Social Worker

Teachers First is seeking a Social Worker for The Gaming and Technology Academy of Saginaw!

The Gaming and Technology Academy of Saginaw (GATA) is opening in Fall 2026 and is seeking innovative, passionate educators who want to help build something different from the ground up.

GATA is designed to be a highly engaging school where academics, technology, creativity, competition, and real-world learning come together through gamified systems, hands-on experiences, and strong relationships to prepare students for the future. Positions are being filled on a rolling basis. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Master's degree in social work.
2. Michigan social worker license
3. MDE Full Approval as School Social Worker.
4. Minimum three years of successful social work experience.
5. Current knowledge of best practices.
6. Prior special education experience.
7. Approval issued through the Office of Special Education.

NATURE OF POSITION:

The principal tasks of the School Social Worker are to help students and families make the best use of available opportunities and resources and to fully develop each student's individual potential. The School Social Worker brings to the educational process an understanding of the psychosocial development of children and the influences of family, community, and cultural differences as they interact with the educational process.

Further, the School Social Worker provides the necessary professional skills to assist students and communities in problem solving and conflict resolution in a safe and healthy manner. School social work is founded on the following premises:

1. Definite and identifiable reasons exist why some students are not successful in school and exhibit undesirable behavior (including at-risk factors, dropping out and truancy).
2. It is critical to assist families in alleviating adverse conditions to promote resiliency and academic success for at risk students.
3. It is important to assist parents in utilizing school and community resources to help children maximize their educational abilities.
4. Parental involvement with the school is essential to create positive academic and social outcomes for students.
5. It is essential that school staff listens to and respects the feelings and sensitivities of students and parents of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
6. Education becomes a successful experience for students who are helped to overcome the social and emotional problems interfering with adjustment and achievement in school.
7. Special education and related services must be provided for students with physical, mental, social, emotional or other educational disabilities.
8. Social justice and equal opportunity for all students and families will increase educational attainment and enhance the educational experience for everyone.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF POSITION:

Direct Services with students – the School Social Worker will employ appropriate social work methods in situations affecting the student's educational process.

1. Conduct assessments of student needs.
2. Promote regular school attendance.
3. Conduct home visits.
4. Promote safe, caring and drug free schools.
5. Empower students and advocate for students.
6. Provide culturally competent services.
7. Provide appropriate services for homeless students.
8. Provide individual counseling.
9. Facilitate group counseling.
10. Provide training for self-esteem, anger management, impulse control, social skills, and substance abuse prevention.
11. Provide crisis intervention services.
12. Complete social developmental case studies.
13. Participate in the evaluation of special education placements.
14. Participate in the development of behavioral modification plans, Functional Behavioral Assessments ("FBA") and Supportive Intervention Plans ("SIP").
15. Provide short/long-term case management services to individual students.
16. Provide referrals to community agencies.
17. Coordinate services with community agencies.
18. Coordinate services with other disciplines within ACADEMY.
19. Participate in transition planning for students.
20. Coordinate pregnancy prevention programs.
21. Coordinate dropout prevention programs.
22. Report suspected child abuse/neglect.

Direct Services with Families/Communities – the School Social Worker will employ appropriate social work methods to assure students' positive academic and social outcomes.

1. Promote parental involvement in school and at conferences.
2. Promote parental responsibility for regular school attendance.
3. Conduct home visits and family needs assessments.
4. Promote safe, caring and drug free schools.
5. Empowerment of/advocacy for families.
6. Provide culturally competent services.
7. Provide appropriate services/referrals for homeless families.
8. Provide crisis intervention services.
9. Provide referrals to community agencies.
10. Facilitate parent groups and parenting skills workshops.
11. Substance abuse awareness.
12. Special needs children.
13. Child abuse prevention.
14. Appropriate discipline.
15. Assist families with the interpretation of ACADEMY policies and procedures.
16. Collaborate with community agencies.
17. Collaborate with support personnel within ACADEMY.
18. Participate in case conferences with other ACADEMY specialists.
19. Participate in the identification and resolution of school-wide/community needs.
20. Interpret the School Social Worker role to the community.
21. Serve as a liaison between ACADEMY/family/community.
22. Participate in referrals and case management of students/families involved in the court system.
23. Participate in ACADEMY committee meetings.
24. Serve on community interagency teams and other task force teams relevant to school social work (Child Fatality Team, Child Protection Team, and Governor's One-on-One Board).
25. Serve on the ACADEMY Crisis Team to promote a safe school environment.
26. Promote a safe, caring and drug free school environment.

Program Planning and Evaluation – the School Social Worker facilitates, participates in and provides input for system wide, school based and departmental program planning, evaluation and development of policies. All program planning and evaluation activities are done in accordance with state and federal laws, regulations, and Board policies.

1. Conduct individual and/or system-wide surveys to assess ACADEMY and/or community needs.
2. Implement appropriate programs, groups and initiatives to target at-risk populations (according to the assessment).
3. Plan individual school and/or system-wide programs to promote a positive and caring school climate.
4. Collaborate with community agencies to coordinate services within ACADEMY.

Advocacy – the School Social Worker operates as an advocate with all community populations utilizing skills that respect issues of cultural and ethnic diversity and equity for every student and family.

1. Facilitate the implementation of federal and state education regulations.
2. Address child abuse and neglect, due process, and liability issues.
3. Advocate for school environments to operate in the best interests of children.
4. Encourage parents to be actively involved in their children's educational experiences.
5. Adhere to the National Association of Social Workers code of ethical behavior and professional practice.

Consultation and Education – the School Social Worker provides specialized consultative services to school staff, community agencies and other professionals. Services are designed to assist families, students, and educational professionals in providing quality interventions, which allow students to reach their highest educational, developmental and social potential.

1. Offer preventative interventions and classroom management.
2. Address child abuse and neglect.
3. Consult on mental health and emotional impairments.
4. Maintain caring, safe and drug-free learning environments.
5. Identify barriers to educational achievement.

Professional Practice, Development and Management – the School Social Worker shows evidence of professional growth, development and management and adheres to a professional code of ethics.

Professional Practice

1. Adhere to the values and ethics of the social work profession and use the NASW Standards for School Social Work Services and Code of Ethics as guides in decision-making.
2. Model professional behaviors that contribute to addressing the needs of students, families and the school community.
3. When necessary and appropriate, actively seek the supervision of a school social work supervisor or another school social work professional.
4. Keep abreast of current community resources and determine how these resources may be beneficial to the student, her/his family, and the family's involvement in the academic process.
5. Understand and practice in accordance with, federal, state, and local laws, statutes and/or policies that relate to students and families such as child protection/child abuse, special education, attendance, education rights and privacy.
6. Consult with ACADEMY personnel to encourage compliance with laws, statutes and policies.

Professional Development

1. Assume responsibility for her/his own continued professional development.
2. Maintain professional materials for professional growth and development including periodicals, books and software.
3. Practice professional renewal through a variety of means such as attending regional and national conferences, participating in professional organizations, and remaining abreast of current research and literature.
4. Expand and exchange knowledge through consultation with coordinators, specialists, psychologists, counselors, and other colleagues.
5. Contribute to the development of the profession by supervising social work interns.
6. Develop and maintain skills that increase the social worker's initiative and effectiveness in working in school settings.

Professional Management

1. Manage time based on School Social Worker/student ratios; advocate for ratios consistent with those developed by the National Council of State Consultants for School Social Work Services.
2. Maintain accurate and appropriate case records and documentation.
3. Maintain a statistical, demographic breakdown of current caseload.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Satisfactory criminal background check.

If you are passionate, dedicated and ready to make a lasting impact on young minds our innovative and forward-thinking team would like to speak to you! Equal Opportunity Employer