The WISD's Mission is to educate, serve, and advocate with students, families, schools and the community. We disrupt racial inequities, build just educational systems, and expand access for all learners. We value human potential while striving to support current and future generations of Washtenaw County to enrich as many lives as we possibly can.

The WISD’s Vision is to be a leader in empowering, facilitating, and delivering high-quality, boundary-spanning, educational system that educates all children through an equitable, inclusive, and holistic approach.

SUMMARY:
The Community School Attendance Coordinator plays a vital role in addressing chronic absenteeism by identifying barriers to student attendance and working collaboratively with families and school staff to overcome them. This position requires a deep understanding of the diverse challenges that impact student attendance and a commitment to fostering student success through targeted interventions. Responsibilities include analyzing attendance data, engaging with families to develop supportive solutions through the wraparound model, and managing partnerships with community organizations to provide resources that help students remain engaged in school. Additionally, the coordinator identifies and partners with enrichment programs that offer students meaningful opportunities for academic and personal growth, ensuring they have access to supportive and engaging experiences beyond the classroom. This is a skilled and time-intensive role requiring strong communication, problem-solving, case management, and organizational skills. By building cohesive systems that support students and families, the Attendance Coordinator is integral to fostering a school environment where every student can thrive and attend regularly

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Demonstrates a strong commitment to equity, social justice, and inclusion in all practices and position responsibilities.
Demonstrates the ability to examine how his/her/their position (directly or indirectly) impacts educational inequities in student achievement outcomes.
Engages in reflection and ongoing learning and development on critical concepts and terms identified in the Washtenaw ISD Educational Equity Policy including concepts such as cultural proficiency, racial equity, and systemic and structural inequities.
Serves as a liaison within the WISD Bridge program.
Monitor student attendance and identify patterns or issues.
Helps with coordination and participation in team consultation visits.
Conduct home visits to build relationships with families, understand their unique circumstances, and collaborate on solutions that support consistent student attendance.
Provides consultative support to identified students, and their identified team utilizing short-term intervention support.
Serves as a resource to other department employees by providing consultation and training.
Provides consultation to community and school partners, as well as potential partners.
Publicize and promote enrichment activities to students and families.
Participates in the planning and presentation of workshops, meetings and conferences.
Helps with orientation and coordination of training for new team members.
Prepares and provides data analysis and interpretation.
Represents the agency to the community, other WISD departments, outside agencies, families of students, and other interested parties in such a way that an understanding of students’ needs are fostered.
Enters data timely into required systems, maintains databases, and prepares spreadsheets and reports.
Prepares information, correspondence and other written materials using word processing software.
Provides case management support and assists families with removing the barriers to accessing identified needs.
Promotes inter-agency cooperation through working with other community agencies.
Assists youth in resolving interpersonal conflicts in their environment.
Supports youth in identifying and linking to needed services and entitlements available in the community.
Coordinates and collaborates with a youth’s network of care, including primary healthcare, family, and natural support.
Serves as liaison between school personnel, family, and other agencies.
Works cooperatively and communicates with Districts and constituent district staff, students and parents/guardians.
Adheres to assigned Districts’ health and safety rules, policies and procedures.
Supports WISD vision and mission to enhance achievement for all students.
Supports a team-based approach to problem-solving.
Performs such other tasks as may from time to time be assigned by the supervisor.
Maintains regular predictable attendance.
OTHER RELATED DUTIES AS ASSIGNED.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

N/A.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Alternative requirements that may be appropriate and acceptable to the Board of Education may be considered. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Education: A bachelor’s degree in social work, education, psychology, counseling, or a related field is preferred. A master’s degree in a relevant discipline is a plus. Equivalent experience in student support roles may be considered.
On-the-Job Experience: At least 2-3 years of experience in education, social services, family engagement, case management, or a related field. Experience working in a school setting or collaborating with educators, families, and community organizations is highly desirable.
Population Served: Experience working with diverse student populations, particularly those facing systemic barriers to education, including students from low-income backgrounds, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and those experiencing housing instability or other challenges that impact attendance.
Skills & Competencies:
Strong relationship-building skills with students, families, school staff, and community partners.
Experience analyzing attendance or student data to inform interventions.
Knowledge of trauma-informed practices and culturally responsive engagement strategies.
Ability to navigate and connect families with community resources, including enrichment programs.
Experience conducting home visits or direct outreach in a professional capacity.
Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Valid Driver’s license

LANGUAGE /COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

Fluency in English is required.
Proficiency in Spanish, Arabic, or other languages spoken within the community is highly desirable to effectively engage with diverse families and ensure accessibility of resources.
Strong Interpersonal Communication: Ability to build trust and establish rapport with students, families, and school staff through active listening, empathy, and cultural sensitivity.
Clear and Professional Written Communication: Ability to document case notes, write reports, and communicate effectively through emails, letters, and outreach materials.
Public Speaking and Facilitation: Comfort in leading meetings, presenting attendance data, and facilitating discussions with families, school teams, and community partners.
Conflict Resolution and De-escalation: Skilled in addressing sensitive conversations around attendance challenges with patience, respect, and problem-solving strategies.
Advocacy and Persuasive Communication: Ability to motivate students and families, advocate for needed resources, and communicate the importance of school attendance in a strengths-based and supportive manner.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Ability to integrate technology into the everyday workflow is necessary.
Ability to utilize District technology and work to maintain proficiency, as required skill sets change with technology and/or the needs of the District.
Ability to use computer technology for research, data management, communications and other instruction.
Ability to use a personal computer (PC) or MAC in a networked environment to utilize the Internet and other electronic communication mechanisms.
Knowledge of productivity applications such as Microsoft Office (word processing, spreadsheets, database and presentation software) is required.
Ability to use computer technology for research, data management, communications and other instruction.
Ability to select and administer appropriate assessment tools and interpret results of assessment.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to apply the concepts of basic math, algebra and geometry consistent with the duties of this position.

REASONING ABILITY:

Highly proficient in subject areas of: reasoning, problem-solving, organizational dynamics, and emotional intelligence.
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

Ability to build rapport with others and to serve diverse publics.
Ability to take initiative, work well with others as a collaborative team member and exhibit good communication skills.
Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with other departments, agencies and individuals.
Ability to work creatively and skillfully with students.
Ability to demonstrate initiative and understanding in working with students, staff and parents/guardians.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds such as books and teaching material or when assisting in student interventions. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distant vision and the ability to adjust focus. The ability to travel to other buildings is required. The position requires the individual to sometimes work irregular or extended work hours and meet multiple demands from several people. The ability to travel to other buildings is required.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTABILITY:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is quiet to loud depending upon the activity in the particular part of the day. The employee is frequently required to interact with the public and other staff. The employee is directly responsible for the safety and well-being of students. The employee is exposed to infections at a greater risk than the average person. Occasionally the employee may be required to be outdoors for a short period of time, and therefore subject to varying weather conditions, for purposes of accomplishing the essential functions of this job.

FUNCTIONS OF POSITION DESCRIPTION:

This position description has been prepared to define the general duties of the position, provide examples of work and to detail the required knowledge, skills and ability as well as the acceptable experience and training for the position. The description is not intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the duties of employees under supervision. The WISD retains and reserves any and all rights to change, modify, amend, add to or delete from any portion of this description in its sole judgment.

This position description is not a contract for employment.

The WISD is an equal opportunity employer, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

TERMS:

Salary and other employment conditions to be established by the Board of Education as reflected in the Non- Affiliated Staff Manual. Starting salary ranging (dependent upon experience) $56,706 – $76,662.

Washtenaw Intermediate School District is a drug-free workplace:

It is the policy and commitment of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, height, weight, familial status, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation or any legally protected characteristic, in its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment policies in accordance with Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, executive order 11246 as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and all other pertinent state and Federal regulations.

Community School Attendance Specialist