SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
Under administrative direction of the Equity and Diversity Coordinator, serves as the Equity and Diversity Specialist, demonstrates a commitment to all children and families, maintains a passion for social justice, provides training support and advocacy for all diverse populations comprehensively, promotes equity, embraces diversity, advocates against racism, supports human rights of all and maintains a strong commitment to all forms of diversity including race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, disability, social class etc. The specialist will celebrate, advocate, and support differences while stressing the common principles and goals that unite the Washoe County School District; promotes advocacy and educational opportunities within the school district while collaborating with the community; connects with higher education, provides emphasis in improving communication that promotes equity, embraces diversity and advocates against prejudice and discrimination; raises awareness about related data internally and externally; utilizes community and district partnerships and data systems to support the eradication of disproportionality; identifies and eliminates institutional racism and addresses equity, and a positive school climate and culture for a safe and respectful learning environment for all will be a priority. The specialist will work within systems to support and clarify the role of cultural competency interwoven into all schools, departments and buildings by providing facilitation of ongoing professional development. The Specialist will demonstrate a deep respect for freedom, human rights, and equality without bias, as well as exemplify strong facilitation skills. Incumbent performs related work as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
• Develops strategies and implements policies, programs and practices to raise the academic achievement levels of all underrepresented students by providing sites with tools, professional development and resources.
• Works to identify barriers and combat over representation, reaches out to and supports schools involving all elements of diversity, includes parents and community members in school activities, opportunities, programs, and committees.
• Incorporates multicultural and equity education proficiency and awareness into the curriculum, supports and coordinates special programs, uses data and collaboration to organize higher education activities and infuses knowledge into providing libraries and schools with material suggestions that combat institutional racism.
• Develops and implements comprehensive cultural competency educational services and programs for students, teachers, staff, administrators, and school board members.
• Provides informational and educational forums for the community that will facilitate a better understanding and acceptance of equity and diversity issues.
• Implements practices that address the inclusion of the immigrant and limited English proficient student population. and supports the work of the schools through education and support of them. Serves to refer and coach complaints and problems back to schools and empowers schools to be successful.
• Develops and delivers long-term strategic goals for data vision and standards in conjunction with data users, department managers, clients, and other key stakeholders.
• Creates short-term tactical solutions to achieve long-term objectives and an overall data management roadmap.
• Establishes processes for governing the identification, collection, and use of data that addresses disproportionality and over representation.
• Functions as an effective voice within the organization and community on behalf of diverse children and families.
• Provides leadership in promoting cultural competence and supports movement to proficiency, focuses on eliminating instructional bias within Washoe County School District and across diverse communities.
• Builds and maintains effective working relationships with policy makers, colleagues, the media, community, university and community colleges, Nevada Department of Education and public officials.
• Assists in setting up comprehensive cultural competency teaching and training for faculty.
• Oversees mentoring of students with counseling.
• Coordinates and assists with diversity events involving university and community partners and supports continuation of proactive over reactive work with diverse populations.
• Assists in the preparation of required reports and provides assistance, guidance, and expert advice to the Superintendent, Board of Trustees, and Administrators.
• Collaborates with multiple district departments i.e. MTSS, School Police, Curriculum and Instruction, Counseling, Family School Partnerships to service students and problem solve related to disproportionality, overrepresentation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Experience: Any combination of education/experience that could likely provide the required knowledge in qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills would be:

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, journalism, sociology or related field.

and

Experience: Three (3) years’ experience in related work within agencies, education or organizations.

Licenses/Certificates: None.

OTHER JOB REQUIREMENTS
Must demonstrate a willingness to travel between schools and departments, and work a flexible schedule.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
None.

COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES
Knowledge of/ Skill in/Ability to:
• Communicates effectively and positively to promote changes for vulnerable children and families through public policy.
• Speaking effectively on behalf of children and families with the media, public, and policy makers.
• Educational principles promoting improved student achievement.
• Current cultural, racial, ethnic, gender and religious diversity issues.
• Resources available to support awareness.
• Training principles that will guide behavior and attitudinal change.
• Principles of organization development and change and leadership principles.
• Training and facilitation of adults, including individual support and conflict resolution.
• Writing informative and persuasive documents.
• Establishing effective interpersonal relations.
• Raising awareness and acceptance to guide organizational change.
• Coordinating comprehensive events.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS
The work environment and exposures described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meetings and training rooms, libraries, residences, or commercial vehicles, e.g., use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of fire regulations and traffic signals. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.

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

The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items, such as paper, books, or small parts; or driving an automobile. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

THIS JOB SPECIFICATION SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED TO IMPLY THAT THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE THE EXCLUSIVE STANDARDS OF THE POSITION. INCUMBENTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW ANY OTHER INSTRUCTIONS, AND TO PERFORM ANY OTHER RELATED DUTIES AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THEIR SUPERVISOR.

The Washoe County School District is committed to providing a safe and respectful learning and working environment for all students, staff, and visitors. The District prohibits bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, and/or discrimination based on an individual’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veterans or military status, marital status, disability or the presence of any sensory, physical or mental handicap in any of its educational programs/activities and employment, or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The District prohibits discrimination against any youth group listed in Title 36, as a patriotic society, (i.e. Boy Scouts of America) from access to public school facilities use.

Internal Job Number:2021-22-P222936

Salary:

Salary: $55, 580 (entry step)

Salaries are subject to adjustment and may increase and decrease each fiscal year. New employees hired by Washoe County School District are normally placed on the entry step of the grade of the position.

Range/Grade:25

Additional Job Information:

This position is a One Year Only position ending June 2023. This position is grant funded and is contingent upon continued funding. The hiring administrator may retain incumbent for the duration of the grant without re-advertising.

This position is open for eligible transfer applicants and simultaneously open to ALL applicants. An Administrator may apply for any position for which s/he is qualified provided that salary grade is the same or lower than that of his/her current position.

Interested applicants may apply online at http://www.washoeschools.net/domain/257 by completing an Administrative application and attaching a resume and letter of interest to your online Administrative application, or by updating an existing Administrative application by 11:00 p.m., by the closing date of the posting. Applications must be linked to the job posting to be considered.

The Washoe County School District pays an additional legislatively-designated amount to the Public Employees Retirement System on behalf of the employee for retirement benefits. No retirement contribution is made by the employee.

New employees will be fingerprinted upon hire and every five years thereafter and will have $58.50 deducted from their first paycheck to help defray the cost of fingerprinting. Non-licensed employees will have $58.50 deduction when their fingerprints are completed every five years. Fingerprint fees are subject to change.

Please be advised there is a 90-day waiting period for insurance benefits.

Any applicant who would like to request a reasonable accommodation in any step of the selection process should contact Human Resources at 775-348-0321.