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.

WMBK Mission: Washtenaw County My Brother’s Keeper (WMBK) exists to impact boys and men of color by changing policies, practices, and narratives resulting in transformation of self and community.

WMBK Vision: Washtenaw County will be a place where boys and men of color thrive having full access and support to educational and economic opportunities, strong support and care from an intergenerational community of men of color and are positively acknowledged by the community at large.

SUMMARY:

Assist the WMBK Project Manager with the coordination and implementation of the WMBK initiative, with a focus on youth-centered programs in schools designed to create a welcoming and accepting environment where boys and young men of color can fully engage.

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.
Seeks to intentionally center boys and men of color within all WMBK efforts, activities, and initiatives.
Identifies youth program growth opportunities for WMBK.
Seeks, identifies, and shares opportunities for girls/young women of color, inter-minorities, and underrepresented communities.
Provides coordination and support for WMBK youth focused programs and initiatives such as Young Men of Purpose middle school program in partnership with Mentor2Youth.
Utilizes restorative circle practices in work with youth.
Coordinates and arranges guest speaker appearances and plans field trips.
Supports the development of leadership and socioemotional skills for young men of color in WMBK programs.
Develops and supports a WMBK Youth Ambassador paid program, where high school aged young people across WMBK programs (Formula 734, 50 Strong Breakfast, CLR Sports) will bond, learn from each other, and develop leadership and mentorship skills via trainings. These ambassadors will then help train the Young Men of Purpose middle school students as the youth ambassadors that follow them.
Connects and communicates regularly with WMBK high school young people through email, text, phone, and social media.
Connects and communicates with the parents of WMBK young people, to identify the needs of families if any, and get parent buy-in for a more wrap-around approach to supporting the young people.
Develops and provides reports on a regular basis to the WMBK Project Manager as well as other groups and organizations as needed.
Tracks participation and engagement in programs.
Demonstrates a youth-centered focus in a responsive, accessible, and supportive way.
Performs other duties as assigned.

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:

High School Diploma or equivalent is required.
College degree is preferred.
Experience in group or team leadership.
Proven leadership in program development and implementation.
Proven track record of social justice, human service, or equitable education practices.
Experience with youth development.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Demonstrates ability to work effectively and collaboratively with other departments, agencies, and individuals.
Demonstrates ability to read, analyze and interpret current research of the challenges of people of color and underrepresented individuals, periodicals, and professional journals.
Demonstrates ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals.
Demonstrates ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of children, educators, customers, and the general public.
Demonstrates ability to facilitate effective group processes.
Demonstrates ability to express self clearly, both orally and in writing.
Speaks bilingual or multilingual fluently is preferred.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Demonstrates proficiency in the use of a personal computer (PC) or MAC in a networked environment to utilize the Internet and other electronic communication mechanisms such as email conferencing.
Demonstrates knowledge of productivity applications such as Microsoft Office (word processing, spreadsheets, database, and presentation software) and other technology to support efficient and effective office operation is required.
Demonstrates skills and ability to engage on social media.
Demonstrates ability to multi-task and meet deadlines.
Demonstrates ability to organize, prioritize and work independently, as well as cooperatively with diverse groups.
Demonstrates ability to read and interpret technical procedures, governmental regulations and forms.

REASONING ABILITY:

Exhibits high proficiency in areas of reasoning, problem solving, organizational dynamics and emotional intelligence.
Demonstrates ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Demonstrates ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

Demonstrates ability to work effectively with diverse constituents and partners.
Demonstrates ability to build rapport with others and to serve diverse publics.
Demonstrates ability to take the initiative, work well with others as a collaborative team member and exhibit good communication skills.
Demonstrates the ability to work effectively and collaboratively with other departments, agencies, and individuals.

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 varies from quiet to loud depending upon the activity level during any part of the day. Occasionally the employee may be required to be outdoors for a short period of time, and therefore subject to varying weather conditions, for the purpose 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, 210 days Starting salary ranging (dependent upon experience) from $48,270 – $59,326.

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.

Project Specialist, Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper (WMBK)