About this role
GRANT FUNDED Primary Purpose: Design, coordinate, oversee, and direct comprehensive programs that encourage deep family and parental involvement in the school ecosystem. Provide continuous, high-quality adult literacy, educational pathways, and skill-building programs to the immediate family members, parents, and legal guardians of students enrolled in the Rio Grande City Grulla ISD Texas ACE Program to prevent learning loss and strengthen rural family success. Qualifications: Education/Certification:
• Minimum: High school diploma or equivalent with established social work/community outreach experience (Associate's or Bachelor's degree in education, social work, or a related field highly preferred).
• Preferred: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Education, Social Work, or a related human services field.
Special Knowledge/Skills:
• Strong communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills to build rapport across diverse social, educational, and economic backgrounds.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills; proven ability to self-start and meet established data compliance deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in business environments.
• High degree of computer proficiency using Microsoft Office and secure cloud data entry dashboards.
• Highly Preferred: Native bilingual language proficiency (English and Spanish) to effectively communicate with, text, and call program recipient families in the region.
Experience:
• Preferred: Three (3) years of experience in an educational, public sector, or social work setting.
• Preferred: Experience collecting participant data, managing logs, and utilizing management information systems.
• Preferred: Demonstrated competence in local program development, community marketing, and family survey coordination.
• Preferred: Working knowledge of regional youth/family service organizations and community support networks in Starr County.
• Preferred: Prior experience supporting or coordinating activities within grant-funded programs.
Major Responsibilities and Duties:
• Blueprint Alignment: Plan, coordinate, and implement the Family Engagement Program in a manner consistent with the Texas ACE Blueprint and localized Cycle 13 grant expectations.
• Consistent Activities: Plan, organize, and market engaging, sequential educational events for families (e.g., family literacy nights, FAFSA/college prep help, interactive STEM/robotics workshops).
• Strategic Coordination: Coordinate family-focused activities seamlessly with day-school programs, campus principals, and external community partners (such as STC, UTRGV, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and other community partners).
• Needs Assessments: Conduct formal community needs assessments and routine surveys to design relevant adult learning opportunities and identify barriers to participation.
• Proactive Communication: Maintain regular, multi-channel communication (school notification alerts, flyers, social media platforms, direct calls) with parents regarding center activities and schedules.
• Supportive Relationships: Personally reach out to high-need or at-risk student families to build strong, trusting networks and reduce chronic absenteeism barriers.
• Academic Reinforcement: Empower and equip families to actively participate in their child's education, explicitly helping them understand how to support TEKS-aligned growth plans and math/reading goals at home.
• Family Resource Hub: Maintain a localized Family Resource Center that supplies materials and provides immediate referrals/linkages to regional health, economic, and community aid organizations.
• Support Services Workshops: Plan and organize workshops focused on practical skills, digital literacy, and adult continuing education.
• Volunteer Engagement: Recruit, onboard, and manage parent and community volunteers to support special after-school functions and showcases.
• Joint Engagement Blocks: Offer dedicated opportunities for parents and students to work together on project-based enrichment modules, including hands-on robotics, trades exploration, or community service projects.
• Campus Inclusion: Work collaboratively with campus committees, teachers, and parent/teacher organizations to align family outreach with the traditional school-day climate.
• Staff Development: Serve as a resource to help campus faculty and after-school instructors build welcoming, family-centered environments.
• Data Accountability: Meticulously track, verify, and log parent attendance, workshop signatures, and baseline metrics into the secure TX21st state system.
• Grant Onboarding: Attend all required regional Texas ACE trainings, webinars, state evaluation meetings, and cross-district steering committee sessions.
• Scheduling Flexibility: Maintain a flexible working schedule, regularly adjusting hours to provide evening supervision during family workshops, center showcases, or community events.
• Program Support: Perform other job-related duties as assigned by the Program Director or campus administration.
Professional Conduct:
• Actively engage in continuous professional improvement through a personalized development plan.
• Actively network with other Family Engagement Specialists across the region and the wider Texas ACE network.
• Conduct oneself in a professional, ethical, and culturally sensitive manner at all times, adhering to the standard policies of RGCG ISD.
Physical Demands:
• Physical Demands: Requires standard physical activity such as periodic standing, walking, sitting, and basic motor skills to handle documentation or execute daily data entry on computer screens. Frequently requires traveling between partner facilities and regional meetings.
• Working Conditions: Requires frequent prolonged and irregular working hours to cover evening family sessions, student showcases, and weekend community outreach events.
Additional Information
• Language Proficiency: Rio Grande City Grulla Independent School District employees must possess the capability to read and write proficiently in English. This includes the ability to effectively communicate in English with campus staff, coworkers, and members of the public. Employees must also possess the cognitive capacity to comprehend and execute oral and written instructions, as well as follow English documentation.
• Equal Opportunity Employer: The Rio Grande City Grulla Independent School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
• Grant Funding Alignment: This position is 100% grant-funded through the Federal Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) / Texas ACE Cycle 13 program, administered through the Texas Education Agency and authorized by the U.S. Department of Education. Continuous employment remains strictly contingent upon the availability of these specific federal grant funds.
• Reasonable Accommodations: RGCG ISD is committed to providing reasonable accommodations, in full compliance with applicable state and federal laws, to all individuals with qualified physical or mental disabilities.
Other
• Follow district safety protocols and emergency procedures.
Supervisory Responsibilities: None Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors: Tools/Equipment Used: Personal computer and peripherals; standard instructional equipment Posture: Prolonged sitting; frequent standing, kneeling/squatting, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting Motion: Frequent walking Lifting: Regular light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds) Environment: Work inside, may work outside Mental Demands: Maintain emotional control under stress; may work prolonged or irregular hours