School Discipline Organizer

Short-Term, Part Time Position
January 5 – June 29, 2018

This position has been filled.


The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU-WA) is seeking a Spokane-based School Discipline Organizer.  This is a short-term hourly position, beginning January 5, 2018 and ending June 29, 2018.  The School Discipline Organizer reports to the ACLU-WA Field Director and the ACLU-WA Youth Policy Director.  The pay is $18 per hour and hours must not exceed 20 hours per week.
 
Overview

The ACLU-WA is a nonpartisan public interest organization devoted to protecting and extending civil rights and civil liberties. The ACLU-WA has joined partner organizations and parents to form the Every Student Counts Alliance (ESCA), which is dedicated to reforming student discipline practices in Spokane Public Schools.
 
Students who are suspended or expelled from school are more likely to be pushed out of school and to end up in the juvenile justice system. Some students are referred to the juvenile justice system because of misbehavior. The ESCA has been working collaboratively with parents and with the school district to change these practices.
 
The ACLU-WA believes that parent and student engagement is crucial to long-term reform efforts. In particular, effective reforms will center the expertise of those most impacted – students of color, students with disabilities, low-income students, and their families. Accordingly, the ACLU-WA wishes to help build parent and student leadership around school discipline reform, and to facilitate their involvement in advocacy efforts. 
 
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The School Discipline Organizer will identify parents and students invested in reforming student discipline, to build their leadership capacity as advocates, and to connect them to ongoing advocacy opportunities in Spokane and at the state level. 
 
The organizer will:

  • Identify and support at least 10 parents or students invested in discipline reform, particularly from the groups most directly impacted.
  • Facilitate trainings to build parent and student knowledge of school discipline and skills in school district and legislative advocacy.
  • Support parents and students in developing and leading community education sessions on student discipline and related issues.
  • Support parents and students in developing policy priorities and participating in advocacy efforts (such as attending workgroup meetings, testifying at school board meetings, and meeting with school district leadership).
  • Work with parent and student advocates to share their stories about the impact of student discipline on their lives.
  • Assist ESCA facilitators with relevant tasks.
  • Communicate regularly with the ACLU-WA Field Director and Youth Policy Director in Seattle.
 
QUALIFICATIONS
  • Experience in grassroots organizing.  Highly self-motivated and directed.
  • Strong affinity for networking and building strategic relationships.
  • Demonstrated ability to produce work reflecting consistent attention to detail and to coordinate numerous concurrent projects.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to work well within diverse and underrepresented communities.
  • Willingness to work non-traditional work hours and weekends
  • Access to a vehicle and a driver’s license.
  • A commitment to diversity; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance.
This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU reserves the right to change the description and/or posting at any time without advance notice. This position is “non-exempt” under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Compensation will be $18 per hour, for no more than 20 hours per week, until June 29, 2018.  Benefits include reimbursement for approved transportation, sick leave and 401K.
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURE

To apply, email a letter of brief letter of application and resume to [email protected] and include in the subject line of the email your Last Name and School Discipline Organizer.  Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, at which time the job announcement will be removed from our website at www.aclu-wa.org/careers
 
The ACLU is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture.  The ACLU encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, and veteran status.
 
The ACLU of Washington comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, Inc. and the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Foundation. The two corporations share the same overall mission, office space, and employees. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU of Washington.”