Sustainable Community Schools Resource Coordinator en GADS HILL CENTER

Description

CENTER: Cullerton & THE Collins Academy

POSITION TITLE: Sustainable Community Schools Resource Coordinator

Gads Hill Center, a social service organization established in 1898, creates opportunities for children and their families to build a better life through education, access to resources and community engagement.

At Gads Hill Center we envision a community in which all children benefit from healthy, financially stable households that support their early learning, education, and growth. We invest in the potential of children, youth, and families through early childhood education, youth development programs, mental health services, and community initiatives. Ultimately, Gads Hill Center builds a community where all families can help their children have access to quality education to succeed in school and life.

Position Overview

The Sustainable Community Schools (SCS) Resource Coordinator is a central leader in implementing the SCS model—a transformative, justice-centered approach to education rooted in racial equity, community self-determination, and whole child development. This role bridges school, family, and community partnerships to dismantle oppressive systems, foster healing, and create sustainable systems of support. The SCS Resource Coordinator is a strategist, mentor, planner, implementer, people-person, and motivator.

The SCS Resource Coordinator will engage deeply with students, families, educators, community partners, and leadership bodies to build a shared vision, develop collaborative strategies, so that the SCS Principles, Praxes, and Pillars can be fully integrated into the school's culture. You understand the importance of advocating youth's voices and modeling positive, responsible, and healthy behavior to the school community.

Sustainable Community Schools (SCS) Pillars and Principles (This role is deeply rooted in the following pillars and principles.):

• Engaging, Culturally Relevant, and Challenging Curricula: Supporting families’ understanding and involvement in high-quality, meaningful learning experiences.
• Emphasis on High-Quality Teaching over High-Stakes Testing: Promoting environments where teaching excellence and student growth are prioritized.
• Wrap-Around Supports and Opportunities: Ensuring students and families access comprehensive resources beyond academics.
• Positive Discipline Practices, including Restorative Justice: Advocating for fair, respectful, and restorative approaches to behavior.
• Authentic Parent and Community Engagement: Empowering families as genuine partners and leaders in the school community.
• Inclusive School Leadership: Supporting collaborative decision-making that reflects diverse voices.

SCS Principles:

• Racial Justice & Equity
• Transparency & Trusting Relationships
• Self-Determination and Governance
• Building from Community Strengths, Wisdom, and Data/Best Practice/Evidence
• Shared Leadership and Collaboration
• Reflective Learning Culture
• Whole Child Approach to Education

Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership & Coordination

• Facilitate whole-school and community planning aligned with SCS principles and pillars.
• Help to develop, convene and maintain a representative SCS Leadership Team that includes youth, parents, educators, school staff, and community members that meet monthly.
• Support shared leadership by encouraging equitable participation, decision-making, and goal setting across all school groups.
• Align, coordinate, and connect school-based and community-based resources to meet the collective vision.

Community Engagement

• Facilitate ongoing community studies to map school and neighborhood assets, needs, leaders, and opportunities with their school community
• Develop and strengthen authentic, trusting relationships with all members of the school community, centering on the voices of those historically excluded from decision-making.
• Organize and facilitate regular opportunities for the school community to learn about, participate in, and shape the SCS strategy.
• Engage with the leadership team to collectively design outreach strategies to engage at least 75% of each stakeholder group (youth, parents, educators, community).

Vision & Strategic Planning and Implementation

• Co-design and lead a Needs and Assets Assessment process with the SCS Leadership Team.
• Collaboratively translate findings with the SCS Leadership Team into strategic goals integrated into school planning documents (e.g., CIWP, budget priorities).
• Develop and share reports, presentations, or other communication tools to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Manage community school programs and work in collaboration with parents, students, teachers, and school administrators to develop new and sustainable programs
  • Create plan for programs to be offered at school that directly relate to the compliance requirements of the funding source that will provide the funds for the services
  • Work with school leaders to develop and implement a recruitment plan for programs and services
  • Maintain timely and accurate attendance records for all programs, including program rosters, paper attendance forms and sign-in sheets, electronic attendance tracking/data entry in Cityspan
  • Develop a plan or procedure to ensure all instructors submit attendance on time
  • Collect attendance regularly to ensure compliance by all instructors
  • Manage the timesheets, check requests, check distribution, and reimbursements for all SCS staff and instructors
  • Follow payment schedule to ensure the timely submittal of check requests
  • Follow all CPS Policies and Procedures

Collaboration & Professional Learning

• Work closely with the LPA, school leadership, parent coordinator, and other SCS Coordinators across the SCS village to share learning and strengthen practice.
• Participate in professional development, coaching, and communities of practice to continuously improve SCS implementation.
• Foster a culture of reflective learning within the school community, promoting continuous improvement and sustainable growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social work or related field.
• At least 3 years of experience in youth programming, preferably in a school setting.
• Ability to communicate with different audiences including school administration, teachers, parents, students, and community members.
• Deep commitment to racial justice, equity, and community-led decision-making.
• Proven experience in community organizing, youth development, education, or related fields.
• Strong facilitation and relationship-building skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, coordinate across sectors, and innovate.
• Skilled in conflict resolution, power analysis, and equitable meeting facilitation.
• Ability to think critically, creatively and strategically to promote quality programming and growth.
• Committed to problem-solving, collaboration, and building a strong team.
• Computer skills – word processing, internet research, spreadsheets, and creating outreach materials.
• Experience using data to inform program outcomes and quality.
• Primarily based in a school setting with frequent interaction with students, families, educators, and community members.
• Minimum two-year commitment to the program to support consistency and long-term success
• Requires occasional evening and weekend availability.
• Travel within the community will be required.
• Must pass CPS Background Check

Preferred:

• Knowledge of Chicago Public Schools and local community-based organizations.
• Experience in restorative practices, culturally sustaining pedagogy, or wraparound service coordination.
• Lived or working experience and understanding of Chicago’s West side

BENEFITS:

• Competitive Salaries
• Generous Paid Time Off
• 403B Plan (Up to 5% match following 2 years of employment)
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employer Paid Short Term/Long Term Disability
• Employer Paid Life Insurance
• Supplemental Coverage Options Available

POSITION DETAILS:

• Salary Range: Starting $50,000
• Schedule: Full time

APPLICATION DIRECTIONS:

To apply, please visit our careers page at www.gadshillcenter.org/careers and submit your resume and cover letter.

Qualifications