SIA - Community & Family Organizer (Temporary / FT)

SIA - Community & Family Organizer (Temporary / FT)

Spokane International Academy is seeking a school-based Community Organizer who will support the development of parent leadership and school-based organizing teams through the end of the 2023-2024 school year. The community organizer will champion education equity and social justice in order to improve our local community as well as advocate for supportive policies for public charter schools.

Spokane International Academy is a rigorous, K-11th grade, international school that empowers all students with academic skills, essential habits for success, and the global competence necessary to complete advanced courses in high school and college in order to become leaders who can powerfully transform their communities. We champion diversity and global awareness for our students, staff, and their families who make up the greater Spokane community, and the community organizer will be vital in supporting the school in this mission.

• Temporary, Full Time Position for a 20-month period

• Months of Service: January 2024 Through August 2025

• Hours Per Day: 8

• This position requires daily local travel within Spokane, a flexible schedule, and a willingness to work on weekends and evening hours as events demand. This is a full-time / exempt position.

Benefits

• State Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) plans available for insurance (for employees working over 630 hours in a year):

• Dental and vision provided at no cost to employee

• Affordable premiums on other SEBB insurance through multiple plan options (medical, AD&D, life, LTD, and more)

• Sick and personal leave

• Holidays off (unpaid)

Job Background

• Are you passionate about building parent and youth power to ensure equitable access to high quality public education? Join us as a Community & Family Organizer to find, train and coach parent and youth leaders so they can amplify their voice and build grassroots power to transform communities and improve the education system for all students in the State of Washington.

• As a school-based Community Organizer, you will be responsible for supporting the development of parent leadership and school-based organizing teams who champion education equity and social justice in order to improve our local community as well as advocate for supportive policies for public charter schools. This role requires effective partnership with school leaders and staff, families, community organizations, public officials and other local, regional and statewide stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Promote Spokane International Academy's vision, mission, and values through community relationship building

• Identify, train and develop parent and family leaders in the principles and practices of community organizing in order to build powerful parent-driven school-based organizing committees

• Develop and manage relationships with a broad base of constituents from targeted neighborhoods (including faith-based institutions, public officials, local government agencies, social service agencies) as well as teachers and school leaders at your school site, and cultivate their support for the local and statewide issue campaigns developed by parent leaders from the school site

• Conduct at least 15 one-to-one visits with parents, community members and staff members every week

• Build the capacity of parents to understand the Washington state and Spokane area educational landscape for charter schools, the interests of key decision makers, and the power of an organized grassroots community

• In partnership with school/network leadership staff, support the school's successful reauthorization by the Washington State Charter Commission

• Collaborate with school and network staff to remain informed on the local education political landscape and develop coordinated grasstops/grassroots strategies

• Over time, build and manage multiple parent organizing committees that drive local campaigns around community or education system issues

• Plan and coordinate large public forums and meetings, led by parent leaders

• Collaborate and coordinate with other charter schools and the Washington Charter Association staff on local and statewide policy campaigns

• Participate in local and regional staff development sessions with organization partners

• Participate in administrative activities as required

Minimum Qualifications

• Baccalaureate degree or equivalent work experience

• Work experience in low-income communities

• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders and communities

• Ability to take initiative, to work as an individual or team, and to handle a fast-paced setting, with multiple projects and deadlines

• Ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively, including speaking in small and large group settings

• Strong strategic thinking skills and an ability to analyze policies and institutions

• Ability to develop parent leadership through coaching and strategic 1-1 conversations

• Passion for social justice, supporting charter schools and families' ability to have a choice of high quality public schools

• Ability to assess leadership potential and create intentional opportunities for families to use their voice and power

• Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism and diversity, equity and inclusion

• Willingness to work as member of and contribute to a team in a dynamic, learning environment

• Eagerness to learn and apply the tools of community organizing

• A valid driver's license and reliable, insured vehicle

• Ability to work frequent evening meetings (average 3-4 per week) and some weekends

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in Spanish or other second language (strongly preferred)

• Two to five years of professional community organizing or community development experience

• Understanding of the education reform landscape and Washington political dynamics

• Academic or experiential knowledge related to building social capital and political power in low-income and multilingual communities

• Skills as a trainer with specialized knowledge in grassroots leadership development, political context, public policy development, and/or public education

• Experience developing and supporting public policy solutions to local or regional problems

• Experience working with charter schools, public schools, and/or urban communities

Your Resources

• Extensive formal training in community organizing through participation in partner organization Organizing That Works' (OTW) organizer training program

• Membership in a Washington cohort of charter school-based community organizers through the OTW organizer training program, with the opportunity to learn from and share with others in your field

• Seven months of coaching and development from OTW veteran organizing team members and national experts in the field (approximately four hours per month)

Sample "Week in the Life" of a Community Organizer

• Meet 1-1 with one of your parent leaders to strategize about the next steps in your campaign to improve neighborhood safety around the school

• Prepare and then support your team of 15 parent leaders as they hold their first meeting with the local city council member about the city's plans to address blight and homelessness near the school site

• Meet with your school leadership team to plan a turnout strategy to make sure at least 40 parents attend an upcoming community organizing training you are offering

• Role-play your upcoming training on power and leadership for your supervisor and organizing coach and receive feedback from your colleagues

• Train a parent to chair a meeting with her local state legislator, and coach her to think through the appropriate tone and level of challenge the group should bring to the legislator member about their concerns with proposed anti-charter legislation

• Make calls to invite parents to attend an upcoming meeting and schedule 1-1 visits with them for the next week

• Meet with your supervisor to evaluate your previous parent organizing committee meeting

• Meet with a teacher at your school site for recommendations on new parents for you to conduct a 1-1 with and invite to participate in the parent organizing committee

• Connect with an organizer from another charter school in order to share learnings about your neighborhood safety campaigns

• Schedule a 1-1 with a local nonprofit leader to learn more about the their work with families and the changing political environment in local cities

• Read and reflect on a classic organizing text, like Saul Alinsky's Reveille for Radicals

• Read news articles about state and national issues impacting the politics of charter schools

Work Environment / Physical Demands

• The work environment characteristics and the physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while successfully performing 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 sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate

• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the person in this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills

Hiring Process

Spokane International Academy will invite select candidates for interviews. Interviews will continue until the position is filled. Hiring is contingent upon successful completion of employment verification and hiring process.

Non-discrimination Statement

Spokane International Academy does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of age, sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights, Title IX, and Section 504 Coordinator: Jacqueline Pariseau, 509-209-8730, pariseau@spokaneintlacademy.org; Address: 777 E Magnesium Rd. Spokane, WA 99208