Overview
About Treehouse: We work to create opportunities for young people in foster care to thrive. We believe that every young person impacted by foster care determines their own future and can build the life of their dreams. Treehouse seeks to hire passionate individuals who understand the power of young people, celebrate diverse voices, and challenge themselves to do better. We are committed to providing opportunities for staff to learn and grow with the organization.
Benefits Summary: Treehouse values work-life balance and prioritizes the health of our staff. Our excellent benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with options for 100% employer-paid premiums; a retirement plan with 3% employer match; and paid leave that includes twelve (12) holidays, generous PTO, and two weeks of Staff Appreciation days off.
Generous PTO leave of four (4) weeks initially, with annual increases in the first five years of employment
Healthcare benefit plans include options for 100% covered preventive care
Two (2) weeks off (separate from PTO) for Staff Appreciation Weeks (with each week including a holiday)
403B retirement plan employer matching program (50% of employee contributions, up to 6% of gross pay, that are 100% vested upfront)
100% of payroll taxes for state family medical leave are covered by Treehouse
Free, convenient parking
Dog-friendly office space
Pay Transparency: This position’s annual pay is $56,908.80 ($27.36/hour).
Primary Worksite Location: We are hiring for an on-site position to serve the Muckleshoot Tribe. This is not a remote work position.
**A submitted resume and cover letter are required as part of the application process for these positions.**
***Note that resumes/applications submitted for this position are reviewed on a rolling basis as received, until the positions are filled.***
Job Summary:
The Treehouse Tribal Education Specialist serves as a mission-driven, equity-centered staff member who contributes regularly to advance the organization’s commitment to anti-racism, social justice, and belonging, working directly with Treehouse staff, donors, volunteers, and clients. The position works closely with partnering tribes, school administration, faculty, and staff, including foster care liaisons and school building points of contact, as well as the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF), tribal social workers, and community partners, to support a caseload of youth experiencing foster care.
The Tribal Education Specialist provides academic support, resource navigation, coaching, and mentoring services. The position regularly monitors youth attendance, behavior, and course performance using data received from schools, caregivers, and youth. The role also performs personalized, timely interventions focused on problem-solving, skill-building, goal setting, self-advocacy, enrichment support, and academic achievement. The position works closely with youth and supports them in achieving high school completion, and assists in developing and implementing a post-high school plan for their future.
The Tribal Education Specialist helps to ensure the needs of the youth Treehouse serves are met, aligning programmatic and operational goals through a culturally responsive and inclusive approach with acknowledgement of the trauma experienced by youth in care. The role seeks to help dismantle systemic inequities, promote psychological safety, engage in equitable practices across systems, and contribute to an organizational culture rooted in dignity, accountability, and care in service of the youth that Treehouse supports.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Manage an assigned caseload of youth, using established case procedures, ensuring equitable practices.
Establish inclusive, welcoming, and equitable team engagement, ensuring that teams provide a safe, positive, respectful experience, inclusive of all racial and gender identities.
Provide culturally appropriate case consultations with other direct service staff for Tribal youth aimed at enhancing workplace experiences, workflow efficiencies, and organizational culture.
Embrace transformation by seeking out perspectives across the organization and with partner organizations and communities to evolve how Treehouse serves students with curiosity and openness to new ideas.
Identify opportunities to build relationships with larger tribal communities as part of an ongoing effort to establish trust, belonging, and rapport.
Build relationships with social workers, caregivers, school personnel, and other collaborators to support youth holistically.
Analyze data (i.e. attendance, educational history, behaviors, performance, etc.) for assigned youth to create and inform educational plans.
Adhere to requirements for mandated reporting and follow data confidentiality procedures.
Coach youth on problem-solving, self-advocacy, self-determination, academic mindset, self-regulation, persistence, and positive behavior to ensure that the youth have a safe, positive, and respectful experience, inclusive of all racial and gender identities, and with awareness of the trauma experienced by youth in care and historically marginalized communities.
Identify and refer youth to appropriate resources to support education, social/emotional development, and other needs in an equitable manner.
Review High School & Beyond Plan for integration in the student’s goals and student-centered planning.
Acquire easily accessible consent forms for each assigned youth and collect school records as needed.
Schedule and facilitate interagency meetings, facilitate transportation plans to assist with credit transfer/retrieval, and negotiate services and disciplinary appeals, etc.
Collaborate regularly with the youth’s care team including, but not limited to, state, federal, or tribal social workers, community partners, caregivers, and school personnel, incorporating de-escalation, conflict resolution, culturally sensitive, and compassionate support to those who have experienced trauma or may be experiencing crisis.
Maintain complete, accurate, and updated case records for each youth in the program’s database.
Provide timely case progress reports to the supervisor and team, social workers, and caregivers.
Partner with management to collect and provide recommendations on culturally diverse success stories, testimonials, and feedback that represent the organizational mission.
Work from within assigned school locations to provide outreach and case coverage for other schools in the assigned service areas.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Qualifications:
2+ years’ experience working or partnering with tribal communities.
Knowledge of federal and state education law, including special education and Indian Child Welfare laws.
2+ years’ experience providing advocacy for and support of youth experiencing foster care or other vulnerable student populations.
Prior experience facilitating, coordinating multiple stakeholders and Tribal nations through complex situations preferred.
Prior experience navigating special education evaluations and education plans desired.
Must have reliable transportation and a current driver’s license, and maintain current insurance as required by Washington State, and provide proof of such upon request.
Must satisfy Washington State and national criminal and motor vehicle background check requirements for working with youth and vulnerable adults.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Ability to provide affirming and engaging support services to youth from diverse and traditionally underserved or historically marginalized populations, including students of color, low-income students, or students with disabilities.
Ability to deploy critical thinking, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence when communicating on behalf of Treehouse.
Committed to racial equity and social justice, and effectively engage in candid conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
Demonstrated initiative and collaborative ability with supervisor and team to enhance program quality and service delivery.
Ability to provide support on behalf of students, parents, and caregivers from diverse and traditionally underserved populations, including students of color, low-income students, and students with disabilities, in an equitable manner.
Ability to thrive while working independently outside an office setting, while maintaining trusting, healthy relationships with coworkers and managers to promote a productive workplace culture and strong employee engagement.
Maintain records and data and use program data to inform decision-making and service delivery strategies.
Engage in, learn, and implement Trauma Informed Practices.
Collaborate and coordinate services with school districts, community agencies, caregivers, State and Tribal agencies, volunteers, and others.
Set boundaries and utilize support services to manage the personal impact of working with youth who have been placed at risk.
Knowledge of educational and community resources available to promote educational attainment for youth.
Maintain a workplace environment where support for youth is positive and respectful, modeling dignity, accountability, and care.
Ability to build and sustain working relationships with individuals of various ages, cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, and abilities in an inclusive, welcoming, and equitable manner to support staff holistically, ensuring that the staff have a safe, positive, respectful experience, inclusive of all racial and gender identities, and awareness of the trauma experienced by students in care and historically marginalized communities.
Deep commitment to racial equity and social justice and the ability to effectively engage in candid conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
Ability and aptitude with Microsoft Office Suite and other technology necessary for successful day-to-day functioning in a business environment.
Maintain confidentiality of information and sign a confidentiality agreement.
Working Conditions:
Full-time position.
Expected hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, and occasional evenings and weekends.
Frequent same-day travel to different school sites to meet with participants using personal vehicle.
Work is expected to be primarily conducted in person at schools.
Must reside within Washington State to comply with workplace reporting requirements.
Travel:
Frequent same-day travel to attend meetings on behalf of youth and to build relationships with schools, caregivers, social workers, and other service providers within assigned schools and district areas.
Travel requirements vary per assignment and will change depending on the needs of the position’s caseload.
Overnight travel 1-3 weeks a year for training, conferences, and retreats.
Physical and Mental Conditions:
Physical Requirements – long periods of stationary work, working on a computer, moving between various work areas, talking on the phone, interfacing with a computer/office equipment, and sitting at a desk or table while listening, talking, and taking notes.
Mental Requirements – ability to reason logically and make sound decisions, to consider alternative and diverse perspectives, to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, to remain poised under all circumstances, and to interact effectively with people in a positive manner that creates confidence and trust.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:
Treehouse values diversity and it is expressed in all aspects of our work, from the individuals and communities we serve to our organizational culture, employees, and volunteers. We understand that historic structural inequities have influenced each one of us, and we use this knowledge to deliberately cultivate the success of all people and treat everyone with dignity, humanity, and respect.
Treehouse believes that our capacity to effect sustainable change is strengthened when diverse individuals, beliefs and perspectives are included. We model an institutional commitment to equity by investing resources at all levels and working toward measurable indicators of change.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, upon request, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of our positions. This commitment reflects our core belief in creating an inclusive environment that empowers all individuals to contribute fully and meaningfully to our mission.
Salary Description
$27.36/hour ($56,908.80 annually)
