Student Engagement Specialist (SY25-26)

Reports to: Chief of Student Support

Position Overview:

The Student Engagement Specialist plays a critical role in supporting the holistic re-engagement and well-being of Boston Public Schools (BPS) students particularly those impacted by chronic disengagement community violence or court involvement. This position focuses on supporting students who have been negatively impacted by the system including students who are currently detained arrested committed or returning to the district from juvenile justice settings along with students who need Tier 2 & 3 support

This role coordinates district and community services tracks and supports individual student progress using a case management system and leads school-based and districtwide professional development around student engagement restorative practices and reentry strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

Student Engagement & Targeted Support Coordination

• Serve as a district-level point of contact and case manager for court-involved students who are currently arrested detained committed or reentering from DYS or other justice settings.
• Collaborate with court officers probation officers DYS liaisons and school-based staff to develop individualized support plans that ensure successful school reentry and sustained engagement.
• Monitor progress and provide direct support to students on a court-involved caseload including scheduling school reentry meetings facilitating referrals and removing barriers to attendance and academic progress.
• Conduct school visits home visits and site visits to detention or commitment facilities (when appropriate) to maintain student connection and plan for successful transitions.
• Ensure documentation and progress tracking is updated and maintained in the districts case management system in alignment with FERPA and student confidentiality protocols.

Professional Development & Staff Capacity Building

• Develop and deliver professional learning for school leaders counselors re-engagement teams and frontline staff focused on reentry planning supporting court-involved students and student engagement best practices.
• Coach school teams on building school-wide re engagement protocols and trauma-informed responses to youth in crisis or returning from justice involvement.

Community Collaboration & Crisis Response

• Actively collaborate with external partners such as the District Attorneys Office Department of Youth Services (DYS) Roca Youth Connect VIAP and the Mayors Office of Public Safety to coordinate wraparound support for students involved in the justice system.
• Participate in cross-agency meetings to ensure continuity of services access to community supports and alignment of educational plans for detained or committed students.
• Respond to school or community-based incidents that affect justice-involved students providing restorative support and immediate triage when necessary.
• Utilize social media analysis and community intelligence to proactively address tensions that may impact student safety or school climate.

Data Evaluation and Reporting

• Manage and analyze a caseload of justice-involved youth tracking progress interventions and reentry outcomes using a centralized case management platform.
• Produce weekly reports summarizing student incidents community events and student reengagement plans to inform deployment and leadership planning.
• Provide insights and recommendations to district leadership regarding gaps in support services and systemic barriers affecting student engagement.

Project Management

• Support the Division of Student Support in the development and oversight of management systems including record keeping meeting notes agendas and archive management using numerous applications from Google Suites
• Collaborate with Department/Division project management staff on implementing new initiatives and systems and share and refine best practices and effective project management tools for continuous improvement.
• Coordinate numerous projects programs and development initiatives relative to enhancing student advancement and achievement

Qualifications Required:

• Bachelors Degree in Education Social Work Counseling Criminal Justice or a related field
• At least 5 years of experience in youth development education or justice-involved services including direct work with system-impacted youth
• Demonstrated ability to work with culturally diverse and low-income communities
• Understanding of the juvenile justice system and its impact on educational access

Qualifications Preferred:

• Experience supporting court involved youth
• Familiarity with Boston neighborhoods and BPS schools
• Proficient in using case management software and generating engagement data reports
• Skilled in trauma-informed care restorative practices and culturally responsive intervention
• Bilingual or multilingual skills highly desirable

Terms:Managerial C43.

The Boston Public Schools in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies does not discriminate in its programs facilities employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race color age criminal record (inquiries only) disability homelessness sex/gender gender identity religion national origin ancestry sexual orientation genetics or military status and does not tolerate any form of retaliation or bias-based intimidation threat or harassment that demeans individuals dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.

Required Experience:

Unclear Seniority