JOB CLASS: 8886
JOB TITLE:  Refugee Advocate
REPORTS TO : EL Services Program Coordinator
Job Description :
Under the direction of the EL Services Program Coordinator, the Refugee Advocate will ensure that refugee students reach challenging academic standards and graduate with a high school diploma that prepares them for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment.
REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Refugee experience or experience working with multicultural clientele preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of the geographic area.
KNOWLEDGE OF:
• Federal regulations pertaining to the Refugee Program.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Public speaking techniques.
• Laws, rules, and regulations related to assigned activities.
• Applicable sections of the Kentucky Administrative Regulations and other applicable laws.
Essential Functions, Duties and Responsibilities:
• Prepare and deliver oral presentations.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Maintain routine records.
• Maintain current knowledge of program rules, regulations, requirements and restrictions.
• Relate to a cross-section of people on a professional and personal basis.
• Work irregular hours when necessary.
• Provide your own transportation.
• Tutor individuals or small groups of students, reinforcing and implementing instruction as directed by the teacher, maintain records of students progress.
• Assist students by providing proper examples, emotional support, a friendly attitude, and general guidance.
• Assist in student supervision.
• Meet and maintain contact with a child’s classroom teacher(s) to determine levels of academic proficiency and how the refugee advocate can assist the child to achieve.
• Periodically meet with students to see if they are performing well.
• Resolve issues that arise, either directly or through referral and follow up with other school and community resources.
• Monitor grades, academic achievement, attendance, and behavior.
• Make home visits to:  meet with parents/guardians; assess the home environment; determine needs of other children who may reside in the home; and seek the involvement of parents/guardians in the child’s education through modeling, coaching, and placement of educational or training materials in the home.
• Make other home visits and/or parent contacts as needs or requests by others might indicate.
• Maintain a log of activities to document services provided for refugee children or families.
• Continually seek and participate in appropriate professional development and training opportunities to enhance existing skills and to learn new skills for the job.
• Make use of all other school community resources for health, social, and other identified needs through appropriate referral and follow up.
• Compile and maintain data for completing a needs assessment of the program.
• Maintain student control at refugee sponsored events.
• Assure the health and safety of students by following health and safety practices and regulations.
• Inform teacher/Principal/Coordinator on matters of concern.
• Participate in meetings and training programs as assigned.
• Complete all required training and attend professional development sessions as requested.
• Complete appropriate documentation both electronically and in written form.
• Perform assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Be clean, neat, and appropriately dressed.
• Be consistently responsible and display an attitude of honesty and credibility.  Show enthusiasm, interest, and concern for the total program and its efficient operation.
• Demonstrate positive behavior toward the purposes and goals of Owensboro Public Schools.
• Work cooperatively with others.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Maintains confidentiality of records and  information concerning students and classroom activities; refers all questions to Teacher, Principal/Director/Coordinator, or other administrative designee.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Indoor, environmentally controlled.  Classroom environment including but not limited to telephones, personal interruptions, background noises.  Will require working with or near the public, parents, and with children and will be subject to sounds, scents, and other related environmental factors.  This position will require dealing with conflict and requires use of sound judgment.
Physical Demands: (example)
• Repetitive movement
• Must be able to kneel, squat, and sit on the floor for long periods of time.
• Must be able to bend at the waist, twist, and turn.
• Standing and walking intermittently throughout a typical work day.
• Lifting up to 60lbs.
• Sitting for long periods of time.
• Hand and finger dexterity.
• Bending, pushing, and moving throughout the day.
• Clarity of vision at varying distances to monitor students during indoor classroom activities and outdoor activities.
EVALUATION:
Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board's policy on Classified Evaluation Plan.  The evaluation will be conducted by the EL Services Program Coordinator.
Terms of Employment:
• Classified salary schedule
• Classified benefits schedule
• Number of hours per day: 8
• Contract Days: 210
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Location, duties, responsibilities may be altered to meet the needs of the district.
Equal Education and Employment Opportunities M/F/D
EVALUATION:
Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board's policy on Classified Evaluation Plan.  The evaluation will be conducted by the Principal and teacher.
Primary Location District Wide Salary Range Per Hour Shift Type Full Time