Education Specialist - N Thurston/Tumwater/Shelton SDs

Description

About Treehouse: We work to create opportunities for young people in foster care to thrive. We believe that every young person impacted by foster care determines their own future and can build the life of their dreams. Treehouse seeks to hire passionate individuals who understand the power of young people, celebrate diverse voices, and challenge themselves to do better. We are committed to providing opportunities for staff to learn and grow with the organization.

Pay Transparency: This position’s annual pay is $54,866.66 ($26.3782/hour).

Primary Worksite Location: We are hiring for an on-site position serving the following school districts:  N. Thurston, Tumwater, and Shelton.  This is not a remote work position.  

**A submitted resume and cover letter are required as part of the application process for this position.*****Note that resumes/applications submitted for this position are reviewed on a rolling basis as received, until the positions are filled.***

Job Summary:

The Treehouse Education Specialist serves as a mission-driven, equity-centered staff member who contributes regularly to advance the organization’s commitment to anti-racism, social justice, and belonging by working closely with school administration, faculty, and staff, including foster care liaisons and school building points of contact, as well as the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF), tribal social workers, and community partners, to support a caseload of youth experiencing foster care.

The Education Specialist helps to ensure the needs of the youth that Treehouse serves are met, aligning programmatic and operational goals through a culturally responsive and inclusive approach with acknowledgement of the trauma experienced by youth in care.  The role seeks to help dismantle systemic inequities, promote psychological safety, engage in equitable practices across systems, and contribute to an organizational culture rooted in dignity, accountability, and care in service of the youth that Treehouse supports.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage an assigned caseload of youth 9th – 12th Grade, using established case procedures and ensuring equitable practices.
• Provide support for up to one year post high school focused on adapting plans and addressing challenges related to education, career, and/or basic living skills.
• Build trusting relationships with social workers, caregivers, school personnel, and other collaborators in an inclusive and welcoming manner to support youth holistically.
• Analyze data (i.e. attendance, educational history, behaviors, performance, etc.) for assigned youth to create and inform educational plans.
• Adhere to reporting mandates, policies, and procedures.
• Coach youth on problem solving, self-advocacy, self-determination, academic mindset, self-regulation, persistence, and positive behavior to ensure that the youth have a safe, positive, and respectful experience, inclusive of all racial and gender identities, and with awareness of the trauma experienced by youth in care and historically marginalized communities.
• Embrace transformation by seeking out perspectives across the organization and with partner organizations and communities to evolve how Treehouse serves youth with curiosity and openness to new ideas.
• Collaborate with Treehouse Resource Navigation department to identify and refer youth to appropriate resources to support education, social/emotional development, and other needs in an equitable manner.
• Review High School & Beyond Plan for integration in the student’s goals and student-centered planning.
• Acquire easily accessible consent forms for each assigned youth and collect school records as needed.
• Schedule and facilitate inter-agency meetings, notify and partner with the Foster Care Liaison to develop transportation plans, assist with credit transfer/retrieval, and negotiate services and disciplinary appeals, etc.
• Collaborate regularly with the youth’s care team including, but not limited to: state, federal, or tribal social workers, community partners, caregivers, school personnel, and Treehouse leadership incorporating de-escalation, conflict resolution, culturally sensitive, and compassionate support to those who have experienced trauma or may be experiencing crisis.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and updated case records for each youth in the program’s database. Including consent forms as needed.
• Partner with management to collect and provide recommendations on culturally diverse success stories, testimonials, and feedback that represent the organizational mission upon request.
• Participate in cross-functional initiatives aimed at enhancing employee experience, workflow efficiency, and organizational culture.
• Engage in ongoing education and reflection to strengthen Treehouse’s ability to support the growth, success, and well-being of the Black youth we serve.
• Collaborate to build long-term, respectful partnerships with Tribal Nations and Indigenous-led organizations to ensure items offered to Indigenous youth are culturally grounded and community-informed.
• Practice abundance by helping to steward resources thoughtfully, leveraging partnerships, and sharing excess resources with other nonprofits when possible
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent required.
• 2+ years’ experience providing advocacy for and support of youth experiencing foster care or other vulnerable student populations preferred.
• Knowledge of federal and state education law, including in the area of special education desired.
• Prior experience facilitating and coordinating multiple stakeholders through complex situations preferred.
• Prior experience navigating special education evaluations and education plans helpful.
• Proven competencies in racial equity, social justice, and youth well-being desired.
• Must have reliable transportation and a current driver’s license and maintain current insurance as required by Washington State, and provide proof of such upon request.
• Must satisfy Washington State and national criminal and motor vehicle background check requirements for working with youth and vulnerable adults.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience providing affirming and engaging support services to youth from diverse and traditionally under-served or historically marginalized populations, including students of color, low-income students, or students with disabilities.
• Ability to deploy critical thinking, problem solving, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence when communicating on behalf of Treehouse.
• Demonstrated willingness to take initiative and collaborate with supervisor and team to enhance program quality and service delivery.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial equity and social justice, and the ability to effectively engage in candid conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• Ability to maintain records and data and use program data to inform decision making and service delivery strategies.
• Demonstrated willingness to engage in, learn, and implement Trauma Informed practices.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating and coordinating services with school districts, community agencies, caregivers, State and Tribal agencies, volunteers, and others.
• Ability to establish and maintain an environment where youth, clients, volunteers, staff, and community members are able to engage positively and respectfully as well as model dignity, accountability, and care.
• Ability to set boundaries and utilize support services to manage the personal impact of working with youth who have been placed at risk.
• Demonstrated ability to build positive and effective working relationships with individuals of various ages, cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, and abilities.
• Ability and aptitude with online database systems to maintain records and data to support effective decision making and service delivery strategies.
• Knowledge of educational and community resources available to promote educational attainment for youth helping adjust priorities through open dialogue, feedback, and transparent decision-making to ensure equitable service to our youth.
• Ability to thrive while working independently and be able to build and maintain trusting, healthy relationships with coworkers and managers to promote a productive workplace culture and strong employee engagement.
• Demonstrated ability and aptitude with Microsoft Office Suite and other technology necessary for successful day-to-day functioning in a business environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information and sign a confidentiality agreement.

Working Conditions:

• Full-time position.
• Expected hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, and occasional evenings and weekends.
• Frequent same-day travel to different school sites to meet with participants using personal vehicle.
• Work is expected to be primarily conducted in person at schools.
• Must reside within Washington State to comply with workplace reporting requirements.

Travel:

• Frequent same-day travel to attend meetings on behalf of youth and to build relationships with schools, caregivers, social workers, and other service providers within assigned schools and district areas.
• Travel requirements vary per assignment and will change depending on the needs of the position’s caseload.
• Overnight travel 1-3 weeks a year for training, conferences, and retreats.

Physical and Mental Conditions:

• Physical Requirements – long periods of stationary work, working on a computer, moving between various work areas, talking on the phone, interfacing with a computer/office equipment, and sitting at a desk or table while listening, talking, and taking notes.
• Mental Requirements – ability to reason logically and make sound decisions, to consider alternative and diverse perspectives, to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, to remain poised under all circumstances, and to interact effectively with people in a positive manner that creates confidence and trust.

 
Benefits Summary: Treehouse values work-life balance and prioritizes the health of our staff. Our excellent benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with options for 100% employer-paid premiums; a retirement plan with 3% employer match; and paid leave that includes twelve (12) holidays, generous PTO, and two weeks of Staff Appreciation days off.

• Generous PTO leave of four (4) weeks initially, with annual increases in the first five years of employment
• Healthcare benefit plans include options for 100% covered preventive care
• Two (2) weeks off (separate from PTO) for Staff Appreciation Weeks (with each week including a holiday)
• 403B retirement plan employer matching program (50% of employee contributions, up to 6% of gross pay, that are 100% vested upfront)
• 100% of payroll taxes for state family medical leave are covered by Treehouse
• Free, convenient parking
• Dog-friendly office space

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Treehouse values diversity and it is expressed in all aspects of our work, from the individuals and communities we serve to our organizational culture, employees, and volunteers. We understand that historic structural inequities have influenced each one of us, and we use this knowledge to deliberately cultivate the success of all people and treat everyone with dignity, humanity, and respect.

Treehouse believes that our capacity to effect sustainable change is strengthened when diverse individuals, beliefs and perspectives are included. We model an institutional commitment to equity by investing resources at all levels and working toward measurable indicators of change.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, upon request, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of our positions. This commitment reflects our core belief in creating an inclusive environment that empowers all individuals to contribute fully and meaningfully to our mission.