Student and Family Support - School Social Worker - School Year

***This position is an 11-month contracted position. ***

Summary


Appomattox County Public Schools is seeking an experienced and dynamic School Social Worker to serve in a division-wide student and family support leadership role for the 2026-27 school year. This position goes beyond direct service, it is a leadership opportunity for a clinician who is passionate about building systems that support student mental health, wellness, and academic success. This individual will take assist in driving MTSS implementation division-wide, serve as a key resource for building counselor capacity across schools, and work collaboratively with school personnel, families, and community agencies to reduce social, emotional, economic, and environmental barriers to education.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

Program Leadership and Development

• Participate actively in program design, curriculum development, and implementation planning in collaboration with school counselors and student services staff
• Assist in leading the division-wide MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) development and implementation, serving as the primary liaison between central administration and building-level counselors
• Lead and facilitate meetings, including sessions to review attendance, at-risk student data, bullying, and emerging student needs
• Create and monitor action plans and ensure follow-through on recommendations
• Communicate with parents and staff as needed to support students and advance division-wide initiatives

Mental Health Education and Counseling Services

• Provide approved mental health education to students, parents, and staff, including suicide prevention programming, Trauma-Informed Care, and mental health topics tailored to individual school needs
• Provide individual counseling and mental health assessments for students as needed
• Facilitate group counseling across student support programs
• Conduct socio-cultural assessments; prepare and submit reports describing family history, structure, dynamics, developmental and health history, and social and adaptive behavior to the eligibility committee
• Participate in eligibility committee deliberations by presenting and interpreting gathered data for referred students
• Assist special education teachers in obtaining documentation related to the IEP process

Crisis Intervention and Threat Assessment

• Lead student support interventions before, during, and after crisis situations
• Assess students in crisis and connect students and families with appropriate resources
• Serve on school and division crisis teams
• Participate in threat assessments across assigned schools and attend all required threat assessment training

Consultation and Liaison Services

• Act as a liaison between the school division, community agencies, and out-of-county placements for both general and special education
• Consult with parents, teachers, and administrators regarding student concerns, special education procedures, and community resources
• Collaborate with school counselors to support students with social and emotional needs
• Serve as an advocate for students while maintaining professional confidentiality

Student Support and Intervention

• Identify and monitor students experiencing homelessness, assisting with enrollment, documentation, and needed provisions
• Coordinate with the Department of Social Services regarding students in Foster Care
• Provide case management for court-ordered and school-referred FAPT cases; represent the school at FAPT quorum
• Make appropriate referrals for services based on assessed student needs

Bullying Prevention and Education

• Provide staff training on bullying prevention, intervention, reporting, and policy using a train-the-trainer model
• Provide student education on bullying prevention and reporting
• Implement evidence-based bullying curriculum with fidelity

Data Management and MTSS

• Administer the Youth Risk Behavior Survey to all middle and high school students; report and present data findings
• Monitor trends using data and develop plans to address identified student needs

Professional Development and Administration

• Assist with in-service training for classroom teachers, principals, and non-professional staff
• Conduct parent education activities to strengthen the school-family relationship
• Attend staff trainings, community meetings, and panels as directed
• Attend child study, 504, and IEP meetings as requested
• Maintain accurate, complete, and correct case logs, progress notes, and individual student tracking forms as required by law and division policy
• Comply with all confidentiality regulations and laws; follow all ACPS policies and procedures

Qualifications


Strong assessment skills and knowledge of individual and family dynamics, child development, and functional and dysfunctional behavior.


Demonstrated ability to develop working relationships with students, parents, and professional colleagues within the school division and the community.


Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Education and/or Experience


Master's Degree in Counseling, Social Work, or a related field. Licensed in Virginia as an LPC, LCSW, or LMFT; license-eligible candidates will be considered. Experience working with children and adolescents required.


Candidates holding a Master of Social Work (MSW) from an accredited school of social work with school social work field placement experience as required by the Virginia Department of Education for licensure eligibility are encouraged to apply. Virginia Pupil Personnel licensure with endorsement in School Social Work is preferred.


Valid VA Driver's License.

Language Skills


Ability to read and understand reports and evaluations by medical doctors, clinical psychologists, and other professionals, as well as Virginia Code related to education topics. Ability to create written correspondence and reports directed to various reading levels, ranging from parents with less than a high school education to professionals with advanced degrees. Ability to speak effectively with students, parents, and professional colleagues.

Reasoning Ability


Ability to understand written policy and procedure and to explain the same to students, parents, division staff, and other professionals. Ability to interpret policies and procedures of other agencies as they may impact families or the division.

Physical Demands


Ability to see, hear, and speak with others. Ability to use telephone, computer, and other office machines as needed. Ability to drive to other locations for meetings or interviews, including making home or worksite visits to parents and students.

Evaluation


Performance on this job will be evaluated by the Director of Student Services in accordance with school board policy and administrative regulations on evaluation of certificated personnel.