Attendance Specialist - Edmonton, Canada - Government of Alberta

Description

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The Government of Alberta is committed to a diverse and inclusive public service that reflects the population we serve to best meet the needs of Albertans. Consider joining a team where diversity, inclusion and innovation are valued and supported. For more information on diversity and inclusion, please visit: .

For more information on the Ministry of Education, please visit: .

Job Information
Job Title: Attendance Specialist
Job Requisition ID: 58671
Ministry: Education
Location: Edmonton
Full or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary: Permanent
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: Jume 10, 2024
Classification: 021EDA ( Education 1)
Salary: $3,199.90 to 4,282.79 bi-weekly ($83, ,780/year).

The Government of Alberta is committed to a diverse and inclusive public service that reflects the population we serve to best meet the needs of Albertans. Consider joining a team where diversity, inclusion and innovation are valued and supported. For more information on diversity and inclusion, please visit: .

Alberta Education supports students, parents, teachers and administrators from Early Childhood Service (ECS) through Grade 12. Through safe and caring schools for all students, Alberta's Government is making life better by investing in education- one of the most important investments we can make in our future. The Ministry has the following responsibilities: develop curriculum and set standards; evaluate curriculum and assess outcomes; teacher development and certification; supports students with diverse learning needs.

The Education Supports Sector provides policy direction, approves funding, provides school accreditation services, administers programs, and builds system capacity that promotes an inclusive education system for children and students. All work is guided by Alberta Education's core values of respect, integrity, accountability and excellence.

Within the Education Supports Sector, the Learner Supports Branch provides supports for programs and services that impact the education of students. This includes leadership and support to school authorities to address chronic absenteeism.

For more information on the ministry of Education, please visit:
.

Reporting to the Office of Student Attendance and Re-engagement (OSAR) Manager, the Attendance Specialist will apply extensive knowledge and experience in education programs, student support services and working with vulnerable students to provide leadership and expertise on behalf of Education regarding attendance and chronic absenteeism. This position is accountable for leading projects related to student attendance, including the development of policies, legislation and tools to support school authorities. The Attendance Specialist also provides guidance and interpretation of policies to school authority staff as it relates to promoting student attendance, re-engagement in learning and addressing chronic absenteeism.

The position works collaboratively with school authority staff and community and cross ministry partners to support them to address absenteeism.

The Attendance Specialist will establish and maintain strong working relationships with school authorities, ministry, cross-ministry, and community partners and leverage their collective knowledge when making recommendations.

Responsibilities:

1. The Attendance Specialist applies extensive knowledge and experience in education programs, student support services and working with vulnerable students to provide leadership and expertise regarding attendance and chronic absenteeism.

• Maintain knowledge of educational research and evidence-based strategies pertaining to attendance, student engagement and chronic absenteeism.
• Provides information, advice, and recommendations to department leaders.
• Contributes to cross-ministry government strategic plans and initiatives.
• Provides mentorship to the OSAR Team lead by sharing evidence-based practices and supporting them with complex cases.
• Share expertise and strategies with school authorities regarding tracking and monitoring student attendance and universal supports for creating positive environments that encourage students to attend.
• Provide information to education stakeholders and partners to increase awareness of the barriers to student attendance.
• Share expertise and evidence-based strategies with school authorities to address chronic absenteeism.
• Provide strategic advice, interpretation and consultation to school authorities and ministry staff.
• Develop and deliver training modules for Attendance Board members to enhance their practice and provide them with tools to fulfill their mandate.

2. Leads initiatives related to student attendance, re-engagement in learning, and chronic absenteeism.

• Ensures that projects and initiatives are planned and well managed.
• Supports collaboration and seeks input from ministry and cross-ministry colleagues.
• Provide subject matter expertise and guidance when collaborating.
• Identify and analyze data and evidence to ensure that initiative and planning are responsive to the current context.
• Lead the development, revision and implementation of legislation, regulations, polices, programs and services.
• Develop and support implementation of provincial guidance and system improvement resources and tools.

Role Responsibilities Cont'd

3. Issues Management

• Keeps the Manager and Director abreast of emergent issues and concerns and provides timely and effective responses.
• Collaborates with members of OSAR to address emerging policy, process and program issues identified by stakeholders including school authorities and Attendance Board members.
• Research issues to prepare responses to action requests on behalf of the branch, senior officials, and the Minister.
• Establishes and maintains strong communication and working relationships with key partners, clients, and stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate information flow and identification of issues.
• Developing briefing papers, activity status reports, action request responses and draft Correspondence for the Minister and other senior ministry representatives.

4. Provides consultative services in collaboration with the OSAR Team Lead

• Provides direct support/consultation to school administrators and central office staff seeking assistance to address individual matters of chronic absenteeism.
• Supports school authorities to access the Attendance Board when needed.
• Monitoring and completing required follow up on open Attendance Board files.
• Provides information to the public, community, and cross-ministry partners regarding options and strategies to address chronic absenteeism.
• Utilizes learnings from interactions with stakeholders to inform projects and initiatives that will improve supports and services related to student attendance.
• Identifies opportunities to improve upon the supports and services offered through the OSAR unit.
• Provides information and support to Attendance Board members to assist them to fulfill their role.

Qualifications

Requirement:

Master's Degree in a related field like Education, Psychology, Social Work or School Counseling, plus five years related experience or equivalent as described below.

Equivalency: Bachelor's Degree in a related field plus seven years of related experience. Equivalency: Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of:

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education

The successful candidate must have a valid Alberta Permanent Professional Certificate in Teaching

Assets:

• Teaching and leadership experience at the school, jurisdictional and/or provincial level. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience with Education Act and broad framework of regulations, ministerial orders, policies, and processes.
• The issues faced in this role vary considerably and require skilled analysis, reasoning and problem solving skills.

Problem Solving/ Decision Making

This position applies extensive knowledge, experience, and expertise in education programs and student support services to advance the work of the OSAR unit. The barriers to student attendance and engagement in learning are often complex and require collaboration with multiple partners to determine solutions. The Attendance Specialist responds to questions from school authorities, parents, other ministries, and members of the Attendance Board regarding the interpretation of legislation, regulation, policies and programs. The Attendance Specialist engages in solution-oriented activities for cross-ministry work involve and will contribute a strong education system perspective to those shared initiatives and priorities for other government ministries.

This position is relied on to remain aware of current and emerging issues pertaining education, using evidence-informed strategies, trauma-informed practices, in order to address chronic absenteeism. The position will be required to achieve this using political astuteness and sensitivity.

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

The link below will assist you with understanding competencies: .

Critical Competencies:

• Systems Thinking: Takes multiple perspectives into consideration (e.g. school authorities, parents, cross ministry and community partners) when providing advice in relation to legislation and policy advice. Considers risks and broader impacts when providing advice.
• Creative Problem Solving: Understanding the unique challenges that exist within the education system and leveraging knowledge, with an understanding of government processes in order to advance recommendations that address the issue and/or set policy direction.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Pro-actively connects with all stakeholders (e.g. school authorities, department staff, and Attendance Board member, cross ministry partners) to address questions and concerns, leverage expertise, and resolve issues.
• Agility: Ability to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, maintain resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.
• Drive for Results: Understands the requirements of the business cycle in both he OSAR unit and school authorities, and plans work accordingly. Communicates effectively at all levels and develops strategies to mitigate barriers.

Notes

This is competition will be used to fill 1 position located in Edmonton, and hours of work are Monday to Friday hours per week.

Please ensure your resume and cover letter highlights how your previous work experience is related to the qualifications and requirements for this position. Resumes should clearly state the employment dates on your resume with the month and the year. This will be used to evaluate written communication and attention to detail required by this position.

Please note that any applications without a cover letter will not be screened.

The final candidates for this position will be asked to undergo an academic check, references, provide a suitable security screening and may be asked to complete a written exercise and/or assessment.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies across the government of Alberta, at equal or lower classification and salary.

For more information on the Government of Alberta hiring process, view this .

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees:

• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
• Possible opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreements

How To Apply
Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service ) or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information ).

It is recommended that applicants include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application.

Candidates are required to apply for a job online. Please visit for more information. Please visit Recruitment Principles , for more information.

It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service ) or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information ).

It is recommended that applicants include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application.

Closing Statement
This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

Candidates are highly encouraged to attach a cover letter explaining your qualification and suitability for this role.

Applications without a cover letter won't be screened.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Zooha Baig at .

If this competition is closed as per the closing date noted above, please continue to check for a listing of current career opportunities with the Government of Alberta.