The Academic Coach serves as a liaison between the Buffalo Public Schools and refugee and immigrant families. The coaches are responsible for cultural orientation, classroom academic support, parent informational sessions, school orientation, native language support, and other community outreach efforts. The position’s schedule primarily follows school hours; however, some weekend and evening hours are required for parent training, crisis management or family orientations.

The Academic Coach must exemplify Journey’s End’s core values in their work. These values include intercultural responsiveness, integrity, person-centered, empowerment, and exemplary service.

Project Description:

The Refugee School Impact Program (RSIP) is a partnership between Journey’s End Refugee Services and the Buffalo Public Schools Multilingual Department and the Buffalo Public Schools Refugee Immigrant Student Welcome Program. The partnership aims to support children and families within the district in adjusting to the local school system and achieving their academic goals. These goals are primarily attained through the role that the Academic Coaches play as a bridge between parents and schools.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Assist refugee and immigrant students by providing native language support (including sight translating documents and interpreting) in Buffalo Public School classrooms.
• Serve as the bridge between refugee and immigrant families and the schools providing a wide range of support services to reduce barriers to educational success - including facilitating enrollment, individual or group orientation, problem solving, crisis management, immunization verification, transportation, access to remote schooling, advocacy, homework assistance, and more.
• Assist with emergency situations and conduct home visits with school social workers.
• Assist in planning, recruitment, and implementation of mini-academies, summer school, student and parent orientations, and summer camp programs.
• Interpret for parent meetings, parent/teacher conferences, trainings, school orientations, open houses, parent nights, and communicating notifications through phone alert system.
• Interpret and provide support to District Committees in regard to parent concerns.
• Help parents understand the purpose and availability of educational services.
• Help parents with school registration and provide guidance in school selection process, special school applications, and the school transfer process
• Document all services provided in case files and ensure student program enrollment paperwork is collected.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Must be fluent and literate in English as well + Kinyarwanda
• Experience working with the refugee population or in a diverse classroom environment.
• Possess the ability to be flexible, creative, and willing to collaborate with other teachers.

Journey’s End is committed to the purpose of providing refugees with the resources and support they need to become successful, active, and contributing members of the Western New York Community. The ideal candidate must be self-directed and able to work in a team environment.

Benefits include:

• 10% employer retirement contribution
• Health, vision, dental, & life insurance
• Generous paid time off (up to 4 weeks within first year)
• 12 paid holidays
• $1,000 employer HSA contribution