Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Specialist

TITLE: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Specialist
REPORTS TO: Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer
SUPERVISES: N/A
JOB FUNCTION: Primarily responsible for liaising diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging support services to students, staff, and school. Promotes a culture of diversity and inclusion, embracing differences as a strategic opportunity for supporting the district's efforts to build a culture of equity embodiment for all students, families, employees, and the community. Creates, supports, and develops professional learning opportunities for assisting students who are at risk.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assists the DEIB Officer in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating internal and external strategies for implementing programming and innovative initiatives to ensure student-centered, equity-enriched learning environments, increase capacity among teachers and staff, and analyze dynamic data to ensure a continuous improvement process.
• Works collaboratively through a cross-functional team approach with offices/departments and external partnerships with community, business, and other educational entities to ensure successful implementation of the district's DEIB strategic priorities
• Support school administrators on DEIB-related issues for effective administration of all aspects of school programs that impact student achievement; Assist with strategies, practices, and policies development that foster belongingness within schools
• Support and monitor the application and interpretation of district policies and/or State, Federal, and local regulations to ensure fairness for all students and staff; Assist in the development, implementation, and application of district standard operating procedures, policies, practices, and procedures
• Design, coordinate, and deliver professional learning in the various area of equity and social justice among school and district staff
• Lead initiatives in the district and schools in resolving educational and diversity issues affecting educators, students, parents, and the community
• Assist educators in creating culturally supportive learning environments that ensure high expectations for the academic achievement of all students
• Conduct demographics, enrollment, and innovative program research in support of increasing achievement for all students, specifically the most vulnerable and at-risk student groups, including Latino boys and girls, African American boys and girls, students/families experiencing poverty, multilingual, migrant, and refugee families and students who identify as LGBTQ.
• Provide strategic guidance and leadership for initiatives on cultural competency, racial equity, gender equality, identity, sexual orientation, differing abilities, and other topics designed to increase support and awareness of equity and inclusion values and maintain compliance with laws in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Serve as leaders in the implementation of the district's strategic plan by:
• Cultivating and modeling a respectful working and learning environment where equity and inclusion are at the core of student achievement
• Supporting strategies and operating procedures that promote the hiring and retention of a diverse, highly qualified workforce
• Implementing strategic initiatives, including creating a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion to support the district's overall organizational health
• Partnering with community leaders, faculty, students, staff, and internal and external constituencies to develop programming to support student groups through collaborative stakeholder engagement efforts intentionally
• Commits to ongoing professional growth through professional learning, intense training programs, and staff development courses for enhancing skills needed to execute DEIB practices across the district.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

• Electronic media communications including computerized text-editing, word processing, marketing design, and content development.
• Public school system operations, policies, and programs.
• Ability to produce, analyze, interpret, and summarize data.
• Ability to interpret policy and procedures.
• Demonstrate effective organizational skills and project management
• Ability to evaluate programs and practices and develop short and long-term plans.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with multiple audiences, including faculty, staff, students, families, post-secondary institutions, and business/industry professionals.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

ABILITY TO:

• Work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, or beyond the regularly scheduled work day, with little or no advance notice.
• Plan and organize work accordingly.
• Provide analytics to educational data and material and possess the ability to present it in easy-to-understand formats and metrics for general audience.
• Deal tactfully and effectively with FCPS personnel, external organizations, and the general public by maintaining cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Maintain confidential information appropriately and exercise sound judgment when communicating with the public.
• Proficiency in the use of personal computers and desktop publishing skills with demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Work independently with little direction.
• Meet schedules and timelines.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Work is performed while standing, sitting, and/or walking.
• Requires the ability to communicate effectively using speech, vision, and hearing.
• Requires the use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations.
• Requires bending, squatting, crawling, climbing, and reaching.
• Requires lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling light weights up to 30 pounds.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in counseling, social work, public administration, communications, business administration, public relations, or an education-related field.
• A minimum of six years of professional experience in counseling, social work, public administration, communications, business administration, public relations, or an education-related field (preferred).

CONTACT: Soraya Matthews (soraya.matthews@fayette.kyschools.us)