Data Specialist Job Announcement

Arlington Public Schools and The Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth & Families are looking to fill the position of the Data Specialist, please forward this announcement to anyone you know who may be interested.


Full-Time Position with Arlington Public Schools, Annual salary range - $54,115 - $80,103

The Data Specialist works directly with the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families (the Partnership) to collect, analyze and report data on the status of children, youth and families, including their health, behaviors, attitudes and needs. The Data Specialist is a key member of the Partnership staff and works closely with the Partnership Coordinator and the Assets Liaison and Teen Coordinator. The Data Specialist works under general supervision of the Assistant Superintendent of Information Services.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• At least five years experience in survey design, statistics, data analysis, community assessments and program evaluation.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Masters Degree in evaluation, education, public policy analysis, social science or other related field, including or supplemented by course work in research and assessment, plus experience in education, teaching or related service activities that involve data analysis; or any equivalent combination of education and experience that would provide the above noted knowledge, skill, and ability.

• Bilingual skills preferred but not required.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK (May not include all duties performed – These are intended as an illustration of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.)

Plans and implements the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and Profiles of Student Life Survey (Developmental Assets Survey) in Arlington including the following:

• Designs sample and selection by choosing the appropriate stratification and size of the survey sample, given desired confidence intervals, and designing random selection process to choose classrooms to participate in survey.

• Communicates with parents; works with APS central office staff to prepare and mail letters to parents describing the survey; tracks requests from parents to exempt their child from the survey and ensure that the appropriate classroom teacher is notified on time.

• Serves as liaison with school personnel; notifies school personnel of the survey date and procedures; provides training for teachers; coordinates and schedules drop off and pick up of survey materials.

• Formulates supplemental survey questions for the YRBS (i.e. not contained in the national version): requests suggestions for additional questions from various interest groups who use the data (such as school substance abuse counselors, mental and physical health professionals, and community groups); researches ways to pose questions and make final recommendations regarding additional questions to include.

• Collects local, state and national data related to services for children, youth and families by utilizing the Internet, library, phone, reports/papers provided by a variety of school and county employees, community members, and many other sources.

• Writes the Partnership’s Community Report Card on the Status of Children, Youth and Children.

• Conducts program evaluations for selected Partnership initiatives including the Too Smart to Start alcohol prevention program and Carlin Springs Community School.

• Attends and contributes to Partnership, workgroups, subgroups and other meetings during the day and in the evenings.

• Researches initiatives and promising approaches related to children, youth and families used in surrounding cities and counties via the Internet, phone, and meetings with leaders in the community.

• Provides staff training on verification, reconciliation and preparation of reports.

• Provides consultative services to county and school staff on a variety of program evaluation issues and survey designs.

• Presents research findings related to Partnership initiatives to the Arlington County Board and Arlington School Board.

• Performs related duties as required or assigned.

Experience working with students, families, and staff from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

• Demonstrated abilities in survey sampling and questionnaire design.

• Demonstrated abilities to research and write comprehensive reports involving data interpretation and presentation to non-technical audiences.

• Proficiency in using statistical software such as SPSS, SAS or Access.

• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and manage complex data collection.

• Experience in program evaluation including formative and summative assessment.

• Knowledge of research techniques, procedures and trends.

• Knowledge of local, state and national data related research services for children, youth and families.

• Ability to assess/evaluate effectiveness of programs and services.

• Ability to establish and maintain successful working relationships with staff, students, and citizens; excellent human relations skills.

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates must submit an application online and attach a resume, and a written statement of interest in and qualifications for this position. Please complete the online Administrative/Technical application on the APS website in the Employment section: www.apsva.us. A minimum of three letters of recommendation must also be attached. One letter should come from applicant's current or most recent immediate supervisor. (Recommendation letters may be sent in separately.)

APPLICATION PACKET, INCLUDING ALL REQUIRED MATERIAL MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE.

Go to the Arlington Public Schools site:

http://www.apsva.us/

Type Data Specialist into the Search for Job area.

Assets in a Minute - Family Boundaries

This “Assets Minutes” is on Family Boundaries. As they grow older, it’s good to give your children more freedom. However, you still need to have clear rules and consistent consequences.

Assets in a Minute - Youth Programs

Today’s “Assets Minutes” is on youth programs. Children benefit from safe, supervised activities after school. Encouraging them to participate in afterschool programs such as check-in or a sports team helps them do something constructive with their time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbp5rzoqKCc&feature=related

Connect with Kids Champion - Mary Van Dyke

Connect with Kids Champions are those ordinary people who make an extraordinary effort to connect with kids. They make it a priority to spend time and build relationships with children and teens. Champions come from all walks of life – a champion could be a neighbor, a friend, a business, a young person, a parent or a professional working with young people. What sets Connect with Kids Champions apart is their intentional and deliberate attentiveness to the needs of young people.



Mary Van Dyke was recently celebrated as a Connect with Kids Champion at Arlington Traditional School (ATS). Mary was nominated by Ginger Geoffrey who, along with Jennifer Gradel, volunteers weekly with Mary. She was nominated for all she does to help young people connect to the wonders of nature around them.



Jennifer Abel, Mary Van Dyke, Farrell Oxley



Mary makes the time in her busy life to share her passion for nature and caring for the environment with young people. She volunteers in the 4th grade at ATS with the 4H Nature Stewards Club. She coordinates and plans activities with her students - everything from butterflies, to herbs, to trees and weeds. She also works with the PTA and teachers to plan school-based activities for preK through 5th graders that promote a love of nature that carries over into the lives of the students.

Mary also organizes the ATS plant sale. This year they raised $700!. Mary's affiliations show her commitment to children, they include Arlington Children and Nature Network, Eco-Schools,USA, Junior Master Gardeners, Arlington Public Schools, Arlington Outdoor Lab, and Virginia Cooperative Extension - including 4H

As impressive as all this is, it’s not the whole story. The CWK award is not so much about what you do as how you do what you do. Mary’s quiet, calm demeanor and great respect and care for each child ensures that the young people she works with come away with a greater appreciation for the world around them and a real sense of empowerment about what they can do to protect the world they live in.

Helping young people find a passion in their lives is a powerful gift and Mary has sparked that passion in many young people.

Connect with Kids Champion - Vivian Delgado

Connect with Kids Champions are those ordinary people who make an extraordinary effort to connect with kids. They make it a priority to spend time and build relationships with children and teens. Champions come from all walks of life – a champion could be a neighbor, a friend, a business, a young person, a parent or a professional working with young people. What sets Connect with Kids Champions apart is their intentional and deliberate attentiveness to the needs of young people.

Vivian Delgado – where to begin! Vivian was nominated by her colleagues and her mentee for all her work with EduFuturo. She has served as a Board member and is currently Vice –president of the Board.

Although Vivian did not get the guidance and support she needed to go to a four year college after high school, she didn’t let that stop her. She spent 14 years in the workplace taking different jobs, attending Community College and then George Mason. And now she is getting ready to go to Stanford University to get her Masters in teaching!

As impressive as all that is, Vivian’s nomination is really about how she used her own life experience to become a caring, devoted mentor and teacher. In her nomination for Vivian, Kathie Panfil said; Vivian “has the heart, nerve, patience and knowledge to change the world as a teacher” She’s already well on her way to changing the world – with her mentoring In the Emerging Leaders Program at EduFuturo.

She has devoted hours and hours to helping Latino students graduate and realize their hopes and dreams for getting a college education. She keeps hope and possibility in front of all these young people. Another nominator, Sam Wurzelman said: “Vivian has consistently formed strong and lasting relationships with the high school students and is the last mentor to leave each session, ensuring that her mentees receive sufficient support.”

Perhaps Carmina, one of Vivian’s mentees sums it up best: She says ”I have never had a mentor before, but I hope all mentors are like Vivian, helpful and, most of all, caring.”

We can all echo Carmina’s hope.

Congratulations to Bernard Piper for being a Connect with Kids Champion!

Connect with Kids Champions are those people in our community who, in the dailyness of their lives, make it a priority to connect, spend time and build relationships with children and teens. Champions come from all walks of life – a champion could be a neighbor, a friend, a business, a parent or a professional working with young people. What sets a Connect with Kids Champion apart is their intentional and deliberate attentiveness to the needs of young people.

Mr. Bernard Piper – better known as Mr. Bernie was nominated by Elizabeth Auten, AHC Resident Services Manager at Gates of Ballston, for his volunteer work here at the Gates after-school program. He has been volunteering for two years. But he isn’t getting this award because he volunteers, he’s getting this award for how he volunteers. He began as a tutor coming once a week, but then he noticed there was another need he could help with. Some of the kids were struggling with math. Mr. Bernie decided to come another day each week to help with math. He created fun games that helped improve the young people’s math skills and perhaps even more importantly he helped them really enjoy math. Elizabeth wrote that Mr. Bernie has created a culture that makes math fun for our kids, and he clearly wants each one of the students to succeed. For his volunteership in our community, we are eternally grateful!

So on behalf of the Gates After-School Prgram and the whole community, the Partnership is pleased to present Bernie Piper with this Connect with Kids Champion award.

Presented by the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families. The Partnership is working with the Arlington community to create a community where all young people’s needs are met and their voices heard. As part of that effort, we want to recognize those ordinary people who make an extraordinary effort to connect with kids. We call these wonderful people Connect with Kids Champions.

Family Communications

This week’s “Assets Minuets” YouTube video features family communication. Teens can talk to their families for advice and support. Having conversations that are serious or silly let’s everyone’s voice be heard. Make sure to find time to sit down with your family and have a conversation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=Lior3G9wOHU