomplish organizational goals.
13. High degree of initiative and independent judgment.
14. Ability to tactfully and effectively deal with public and staff in a personable and professional manner.
15. Dedication and passion for our school's unique vision, professional standards, and values.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Nature of work requires an ability to operate standard business office equipment. Requires ability to communicate and exchange information, collect, compile and prepare work documents, set-up and maintain work files. Physically demands require the ability to stand, bend, reach high and low, stoop, walk around the classroom and kneel upwards of 60% of the day. In addition, walking up and down stairs several times a day. Must be able to lift 15 to 20 pounds for short periods of time and push and pull 15 to 20 lbs.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Majority of work performed in a general office environment. Position may require availability for extended hours plus non-traditional hours required to perform job duties. Also requires participation and attendance at organization sponsored events and meetings.

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of LEARN Charter School Network. Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.

For applicants who apply after 11/1/21, proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a valid medical or religious exemption required.