School Community Liaison – Diocese of Lincoln

SUMMARY

The Hispanic Outreach Specialist for Cathedral of the Risen Christ, St. Teresa and Blessed Sacrament Schools works with the Administrators of these three schools and reports to the CAO of Cathedral of the Risen Christ School.  This position is crucial in fostering positive relationships between these Catholic schools and the Hispanic community. This position aims to give the Hispanic community fuller access to Catholic schools so that students may be better formed as disciples of Jesus. The ideal candidate will be fluent in both English and Spanish, possess a deep understanding of Hispanic culture and values, and have a passion for promoting education within the Catholic school system. The position will work with particular focus to take advantage of the Opportunity Scholarship Act by facilitating application to these schools.

CONTEXT

This position is an extension of the Catholic Bishop of Lincoln’s Ministry of teaching.  The incumbent must have a willingness and ability to support both the universal and local/diocesan Mission of the Catholic Church.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Community Engagement:
   • Act as a bridge between Catholic schools and the Hispanic community, fostering open communication and understanding.
   • Organize and attend community events, workshops, and meetings to promote collaboration and partnership.
2. Cultural Sensitivity:
   • Provide cultural awareness training and resources to school staff to ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment for Hispanic students and their families.
   • Advocate for cultural competence in educational practices and curriculum development.
3. Communication:
   • Effectively communicate school policies, programs, and events to the Hispanic community in both English and Spanish.
   • Serve as a translator when necessary to facilitate clear communication between school staff and Hispanic families.
4. Parental Involvement:
   • Encourage and facilitate parental involvement in school activities, meetings, and decision-making processes.
   • Organize and coordinate information-sharing sessions for parents to enhance their understanding of the Catholic school system.
   • Accompany families in the application process for opportunity scholarships with Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska (OSN).
5. Resource Development:
   • Compile and create resources that support the educational needs of Hispanic students, including bilingual educational materials and scholarship information.
   • Collaborate with school administration to identify and address the unique needs of Hispanic students.
6. Collaboration:
   • Work closely with teachers, administrators, and support staff to develop strategies for academic success among Hispanic students.
   • Collaborate with local community organizations and leaders to create additional resources and support networks for students and their families.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintain a current level of knowledge and skills required to effectively serve in this position.  This is accomplished by attending workshops or classes, by networking with colleagues, and through current professional literature.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position is responsible for the immediate supervision of employees.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Fluency in English and Spanish (written and spoken).
• Understanding of Catholic values and traditions, and how to form disciples.
• Knowledge of Hispanic culture and community dynamics.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in community outreach and engagement.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• Familiarity with educational systems, particularly Catholic schools, is a plus.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

·         Bachelor’s degree in education, marketing, or in a related field.

·         Fluent in both English and Spanish.

·         21 years of age.

·         Eligible to work in the United States.

·         Complete a criminal background check and safe environment training.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

·         A Catholic who is registered in his/her local parish.

·         Faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church and practicing his/her Catholic faith in an intentional manner that reflects good stewardship.

·         Familiarity with Hispanic cultures.

·         Proficiency in Microsoft Office and with basic computer skills. Knowledge of Adobe and other graphic design programs is encouraged, but not necessary.

·         Marketing and branding abilities.

·         Strong social and interpersonal skills.

·         Strong theological formation.

·         Strong leadership abilities and experience.

·         Self-directed and collaborative worker and thinker who can provide both vision and execution in a charitable and effective way.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

·         Organizational skills and ability to prioritize assignments in order of high to low importance.

·         Annual Safe Environment training.

·         Ability to work with personnel with all levels of expertise.

·         Willingness to engage various audiences and organize meetings as directed by Supervisor.

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 these essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to feel objects with tools or controls, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  The environment is a traditional office setting with individual work spaces and as directed by the CAO of Cathedral of the Risen Christ School.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to moderate noise levels in the work environment.  Some travel is expected. Occasional weekend and evening work may be required.