Community Engagement Specialist: Education

About First State Educate:

First State Educate is a Delaware based nonprofit with the mission of improving outcomes for all Delaware students. We envision a public education system that prepares every student for a prosperous, successful future.

First State Educate believes Delaware's K-12 education system can do better, especially for traditionally underserved students. We advocate for a laser focus on personalized learning experiences and data-driven decision-making, where every choice prioritizes the success of all students and prepares them for thriving futures.

What We Do

WE EMPOWER.

We empower people with the information that matters to them information that is hard to find and hard to understand.

WE ORGANIZE.

We organize people with tools and networks to build power and sustain change.

WE INVEST.

We invest in people who tackle problems in innovative ways.

WE EMBOLDEN.

We embolden people in political office to make tough decisions around long-standing inequities.

About the Role:

First State Educate seeks to create a network structure wherein our organization builds a collaborative s community based network of county- and district-level organizers. The New Castle County Engagement Coordinator will lead the development and execution of a high impact K-12 education advocacy network working across school districts/ communities in New Castle County.

The County Engagement Coordinator is primarily responsible for identifying potential leaders, and strengthening/developing their capacity, knowledge, skills and advocacy. Specifically, supporting interested individuals in their movement through various roles including volunteer, leadership role on a team, and ultimately a team leader role. The County Engagement Coordinator cultivates and develops community engagement which goes well beyond mobilizing individuals to attend events. This position focuses on expanding the number of people involved in and improving their capacity to affect change in public education _ that leads to improved student outcomes. _

So your recruitment and activation, maybe make something like "Recruit, Activation, and Development" and add a bullet on the development side.

County Coordinators will have extensive experience in community organizing and receive additional training and support from First State Educate leadership. County Coordinators will also recruit, train and manage a network of Family and Community Ambassadors, each of whom share district-specific information, surfacing community needs and locally-led solutions. County Coordinators ensure Family and Community Ambassadors create momentum for change in their district, create a network of parent change-seekers, and track progress towards advocacy goals. The County Coordinator will be responsible for setting organizing and advocacy strategies and objectives and leading their implementation.

Position Summary:

As a County Community Engagement Coordinator, you will spearhead a county-wide initiative across districts in your county. As First State Educate s lead in your county, you will work with Family and Community Ambassadors to form a robust County-wide parent empowerment network. You will work directly with Family and Community Ambassadors in each district in your county to build a regular cadence of engagement and organization with local parents and community members. This position reports to First State Educate s Chief Operating Officer.

This position will play a pivotal role in strengthening community ties, building meaningful relationships with key interested parties and enhancing educational opportunities for all students in Delaware through community and family engagement and galvanizing parents around a call to action to improve education for their children.

Key Responsibilities:

Communication and Collaboration:

Develop county engagement strategy and assist with the creation of aligned district engagement strategies.

Manage the implementation of county engagement strategy and assist in the management of aligned district strategies.

Regularly collaborate with and support Family and Community Ambassadors by providing guidance, sharing resources, and working together on community engagement strategies and educational events.

Monitor and provide feedback on Family and Community Ambassadors effectiveness, providing insightful strategies to improve community educational outcomes.

Recruitment and Activation:

Develop and implement strategies to engage and mobilize parents, families, caregivers, community members, and nonprofit organizations fostering a strong community focused on educational excellence. This includes equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge to interact effectively with school districts and support their children s education.

Develop and implement a training framework for Family and Community Ambassadors.

Needs Assessment and Strategy:

Conduct observational research on local education trends and best practices and evaluate the effectiveness of community engagement efforts.

Recommend new strategies/improvements for county-wide engagement efforts.

Collect and integrate feedback from the community to develop and enhance strategic approaches and tactics.

Identify and prioritize issue areas at the district and county level , ensuring the creation of a critical mass of committed supporters and the maximizing the number of students and families that benefit from proposed solutions

Organizing

Conduct 1:1s to facilitate relationships in a strategic and thoughtful way; recruit people to get involved and develop their leadership to wield inclusive people power to achieve social change; encouraging people to act as a team/community.

Demonstrate skill in storytelling, securing commitments from others, fostering impactful teams; prioritize inclusion, engagement and development of individuals and community leaders from traditionally underrepresented communities and groups

Establish organizing goals, develop, and adapt plans, implement a diverse set of tactics, and improve personal productivity.

Obtain real commitments through one-on-ones, clear direct asks, and follow up; develop leadership through coaching and snowflake distributed leadership structures .

Demonstrate care, concern, and commitment to the community by listening, asking questions, following up, and providing recognition.

Ongoing Community Engagement and Empowerment:

Build connections with various interested parties and plan events to discuss key educational issues, fostering community engagement and unity.

Organize educational events and training sessions, create effective content for awareness and participation, including social media posts and engagement, and develop engagement plans with clear metrics.

Contribute to county and statewide strategic initiatives including planning and attending events, developing tools and resources, and engaging with partner organizations.

Capture, share and disseminate success stories and media to enhance information campaigns, promoting community engagement and outreach.

Maintain centralized documents and submit regular activity reports to ensure organized and efficient operations.

Qualifications:

2-3 years of experience in community organizing, education, or a related field and/or academic preparation related to Education, Social Work, Public Administration, or a related field

Deep understanding of Delaware s education landscape, including its challenges and opportunities

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Demonstrated ability to connect with diverse communities

Demonstrated ability to build consensus by engaging and negotiating with community members and leaders

Commitment to the mission and values of First State Educate

Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

Project- and time-management skills

Proficient in digital communication tools and social media

Bilingual skills are a plus

What We Offer:

A supportive and mission-driven work environment

Opportunities for professional growth and development

Competitive monthly stipend

A chance to play a vital role in shaping the future of education in Delaware Evidence/Indicators of Success:

Support for developing and maintaining a network of training Family and Community Ambassadors

Strategic and operations support for developing and executing a county-wide engagement strategy that aligns district-level needs

Resources and materials for community organizing within districts in the county

Opportunities to collaborate with state and local partners

Expected Impact

Elevation of parent and community voices and interests

Inclusion of diverse perspectives in planning and decision making

Increased engagement with district and school leaders

Increased number of community engagement opportunities

Greater alignment between school board and community priorities within districts and across the county

Time & Compensation:

A maximum commitment of 125 hours per month ($40/hr) to include event planning, training, and community engagement, administration and reporting during the 10-month school year. The maximum monthly compensation is $5,000 monthly for a total contract of $50,000.

How to Apply:

Please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample responding to the following prompt:

Identify a specific education issue impacting Delaware students and draft a one-page memo outlining your plan to mobilize parents, students and educators to address it in one Delaware county.

Send all materials to [[email protected]]. Please include your experience in community organizing, and community engagement.

Job Type: Contract

Pay: $25.00 - $50.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to Commute:

• New Castle, DE (Required)

Work Location: In person