Community Schools Coordinator

Job Title: Community Schools Coordinator

Location: Division-Wide

Reports to: Building Principals

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Summary:

The Community Schools Coordinator connects students and families to the health, basic-needs, and mental health supports that already exist in Rappahannock County, and brings those supports to campus. Help in this county is generous but scattered; this role is the one person responsible for connecting a particular family to it.

The Coordinator leads Community Schools implementation at both RCPS schools under the Virginia Community Schools Implementation Model. Success is measured by attendance: reducing chronic absenteeism by removing the barriers that keep students out of school, especially distance, transportation, health appointments, and unmet basic needs.

Essential Duties

Collaborative Leadership

• Facilitate the Community Schools Leadership/Advisory Teams at RCES and RCHS, setting agendas with the principals and opening each meeting with attendance data.
• Participate in every attendance and MTSS/Wellness Team meeting at both schools, and report on barriers removed.
• Build and maintain a current county resource map and a one-page "who to call" guide for staff and families.
• Lead the Community Schools Self-Reflection process each year and guide both schools toward Virginia Community Schools Designation.
• Attend the VDOE Community Schools Professional Development cohort and share learning with the advisory teams.
• Prepare required grant implementation and fiscal reports in coordination with division leadership.

Emotional, Mental Health, and Basic Needs

• Manage a single referral system for staff, families, and students (including student self-referral at RCHS); own the referral log and ensure each referral is connected within 10 school days.
• Review the list of students at 10% or more absence, identify the primary cause for each, and make personal, supportive contact within 10 school days.
• Coordinate on-campus clinic days (dental, vision, immunizations, physicals), counseling and tele-mental-health sessions, and benefits-enrollment hours with partner agencies.
• Manage consent, scheduling, follow-up after screenings, and transportation for care that cannot come to campus.
• Oversee the resource room at RCES and the student-designed resource space at RCHS, including posted hours, stock, and discreet distribution.
• Coordinate the late bus and family shuttle runs with division transportation.

Family and Community Engagement

• Conduct phone outreach and home visits (in pairs, with the School Social Worker), always by invitation.
• Recruit and support caregiver and student members of the advisory teams, with particular attention to Spanish-speaking families, economically disadvantaged families, and students who are often absent.
• Plan family resource nights and sessions in Sperryville, Flint Hill, Amissville, Chester Gap, and other villages, with meals, childcare, and interpretation.
• Negotiate, maintain, and renew written agreements with community partners, including roles, schedules, data sharing, and space.
• Publish an annual "what you told us, what we did" report to families and students.

Student Engagement (in partnership with the ECC Coordinator)

• Partner with the ECC Coordinator, who connects disengaged students to activities and mentors, while the Community Schools Coordinator addresses barrier-related absences.
• Work with employers of student workers on schedules that protect the school day.

Staff Learning and Sustainability

• Deliver Community Schools training to all instructional and support staff, including bus drivers, nutrition staff, custodians, and front-office staff, within existing meeting and professional learning time.
• Support sustainability planning, including braided funding, partner agreements, and FY28 budget requests.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in social work, education, counseling, public health, human services, or a related field.
• At least three years of experience working with children, youth, and families in a school, social service, health, or community setting.
• Experience coordinating services or partnerships across multiple organizations.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for travel throughout the county, including home visits.
• Successful completion of background checks required by RCPS.

Preferred

• Master's degree in social work, education, school counseling, public health, human services, or a related field.
• Experience with Community Schools, MTSS, case management, or attendance improvement work.
• Working knowledge of Rappahannock County or a comparable rural community and its service providers.
• Proficiency in Spanish.
• Experience supporting families of students with disabilities.
• Experience with grant reporting and data tracking.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Builds trust quickly with families, students, staff, and partners, and treats every person with dignity and unconditional positive regard.
• Understands the impact of poverty, rural isolation, disability, and mental health needs on attendance and learning.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including comfort speaking in public and community settings.
• Communicates clearly and warmly in person, by phone, by text, and in writing, including with families who have limited internet access or speak languages other than English.
• Maintains confidentiality and follows FERPA, HIPAA, and cross-agency consent requirements.
• Organizes multiple partners, schedules, and referrals across two campuses without losing track of a single family.
• Uses data to monitor progress, identify gaps, and adjust supports.
• Facilitates meetings that reach consensus and give families and students a real voice in decisions.
• Works independently, solves problems creatively, takes initiative, and follows through.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, scheduling and registration tools, and basic budget tracking.

Working Conditions

• Work is divided between two campuses, with regular travel across the county for home visits, partner meetings, and village family events.
• Some evening and occasional weekend hours are required for advisory meetings, family nights, and resource room hours.
• Must be able to lift and move up to 40 pounds (supplies, food, and clothing stock).

Terms of Employment:

This position is funded by the Virginia Community Schools Grant for July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Continuation beyond the grant period depends on the availability of funding.

220-day contract. Salary and benefits in accordance with the approved Rappahannock County Public Schools School Board policy. Performance evaluated annually by the supervisor in accordance with School Board policy.

Rappahannock County Public Schools does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, creed, marital status, age or disability in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Section 504, and ADA regulations. RCPS provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Carol Johnson, Assistant Superintendent, Rappahannock County Public Schools, at 6 School House Road, Washington, Virginia 22747, (540-227-0023)