About this role
JOB DESCRIPTION OF A FAMILY LIAISON Position Summary: The Family Liaison plays an integral role in the administrative team at school, by creating a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive school environment by serving as a key connector between families, the school, and the broader community. Family/ Caregiver engagement in a student's education and school life is a critical determinant of school success. The Family Liaison is responsible for promoting the Waltham Public Schools' (WPS) mission of Family and Community Engagement; building understanding by communicating this mission to staff, families and the community. General Responsibilities: The Family/ Caregiver Liaison promotes family wellness, engagement, and student academic achievement by fostering strong family/ caregiver-school partnerships and connecting families/ caregivers to relevant community and district resources. Family engagement that connects families, children, youth and practitioners at all levels is systemic (incorporating engagement strategies into all systems and services) and intentional (incorporating purposeful and deliberate engagement strategies). To promote family/ caregiver wellness and caregiver engagement programs in order to support the implementation of the family/ caregiver partnership process and work as a liaison between school and home settings in the area of education, child development and mental health. Provide support, referrals, and advocacy for all families, in particular the ones furthest from these resources. The school-based Family/ Caregiver Liaison is also a member of the Family Engagement team of WPS more broadly, and will attend monthly Family/ Caregiver Liaison department meetings, and other district events. This role will require some nights, evenings and weekends. Specific Responsibilities: Engagement, Outreach and Support
• Foster a culturally responsive and inclusive climate in which families from all backgrounds feel respected and valued.
• Serve as a consistent, accessible point of contact for families with questions or concerns.
• Design, organize and facilitate events for families and community (independently or in collaboration with admin/teachers) - grade level, school-wide and/or triad events in the district. organize food, entertainment, speakers, workshops, culturally responsive activities that promote family partnership and participation.
• Link to learning - helping to create and facilitate events/workshops that help caregivers understand their children's curriculum and learning goals.
• Transition events - design and oversee events for incoming Kindergarten, new students, and graduating students moving to the next grade band (elementary, upper, and high school), including tours of new families during the registration process.
• Provide targeted support and case coordination to families, including assisting them in accessing school services, navigating district systems, and connecting to community-based resources such as housing, employment, health, and counseling services. A major focus of this support is out-of-school-time opportunities, including summer camp, for students.
• Outreach to families who need assistance with issues leading to chronic absenteeism or excessive tardiness.
• Support families in developing and pursuing personal and academic goals for themselves and their children, including monitoring progress and facilitating follow-up.
School and Community Collaboration
• Work collaboratively with school-based teams (e.g., Scholar Support Teams,) to identify and respond to student and family needs.
• Participate in school and district family engagement initiatives, professional development sessions, and training.
• Collaborate with the principal to maintain and strengthen relationships with community-based organizations.
• Provide, or facilitate with, interpretation or translation support as needed (if applicable based on language fluency).
• Support the school administrators, counselors, teachers to maintain and strengthen relationships with families and caregivers.
• Collaborate with school administrators, counselors, teachers, and support staff to identify and support students and families in need.
Communication and Outreach
• Ensure that families/ caregivers receive timely, accessible information about school programming, operations, and student learning opportunities.
• Develop and distribute newsletters, flyers, calendars, and outreach materials.
• Maintain a presence during key school transitions such as arrival, dismissal, lunch, and school events.
• Use district-approved tools and data platforms to inform, communicate and track family caregiver engagement and outreach efforts to ensure all families are being reached.
Data Management and Reporting
• Utilize event management systems (Event Duty), communication systems (ParentSquare), and student data systems (Aspen).
• Support accurate enrollment and attendance tracking in collaboration with school and district staff.
• Help collect and maintain up-to-date family/caregiver information to inform services and support.
Additional Duties
• Provide general office support and student supervision as needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the principal or district leadership.
Qualifications and Skills:
• Associate's Degree required; Bachelor's Degree in human services, social work, education, or related field preferred.
• Multi-language is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working in urban, multicultural, and multilingual settings.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills (written and verbal).
• Familiarity with Waltham community resources and the Waltham Public Schools is a plus.
• Technological proficiency with Google Suite and web-based platforms; experience with and school communication tools like Aspen & ParentSquare is preferred.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, maintain confidentiality, and set and maintain professional boundaries.
• Availability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends.
• Strong, proactive and caring collaborator, who values diverse perspectives and contributions.
• Full-time, 40 hours.
Salary range: $65,000-$80,000 August 1st-June 30th (11 month individual contract) Non- Discrimination Notice: Waltham Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation. Waltham Public Schools has partnered with the Massachusetts Partnership for Diversity in Education (MPDE) in our effort to welcome diverse candidates to our school system. We value and prioritize the hiring of educators who bring a wealth of perspectives and experiences to our schools, and who reflect the diversity of the students we serve. MPDE is a collaborative of public school districts with a 40-year uninterrupted history committed to supporting the interest of its members to increase the numbers of teachers of color for their schools by providing recruitment support and related services.