Native American Student Engagement Specialist

Position Purpose

The Student Engagement Specialist serves as a culturally responsive engagement professional dedicated to supporting students in grades 6-8 through mentoring, family engagement, culturally grounded programming, and collaboration with school teams. This position promotes academic achievement, school attendance, cultural identity, and school connectedness through collaboration with students, families, and school staff.

Responsibilities

1. Student Engagement - Percent of Time: 75%

• Participates in middle school MTSS-SEB and student-support teams, as appropriate, to identify student needs, coordinate culturally responsive Tier 2 and Tier 3 supports, monitor student progress, and align services across school, family, and community systems.

• Develops trusting, positive relationships with students through regular mentoring, check-ins, and engagement activities.

• Collaborates with students, families, school staff, and community partners to identify barriers to success, coordinate supports and interventions, and connect students with appropriate resources. 

• Encourages student self-advocacy, leadership development, positive decision-making, goal setting, and a strong sense of cultural identity, belonging, and school connectedness.

• Facilitates Warrior Circles and other culturally responsive activities that promote peer support, social-emotional growth, restorative problem-solving, and relationship-building through Indigenous teachings and cultural knowledge

• Cultivates youth leadership by providing opportunities for students to participate in and co-facilitate culturally grounded activities and discussions.

• Maintains fidelity to Warrior Circle practices, program expectations, and established implementation guidelines.

• Maintains accurate and confidential documentation of student participation, mentoring contacts, Warrior Circles, family engagement, referrals, interventions, and other program services, and contributes information required for program monitoring and grant reporting.

2. Family and Community Engagement - Percent of Time: 15%

• Collaborates with tribal representatives, Native-serving organizations, cultural knowledge keepers, and other community partners, as appropriate, to strengthen culturally grounded supports and connections for students and families.

• Develops and implements proactive family-engagement strategies, which may include regular caregiver communication, participation in conferences and school events, caregiver circles, and home visits coordinated with school-based staff.

3. School Collaboration and Capacity-Building: 10%

• Assists in the planning and execution of cultural events, as needed.

• Collaborates with building administrators and school staff to support and monitor student attendance, school engagement, belonging, behavioral progress, and progress toward academic goals.

• Participates in staff meetings and trainings as required by the Native American Education Coordinator or building administration.

• Supports school staff in strengthening culturally responsive engagement of Native American students and families through consultation, modeling, resources, and learning opportunities developed in collaboration with the Native American Education Coordinator

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, human services, Native American or Indigenous studies, youth development, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. 

• Experience working with adolescents and engaging families in a school, community, or youth-serving setting. 

• Demonstrated knowledge of Native American cultures and culturally responsive practices. 

• Ability to build trusting relationships, facilitate student groups, collaborate with school and community partners, and maintain confidential records.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with Native American youth and families, preferably at the middle school level. 

• Experience facilitating Warrior Circles, restorative practices, or other culturally grounded group activities. 

• Knowledge of school-based student support systems, family engagement, and community resources. 

• Experience collaborating with Native American communities, tribal representatives, or Native-serving organizations.

Application Procedures:
All applications for open Fargo Public Schools positions must be made via www.applitrack.com/fargo/onlineapp. Paper submissions will not be accepted. Application materials must clearly explain how experience and education are related to the minimum qualifications and job duties.
Applicants for administrative, teaching, professional and other certified staff positions will need to attach: 1) Cover Letter 2) Resume/CV 3) Three (3) Letters of Reference 4) Complete transcripts for each degree from the institutions conferring the degrees. 
Job postings will be closed for applications once the posting has been filled.
Fargo Public Schools does not offer or provide sponsorships. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Applicants who are residents of ND and eligible to claim veteran's preference must upload a Form DD214.Claims for disabled veteran's preference must include a current statement of disabled status from the Veterans Affairs Office.
For more information or questions please email humancapital@fargo.k12.nd.us.

The Fargo Public School District is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment free from discrimination and harassment in all employment and educational programs, activities, and facilities. The District prohibits discrimination and harassment based on a student's, parent's, guardian's, or employee's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, or any other status protected by law. 

Any person having inquiries concerning the District's compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), or Section 504 is directed to contact Dr. Patricia Cummings, Director of Compliance, who has been designated by the District to coordinate efforts to comply with the regulations regarding nondiscrimination.  The office address and telephone number of Dr. Cummings are as follows: 700 7th Street S., Fargo, North Dakota 58103, (701) 446-1009.

If any person believes that the District or District staff have inadequately applied the regulations of (1) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, (2) Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972, (3) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or (4) the Americans with Disabilities Act, they may bring forward a grievance to the District's Section Director of Compliance who serves as the 504 Coordinator. The District's grievance procedures are established to provide a prompt and equitable resolution of a complaint. However, it should be understood by the individual involved that a complaint can be made to the Office for Civil Rights without going through the District's grievance procedures:

U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1100