Education Organizer
Nashville, TN
Network Support – External Affairs /
Full-time /
On-site
At Rocketship Public Schools, we believe in the infinite possibility of human potential. We believe that every student deserves the right to dream, to discover, and to develop their unique potential and it is our responsibility and our privilege to unleash the potential inside every Rocketeer we serve. Our non-profit network of public elementary charter schools propels student achievement, develops exceptional educators, and partners with parents who enable high-quality public schools to thrive in their community. We are a collective of parents, teachers, leaders, and students working together to transform the future for underserved communities across our country. At Rocketship Public Schools, we are unleashing potential.
Position Description
This position includes primary work in Nashville and Antioch. At Rocketship, one of our key pillars is building authentic parent power in our community. In our Parent Organizing Committees (POCs), parents advocate tirelessly for their children by becoming community leaders in education equity. The position involves working with current parent leaders to develop their knowledge of governance, power, political dynamics, and systematic barriers affecting their families, especially for underserved communities. Simultaneously, the organizer will work to recruit and train new parents in community organizing skills, drawing them into the movement and increasing parent voice, involvement, and presence in the education political landscape of Nashville and Tennessee as a whole. The Nashville Education Organizer is a full-time, exempt position on Rocketship’s Parent Leadership and Growth and Community Engagement (GCE) function, serving the Nashville community.
This role will report to the national parent leadership functional lead, collaborate with fellow organizers nationally and align and partner on strategy set by the Nashville Executive Director, as well as partnering effectively with school leaders, families, community organizations, and stakeholders in advocacy for educational equity at our Rocketship schools.
Essential Functions:
- Coach family and parent leaders to understand the State and local educational landscape, key decision makers, and power of community, through the PICO Organizing Cycle.
- Recruit, mobilize, and retain a network of families, parents, and community stakeholders that build advocacy and engagement to transform our local communities.
- Identify, train, and develop community leaders in the principles and practices of community organizing to build powerful parent-driven initiatives.
- Complete one-on-one relational meetings every week (approximately 15-20) with current and future leaders and other important stakeholders that build organizing capacity and engagement.
- Plan and coordinate large public forums and meetings led by parent leaders.
- Work closely with the relevant regional team, remain informed on the local education politics landscape, and develop coordinated grasstops - grassroots strategies.
- Foster relationships and develop champions with community-based organizations, elected officials, civic and community leaders that elevate organizing.
- Lead charter renewal parent organizing campaigns and support family-led and parent-led civic and local campaigns for education equity.
- Participate with organization partners in local, regional, and national staff development sessions.
- Enable a positive, high-performance team culture as a leader and show up as a team player and collaborator to the relevant External Affairs or Community Engagement team and region overall, including demonstrating excellence and innovation to exceed regional goals.
- Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
- The ability to position Rocketship in the policy arena as an agent for positive change through strong communication and strategic skills.
- Capacity to think strategically and critically about social, economic, cultural, and political issues affecting a community.
- Demonstrated ability to interact and cultivate support among diverse stakeholders.
- A results-oriented, goal-driven, team approach to work.
- The desire to learn and an openness to challenge.
- A sense of urgency and passion for social justice and equity in education.
- A commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
- Strong public speaking, writing, and analytical skills.
- Verbal and written fluency in Spanish and English.
- Experience using Google Apps and a willingness to learn and implement new technology.
- Ability to work some nights and weekends, as campaigns require.
- This position requires daily travel between school sites and community locations where various events and meetings with families or parents could be held. Valid Driver’s license and access to a vehicle required.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 3+ year experience in community organizing, education reform, or engagement in grassroots movements.
- Experience managing and/or leading community organizing campaigns and mobilizing support.
- Experience working with organizations or schools in a diverse community.
- Familiar with local and/or state politics, education politics & movements.
- A bachelor’s degree.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with both adults and children. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally climb ladders. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to high.
Compensation:
Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent health and wellness benefits, 403b retirement plan, flexible spending account (FSA), and generous paid time off.
Rocketship Public Schools provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Rocketship Public Schools complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Rocketship Public Schools expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Rocketship Public Schools’ employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated. Click here for our . For questions, concerns, or complaints, please contact Human Resources.
