Description
Full time position starting mid December to early January
The Surrey School District respectfully acknowledges that our schools reside on the traditional, unceded, and shared territories of Coast Salish peoples: The q? íc?? y? - Katzie, the q'wa:n??'?n? - Kwantlen and the SEMYOME - Semiahmoo First Nations, who have been stewards of this land since time immemorial.
Surrey Schools is the largest school district in BC and the second largest employer in Surrey. Spread across one of the fastest-growing cities in British Columbia, Surrey Schools provides quality education to over 84,000 students with 130+ schools sites and a variety of other learning facilities, offering a broad range of innovative programs and services to support the learning of our students. The Surrey School District team of approximately 13,000 employees works tirelessly every day to ensure that children are getting the best start they can, providing the preparation to be our leaders of tomorrow.
A Multicultural Worker facilitates communication between home and school environments and provides liaison services to students and parents/guardians of identified cultural groups, to school personnel and to cultural communities in the school district. The nature of this job requires variable scheduling and participation in evening school and district functions or meetings, as required.
The work includes providing orientation services to students from culturally diverse backgrounds in their first or spoken language with respect to educational, social, family, cultural, emotional and career needs. Multicultural Worker's support student learning by facilitating communication between the school and home, and may include facilitating cross cultural understanding, and involving community agencies, as requested by administration officers or teaching staff. The itinerant Multicultural Worker reports to the Director of Instruction or designate, and, at the school site, takes direction from an administrative officer.
TYPICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Under direction, furthers two-way communication between home and school regarding academic and/or social development of students to clarify educational and cross-cultural matters.
Assists teachers, administrators and support staff by obtaining information from the home concerning the student's background and previous educational progress.
Facilitates communication between the school and home regarding the student's current progress.
May act as a resource to schools for furthering cross-cultural understanding, including participating at parent information meetings, multicultural activities, and other school events, as required.
Maintains ongoing records and daily work log.
Assists with organization of cross-cultural field trips, workshops, community speakers, etc., as required.
Facilitates and assists with school integration, orientation, student settlement and related activities in collaboration with other school personnel.
Encourages parental involvement in school activities.
In Work Experience, assists the teacher to facilitate contact between students and groups providing training programs. Assists in maintaining contact with students and employers regarding agreements, records and reports, as required.
Acts as a role model within the context of their culture, school and community. Assists in building student self-esteem.
Provides communication, interpretation and liaison services to school and district staff.
May provide translation services, as required.
Performs related duties, as required.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS
Oral and written fluency in English, Dari, and Pashto.
Ability to enter client data accurately and efficiently into the program services database and conduct basic troubleshooting and ability to track client services and make case notes.
Ability to organize and deliver workshops using multi-media to parents and students in both English and the relevant language(s).
Ability to facilitate and deliver workshops and engage students and families.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team setting
Knowledge of the culture(s) being served and an understanding of problems, concerns and strengths in these traditions, and the ability to assist with the bridging of cultures.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals from diverse cultures and communities.
Knowledge of the processes of acculturation. Ability to adapt to changing situations and to develop and maintain rapport with students, parents, staff and community members.
Understanding of the immigrant experience/settlement.
Communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
Ability to respond with sensitivity to emergent situations and to use sound judgement when dealing with cross-cultural issues and matters of a confidential nature.
Ability to assist educators with interpreting student needs where cultural differences are a factor.
Ability to work a flexible schedule to accommodate meetings and events that may take place before or after usual working hours.
Driver’s License and ability to travel to various schools in the district based on service needs.
Fulltime position, 5 days per week.
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
3-5 years of experience in work related to supporting newcomer integration and/or post-secondary education in social sciences or equivalent discipline.
LICENCES, CERTIFICATES AND REGISTRATIONS
Valid B.C. Driver's License.
Qualified applicants can apply by clicking the "apply" button to the right of the posting. Thi posting closes at 4pm December 2, 2024.
Note: Successful applicants will be required to consent to a Criminal Records Search prior to employment. Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. To all others, thank you for your interest.
