POSITION OVERVIEW: Multilingual Intake Assessment Specialist (Part Time) - Central Office, 25-26 SY
Are you passionate about supporting multilingual families as they navigate a new school district? Do you bring expertise in language development and culturally responsive practices to help students access the support they need to thrive? Are you skilled at building rapport across cultures while assessing language proficiency with clarity and care? If so, join Portland Public Schools as a Multilingual Intake Assessment Specialist—a key role at the intersection of assessment, student support, and multilingual education.
This specialist plays a critical role in language screening and placement, collaborating with Enrollment & Intake, Multilingual Departments, and school teams to assess proficiency, communicate eligibility, and ensure proper supports. The position requires cultural responsiveness, strong assessment skills, and a commitment to equitable student placement while maintaining compliance with state and federal guidelines.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
+ Family-Centered Intake & Communication - Conduct welcoming intake interviews to gather students' educational histories and language backgrounds
- Explain assessment procedures, results, and available services to families in a clear, accessible, and culturally responsive manner
- Provide an overview of U.S. school systems and district programs, ensuring families understand available resources and expectations
+ Assessments & Eligibility - Administer standardized English language proficiency screeners (e.g., WIDA Screener Online, Kindergarten Screener, PreIPT)
- Evaluate students' speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in English
- Collect and assess a writing sample in the student's strongest written language
- Research and determine appropriate assessment tools for PreK-12 students in consultation with ELL, Special Ed, and Pre-K programming directors to align with best practices
- Create a welcoming environment to ensure students feel comfortable and can perform their best during assessments
- Document substantive observational notes on student language development to be kept in students’ cumulative files
- Utilize observations to support student monitoring through Response to Intervention (RTI) as needed
+ Collaboration & Placement - Recommend grade and program placement based on assessment data and individual student needs
- Identify and flag academic, behavioral, or health concerns, ensuring findings are documented and shared with appropriate school personnel
- Consult with ESOL/DLL specialists, special educators, school counselors, and McKinney-Vento liaisons to ensure students receive proper supports
- Communicate key insights to school teams and document findings in student records
- Collaborate with instructional staff, school leaders, and department heads to discuss intake testing procedures, outcomes, and implications for student services
+ Professional Support & Compliance - Provide training and guidance to school staff on intake procedures, assessment tools, and how to interpret results
- Maintain accurate data for state and local reporting and produce monthly intake reports
- Stay current on best practices for language screening, multilingual learner development, and related educational policy
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, & EXPERIENCE
- Experience administering WIDA Screener Online (AMS by DRC), WIDA Kindergarten Screener, PreIPT, and ASQ (or demonstrated willingness to learn)
- Ability to score speaking and writing responses holistically within the guidelines of WIDA-provided rubrics
- Deep understanding of language development and second language acquisition in diverse PreK-12 settings
- Ability to establish trust and rapport with students (ages 3-20) and their families across cultures and languages
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a strong commitment to maintaining confidentiality (FERPA, HIPAA, PPRA)
- Demonstrated capacity for independent work, managing multiple tasks effectively, and adapting to changing situations
- Meticulous attention to detail
- Skilled in data entry with a focus on accuracy for local and state reporting
- Comfortable utilizing a range of technology systems, including Google Suite and WIDA/DRC Insight platforms, to support efficient workflows and data management
- Sensitive to intersectional student needs, with the ability to recognize and flag potential academic, behavioral, or health issues
CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Maine State fingerprint (CHRC) authorization (more info)
EMPLOYMENT DETAILS:
- School-year position
- Start date: August - exact date TBD
- Permanent
- Part Time, 0.6 FTE
- Eligible for benefits
- Not eligible for overtime
- Reports to District Enrollment Manager
- Part of PEA collective bargaining unit - click here for current CBA / Contract
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Portland Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.