Job Title

JOB DESCRIPTION Since 1966, the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) has been dedicated to providing innovative, high-quality, and cost-effective educational programs and services to meet the diverse needs of children and adults in Greater Hartford. Serving 33 member districts and reaching additional communities statewide, CREC supports approximately 12,000 students annually through more than 120 educational programs. Our offerings include professional learning and coaching for educators, specialized programming for students with diverse needs, and PreK-12 education across 16 interdistrict magnet schools. Additionally, CREC provides school construction, operations, and cooperative business services, while also delivering programs that help adults build real, job-ready skills. Since 1966, the Hartford Region Open Choice Program (formally Project Concern) has been empowering Hartford families in education by offering Hartford students the opportunity to attend public schools in suburban towns, and suburban students the opportunity to attend public schools in Hartford, at no cost to the student's family. The goal of the Open Choice Program is to improve academic achievement, reduce racial, ethnic and economic isolation and provide all children with a choice of high quality educational programs. The Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) is one of three agencies in Connecticut that is legislatively mandated to manage the statewide program. Open Choice is funded by the State Department of Education and works in collaboration with the Regional School Choice Office (RSCO). The Open Choice Program supports over 2,500 schools that attend 139 schools across 27 districts throughout the Hartford region. POSITION SUMMARY : Reporting to the Managing Director, the Open Choice Program Community Engagement Specialist supports families through the enrollment and transition process into the Hartford Region Open Choice Program while also leading the launch and growth of the alumni network. As an outward-facing community representative, this individual engages students, families, alumni, cultivates mentoring opportunities, and develops networks that strengthen the programs long-term impact. This position, like all positions within the program, is grant-funded and subject to annual renewal based on continued funding. ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES: +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Duties/Responsibilities** | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Student Transition Support** | | | | | | - Guide Open Choice students and families through enrollment and | | school transition processes. | | - Maintain focused touchpoints with schools enrolling a significant | | number of students. | | - Support high school seniors as they transition into the alumni | | network. | | - Apply knowledge of school-based functions, special education | | processes, and community support to promote positive academic | | outcomes. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | **Alumni Engagement and Network Development** | | | | | | - Build and maintain a comprehensive alumni Customer Relationship | | Management (CRM) database. | | - Develop and implement an alumni engagement strategy, including | | events, mentorship opportunities, and digital communications. | | - Collect alumni stories and feedback to support program advocacy | | and development efforts. | | - Lead alumni-focused social media strategy and engagement | | initiatives. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Community Engagement and Partnerships** | | | | | | - Identify and maintain relationships with community based | | organizations | | - Represent Open Choice at community events along with CREC and | | Regional School Choice Office sponsored events to increase | | program visibility and strengthen connections. | | - Responsible for leading and executing community development and | | | | grassroots marketing initiatives | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Outreach and Recruitment** | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | - Lead the development and execution of targeted student/family | | outreach strategies, tabling, and virtual sessions to meet | | Regional School Choice Office Open Choice enrollment targets. | | - Strategize the development of marketing and outreach materials. | | - Solicit alumni demographics. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Development and Donor Engagement** | | | | | | - In collaboration with the CREC Foundation Identify potential | | individual, corporate, and foundation donors/grants aligned with | | the Open Choice mission. | | - Lead in coordinating special events and donor communications. | | - Track donor engagement and stewardship activities. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | - Support schools in building relationships that foster strong | | partnerships with community organizations and enhance the | | effectiveness of communication | | | | between Open Choice families and districts. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | - Work collaboratively with the CREC School Choice team, parents, | | and districts to ensure all incoming Open Choice families, grades | | Pre-K through 12, | | | | experience a positive connection with their receiving school. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | - Comply with all company policies and procedures. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | - Other duties as assigned. | +--------------------