Job Description

Company Description

North River Commission is a community-based nonprofit organization founded in 1962 by concerned residents and neighborhood institutions. NRC unites over 100 civic associations, businesses, schools, institutions and places of worship on the northwest side of Chicago to improve the quality of life for all constituents in our community by maintaining and creating affordable housing, quality education, arts & cultural endeavors, environmental sustainability, open spaces, and thriving neighborhood businesses.

Program Background

Parent Mentors, mainly Latina and Black mothers, help fill persistent equity gaps by volunteering in classrooms for 2 hours each day. The Parent Mentors are supported by weekly training on classroom instructional practices, leadership, and other professional skills. As a result, they support each other to pursue their goals and unite the school community for long term, sustainable change.

Position Description

North River Commission (NRC) seeks a part-time Parent Mentor Organizer to manage the Parent Mentor Program (PMP) at four schools in the agency’s service area on the northwest side of Chicago. This position is responsible for the daily oversight and management of PMP, including hiring and supporting one Parent Mentor Coordinator per school and assisting in the recruitment of 6-8 parent mentors at each school. The Parent Mentor Organizer ensures that this program has an impact on the entire school community, not just inside the classroom. This may include seeking out volunteer projects on-campus that Parent Mentors can help with, identifying community issues where Parent Mentors could provide leadership, and building connections with the community-based organization. The Parent Mentor Organizer reports to and is supported by the Executive Director.

Summary

The Parent Mentor Organizer improves leadership and professional skills in parents and by extension, improves educational and social-emotional outcomes for students and strengthens relationships between school communities and families. This position works closely with school leaders and stakeholders to develop strategic training for parents to assist them in successfully providing tutoring and social-emotional support to students. This role also connects local schools and families to resources. This role is essential to NRC’s Education Department and supports the cultivation of innovative, sustainable, and impactful programming that creates equity, opportunity and prosperity for all.

Position Responsibilities

• Leads the implementation of the Parent Mentor Program at all partner sites. Ensures compliance with the grant, including data, financial, and any other required documentation, as well as any Chicago Public School requirements.
• Manages all personnel related to the Parent Mentor Program, which may include regular, scheduled meetings with Parent Mentor Coordinators and ensures timely submission of timesheets.
• Submits monthly expense reports and meets regularly for coaching sessions with the Parent Engagement Institute Program Support Manager.
• Attends all Parent Engagement Institute trainings and Wednesday virtual workshops 
• Recruits, interviews, selects, and supervises Parent Mentor Coordinators and Parent Mentors to participate in the program. 
• Works with Parent Mentor Coordinators to plan and conduct weekly meetings/workshops/trainings with Parent Mentors. 
• Works with school administration to place Parent Mentors in classrooms, 4 days per week, 2 hours per day. 
• Have one-on-one meetings with parents, teachers, administrators, and community leaders. 
• Engages Parent Mentors in leadership development opportunities both inside the school and in the community in tandem with the Parent Mentor Coordinators. 
• Maintains good communication with school staff and administration. 
• Participates in Monthly Statewide Meetings and additional statewide meetings as needed. 
• Collects student outcome data and surveys from Parent Mentors and teachers. Ensure that all payment records and assessment tools are accurate and timely. 
• Collaborates with NRC staff, leaders, and volunteers for delivery of other NRC objectives as needed.

Position Requirements

• Strong Spanish proficiency is preferred.
• Strong community organizing skills and experience in project management and building partnerships preferred.
• Strong oral and written communication skills; ability to make presentations at public meetings and conferences.
• Work experience within an education setting and/or with parents or families. Experience in a leadership or supervisory role.
• Flexibility in adapting to changing circumstances and environments. Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Experience working with urban communities and people from a variety of cultures, income groups, and ethnic origins is an asset.
• Good computer competency.

Work Schedule

The Parent Mentor Organizer works an average of 20 hours per week. There may be some weeks requiring more than 20 hours–but less than 30 hours–of work, such as at the beginning of the academic year. Exact working hours are flexible, but work must be completed primarily at the North River Commission’s office located in Albany Park and secondarily at the Parent Mentor Program partner schools. This role is not eligible for remote work.

Compensation

The hourly wage for the Parent Mentor Organizer position is $30/hr.

Background check is required prior to start of work. Additional requirements may be required by North River Commission or Chicago Public Schools.

Position is open until filled. North River Commission is an equal opportunity employer.

Application

Interested applicants should send their resume and three references to Madeleine Polovick, NRC Education Director, at maddie@northrivercommission.org.

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