English Language Learner Liaison Worker, Tigrinya

Edmonton Catholic Schools is a large urban school division whose mission is to provide a Catholic education that inspires students to learn and that prepares them to live fully and to serve God in one another. The Division is comprised of over 44,000 students and 5,000 employees in 95 schools plus other sites.

**English Language Learner Liaison Worker, Tigrinya**:
**Requisition ID**: 7111**Hours Per Week**: 35**Position**: New**FTE**: 1**Department**: Learning Services**No Months Per Year**: 10**Position Status**: Permanent**Employee Group**: OOS**Rate of Pay**: $4,849 - $6,062**Posting Closing Date**: 6/3/23**English Language Learner Liaison Worker - Tigrinya Language Specialization**

**Responsibilities**:

- Support newcomer parents and students during the acculturation process by providing cultural information on the host country
- Facilitate adaptation and full integration into Canadian society
- Provide parents with ideas and strategic information on issues dealing with cultural differences including parenting in two cultures through ongoing communication
- Assist schools with multi-cultural events planning and hosting of fairs to promote diversity, awareness and sensitivity amongst students, parents, families, and school staff
- Work with Community Engagement Coordinator to provide access to community agencies and opportunities
- Direct families to mainstream government programs and community agencies for settlement services and to links to ethno-cultural communities for available support
- Maintain rapport and continuously network with the federal and provincial governments’ settlement providing agencies on a regular basis for settlement services changes and updates
- Maintain and seek out information about community agencies to ensure up-to-date and accurate information
- Seek referrals to medical specialists
- Assist with school registrations and filling out background information forms
- Conduct orientation sessions for families to the Canadian education system, school tours and introduction to staff
- Direct families to programs that will best meet the needs of the student; Assist parents in accessing information on the school and Division websites
- Share cultural information with school staff to effect smooth transition and facilitate integration of students
- Plan, develop, prepare, and deliver cultural presentations at schools
- Assist with the design and production of parents’ resources and publicity material
- Collect and maintain up-to-date information about Division programs and courses for students and parents
- Maintain up-to-date information about pathways to graduation for high school ELLs and options to post-secondary programs
- Promote cultural sensitivity among school and Division staff to better understand student behaviour patterns
- Communicate with parents to encourage the student's attendance at summer school and emphasise the importance of attending
- Provide cultural information for better understanding of families’ needs. Provide language interpretation support to families and school staff during registrations, parent
- teacher interviews, demonstration of learning events, report card, and individualised programs.
- Collaborate with consultants and multi-disciplinary teams by providing first and second language support to facilitate the assessment process
- Network with outside agencies to arrange for language interpreters where skills not available in-house
- Translate a wide range of Division and school documents and resource material for use by families and school staff to promote better understanding and clarity to parties involved
- Monitor requests and needs for translated documents and facilitate completion
- Collaborate with the consultants, teachers, Learning Coaches, and multi-disciplinary teams by providing first and second language support to facilitate the assessment and interview processes
- Gather background information on schooling in home country and perform first language assessment on newcomer students to determine proficiency. Provide assessment feedback.
- Advise parents of schools’ suggested programming based on assessment results
- Participate in professional learning about community agencies to ensure up-to-date, accurate information for families
- Conduct research for updates on immigration trends and issues on a regular basis
- Share information and experiences with staff to fulfil the planning and administrative needs of the program
- Advocate for student registration in schools; represent client voices in presentations

**Qualifications**
- Degree or Diploma in an area related to education or social sciences, plus three years of directly related experience
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including fluency in Tigrinya, both written and verbal is essential.
- Knowledge of the challenges confronting immigrant families including settlement and school integration issues, immigration trends and policies, community settleme