Student Recruitment And Retention Specialist

Description:

Who You Are

• Passionate Community Advocate: You are enthusiastic about education and committed to promoting Friendly Academy’s mission to families and the wider community.
• Engaging Communicator: You excel at building relationships, connecting with diverse families, and sharing the value of our school’s offerings.
• Organized Planner: You thrive in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple outreach initiatives and events to meet ambitious enrollment and retention goals.
• Detail-Oriented and Technically Proficient: You are highly organized and possess strong technical skills, enabling you to effectively track progress, manage data, and follow up with families and stakeholders.
• Family-Centered: You prioritize the needs of families, ensuring they feel welcomed, supported, and loved throughout their experience with Friendly Academy.

Responsibilities

Family Recruitment

• Develop and implement strategies to achieve the enrollment goal of 100 students in year one and an annual growth of 75 students thereafter.
• Conduct outreach initiatives, including events, school tours, and partnerships with community organizations, to attract prospective families.
• Represent Friendly Academy at community events and fairs to promote our mission and programs.
• Oversee the management of social media platforms to support student recruitment and family engagement by creating and sharing content that highlights school events, programs, and achievements, and by interacting with prospective and current families to build a strong online presence.
• Support the planning, organization, and execution of the student lottery process, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and transparent communication with families.
• Engage with student recruitment consultants to align on strategies, share insights, and implement best practices to achieve enrollment goals.

Family Retention and Community Engagement

• Build strong, lasting relationships with enrolled families to foster a sense of belonging and engagement.
• Create and organize family engagement events and initiatives to strengthen connections between families and the school community.
• Act as a liaison between families and staff, addressing concerns and facilitating resolutions.
• Assist families in identifying and accessing wraparound services within the community, such as housing assistance, mental health resources, childcare, and employment support, to help address barriers to student success.
• Develop partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and stakeholders to enhance recruitment efforts.
• Serve as the primary contact for inquiries from prospective families, providing personalized and timely responses.
• Assist with conducting home visits to build stronger relationships with families, assess student needs, and provide resources or support to ensure student success and well-being.

Administrative Support

• Assist the Director of Operations with student registration processes, including ensuring families submit necessary documentation and complete forms accurately.
• Provide support for enrollment data entry, maintenance, and verification in student information systems.
• Participate in meetings and trainings related to the Common School Application process to ensure a thorough understanding of application procedures and provide accurate guidance to prospective families.
• Respond to parent inquiries regarding enrollment, registration, and school policies, ensuring a welcoming and efficient process.
• Track enrollment data, outreach activities, and family engagement metrics.
• Provide regular reports to the Director of Operations on progress toward recruitment and retention goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., communications, marketing, education, or social work) preferred, but equivalent experience will be considered.
• Demonstrated experience in family engagement, recruitment, or community outreach, ideally within an educational or nonprofit setting.
• Proficiency in using data management systems, customer relationship management (CRM) tools, student information systems (SIS), and social media platforms for outreach and engagement.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to connect with diverse families and community stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of and sensitivity to the cultural and socioeconomic diversity of families
• Alignment with Friendly Academy’s mission and values.