Truancy Prevention Officer

Position Description

POSITION:                            Truancy Prevention Officer – Eastern Pennsylvania

POSITION TERM:                  12 Months

REPORTS TO:                        Chief Academic Officer or his/her designee

DATE:                                    June 2017

Our Mission:

The mission of the Agora Cyber Charter School is to provide an innovative, intensive academic preparation that inspires and educates students to achieve the highest levels of academic knowledge and skills and develop proficiency in the design and use of new computer technologies and scientific research. Agora embraces a collaborative partnership between teachers and parents in order to empower students to reach extraordinary heights. Extraordinary results require extraordinary efforts. Through commitment, hard work, consistency, and responsibility, every student will meet the challenge of mastering high expectations.

Our Vision:

The vision of Agora Cyber Charter School is to prepare all learners to achieve their highest potential through actively engaging in their own learning, achieving their personal learning goals and cultivating success as lifelong learners.

Position Summary:

The Truancy Prevention Officer supports a school-wide initiative to reduce truancy and absenteeism at Agora. They do this by working with the Attendance department, other Agora staff, families and students, school districts, magistrates, and community service agencies throughout the state. 

Essential Functions:

(Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

• Follows policies and procedures of the PA Department of Education
• Provides instruction and support to parents and staff related to attendance and truancy matters
• Identifies and implements means and methods to improve student attendance
• Maintains metrics for reporting
• Serves as truancy liaison to districts and schools
• Develops working relationships with School Districts and Magistrates throughout the State
• Identifies and makes available resources to support family functioning with the goal of increasing attendance
• Refers cases as needed to Family Support Team and community service agencies
• Visits students’ homes as needed in order to address truancy issues
• Attends and presents information in truancy and family court hearing via phone conference and in person when required
• Travels (with expenses reimbursable) up to 75% of the time during certain times of year
• Other duties as assigned

 Competencies:

• Demonstrates a passion for working with at-risk students and families
• Background working with Attendance and Truancy
• Knowledge of Attendance and Truancy Law
• Strong Microsoft Office skills including Word and Excel
• Technical Capacity
• Ethical Conduct
• Strategic Thinking
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong communication skills
• Collaborates and fosters teamwork
• Demonstrates strong problem solving abilities

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Major in education or related human services field preferred
• Home and School Visitor PK-12 Certification
• Pennsylvania Department of Education required clearances

Work Environment:

This job operates virtually with travel required. This role routinely uses computers, phones and printers.

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell.  The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Declaration:

This job description does not state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  The employee in this position will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by his/her administrator(s) and/or supervisor(s).

Agora Cyber Charter School is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.