Careers at CTA

Woodhill Buckeye School Choice Navigator

Part-time: Up to 20 hours per week
Salary: $15 to $20 per hour, commensurate with experience Flexible Remote and In-Office Work
Reports to: Family Engagement Manager
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Interviews will occur on a rolling basis

Context and Mission

In 2012, Mayor Frank G. Jackson, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, the Cleveland Teachers Union, charter schools, civic leaders, business, philanthropy, community, religious organizations, and parents formed Cleveland’s Plan for Transforming Schools. Its goal is to ensure every child in Cleveland attends a quality school, and every neighborhood has a multitude of great schools from which families can choose. These community stakeholders built the Cleveland Plan upon growing and expanding the number of quality schools in Cleveland- district and charter- and holding schools to the highest standards. They work in partnership to create dramatic student achievement gains for every child.

In November 2012, Mayor Jackson established the Cleveland Transformation Alliance, a public-private partnership responsible for ensuring accountability for all public schools in the city. The Alliance’s board of directors is a highly committed group of community leaders representing the school district, partnering charter schools, parents, educators, nonprofits, businesses, and foundations. The mayor serves as the chair of the board of directors. The Alliance has four interconnected roles: ensure fidelity to the citywide education plan, assess the quality of all Cleveland schools, communicate with parents about quality school choices, and monitor the growth and quality of the charter sector in Cleveland.

About Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant (CNI)

The federal Choice Neighborhoods Initiative leverages significant public and private dollars to support locally driven strategies that address struggling neighborhoods with distressed public or HUD-assisted housing through a comprehensive approach to neighborhood transformation. Local leaders, residents, and stakeholders, such as public housing authorities, cities, schools, business owners, nonprofits, and private developers, come together to create and implement a plan that unleashes the full potential of communities by revitalizing severely distressed public and/or assisted housing and catalyzing critical improvements in the neighborhood, including businesses, services, and schools.

Woodhill Homes: The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority and the City of Cleveland were awarded a $35-million FY 2020 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant for the Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood. In 2018, the Housing Authority, City, and community partners secured a Choice Neighborhoods Planning award. Now through the Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant, the partners are moving from planning to action. The lead grantee (CMHA)and their partners will: create 638 new, mixed-income rental units (with 162 project-based voucher units); develop a new health clinic, early childhood education center, and retail space on a commercial corridor; rehab owner-occupied housing and infill vacant lots; and connect residents to employment, health, early learning and education opportunities. TCB has lead responsibility for the design and implementation of the Housing and People strategies.

Primary Responsibilities

The Cleveland Plan envisions a portfolio of quality public schools, both District and charter, that meet families’ and students’ needs in our city. In support of the Cleveland Plan, the Transformation Alliance has created resources such as its School Quality Guide and interactive website, which provide objective information on all the district and charter schools in the city.

Because public school choice is an essential aspect of the Cleveland Plan and will aid in achieving the CNI education metrics, the Woodhill Buckeye Navigator will work directly with families of Woodhill with children transitioning from preschool to grades K-12. Navigators will guide families, help them learn about their public school options, and decide which school best meets their children’s needs. Navigators will also help them enroll in the public school they choose.

JOB GOALS

Direct Family Support

Reach out to families referred by TCB service coordinators for one-on-one Navigator assistance
Help Woodhill families find the “best-fit” school by helping them identify and select from the options available to them and guiding them through the enrollment process
Create and implement a template for an individualized plan for families to select and enroll in the best school for their child
Conduct one-on-one meetings and complete an individualized assessment for each family
Monitor and evaluate a family’s progress through their individualized plan
Monitor student enrollment status

Interorganizational Care Coordination

Serve as liaison between the school of choice and Woodhill families
Keep TCB service coordinators abreast of any additional supports or resources needed to support families the Navigator engages with
Meet once a month with the TCB team to discuss the educational needs of families and provide updates on families who have been referred

CTA Administrative Support

Regularly update the Transformation Alliance’s database with pertinent family information and progress notes
Provide monthly data spreadsheet to TCB team with pertinent family information and progress notes
Stay updated on changing policies, practices, and services program participants through regular communication with Alliance staff
Assist Alliance staff with gathering data, monitoring the impact of the program, and conducting the program evaluation
Other duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Understanding and knowledge of the Woodhill-Buckeye neighborhood
Ability to use a case management database to track all family contacts
Able to work a set 20 hours per week, including 3 hours during regular business hours with other Transformation Alliance staff
Demonstrate proficiency with Computer Technology, Internet Browsers, Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
Exhibit self-motivation and ability to work independently and as part of the team
Possess strong written and verbal communication skills
Exhibit confidence to communicate with families and community partners (in-person, virtually, over the phone, and through text)
Ability to find resolutions to pressing issues using all tools available
Ability to respect and maintain confidential information
Coordinate multiple activities simultaneously
Demonstrate the ability to work with diverse communities
Show problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills
Able to access reliable transportation for travel
Desire to travel 50% or move for events and one-on-one family sessions
Complete background screening, Please note: past criminal convictions are not an immediate disqualification for employment

Preferred Qualifications

Prior experience working in/with school districts or in the field of education
Experience working directly with families who experience barriers because of geography, race, and socioeconomic status
Successful candidates should be familiar with Cleveland’s education and social service landscape, with focused knowledge in the Woodhill-Buckeye neighborhood
A candidate who lives within the Woodhill-Buckeye footprint
Comfort working in a digital environment, including working with databases such as Little Green Light, Raiser’s Edge, or Salesforce

NOTE

Navigators will receive company-owned technology and material for use as part of their duties, including a computer, a mobile printer, and a cellphone with hot spot service. The technology will remain the Cleveland Transformation Alliance’s property before, during, and after the position ends and must be returned after the job term ends. These work resources are not of the job’s compensation.
The Cleveland Transformation Alliance has a culture of passion for education, continuous learning, teamwork, transparency, and thoughtfulness.

Application may apply by submitting a cover letter and resume to info@mycleschool.org. No phone calls, please.