School Social Worker

School Social Worker

To help students resolve personal, emotional and social problems that may interfere with their adjustment to school and their capacity to benefit from educational programs. Participate in Response to Intervention (RtI) initiatives.

Qualifications:

• License/Certification: Illinois Professional Educator License with School Social Work Endorsement
• Education: Required Master's degree in social work with specialization in school social work.
• Experience: Required clinical experience in a public school setting. Preferred 3 years of social work experience in a public school setting. Fluency in Spanish, both in written and conversational, preferred.

Essential Performance Responsibilities:

• Adheres to the guidelines outlined in the Woodland School District 50 Staff Handbook
• Contributes to a positive school climate through the support of the district's Strategic Plan and Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) program
• Orders materials and supplies as per district procedures, with appropriate authorization and within budgetary constraints
• Collaborates with staff and paraprofessionals to meet the needs of students with special needs
• Maintains control of storage and use of school-owned property; keeps supplies in good working condition, is responsible for all materials as well as manages repair of equipment
• Adheres to all school and district policies and procedures, including maintaining confidentiality
• Collaborates as needed with appropriate school personnel regarding students who may need specialized interventions
• Uses a variety of avenues to communicate regularly with parents and school personnel regarding students' levels and rates of progress
• Establishes and maintains standards of pupil conduct in alignment with the Parent/Student Handbook and PBIS in order to provide for a safe, orderly, productive environment
• Provides direct service in individual or group settings to students identified as having personal, social or emotional problems, which impact on educational performance
• Attends and is an active participant in Problem Solving Team Meetings, and individual team meetings, Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) meetings and annual reviews as appropriate
• Assists in the collection and analysis of data from Problem Solving Team meetings for the identification and implementation of supplemental services
• Provides direct instruction as needed for Tier 2 and Tier 3 Response to Intervention (RtI) interventions as time permits
• Works collaboratively with other school personnel in the identification, diagnosis, and recommendation of individual students with specialized needs, to include providing RtI support
• Participates in school level and district wide PBIS initiative
• Consults and collaborates with classroom teachers and other school personnel
• Completes social developmental study component of special education evaluations as needed; reports are ready and in ESPED prior to the IEP meeting and available to parents prior to the IEP as needed
• Acts as a liaison between school and community agencies
• Contributes to instruction relative to social/emotional learning standards
• Provides in-service to school staff, parents, and community on social/emotional issues
• Maintains accurate and sufficient record of cases including student progress
• Provides service to parents as integral part of task of helping students, to increase the parent's understanding, their constructive participation in resolving their child's problem, and awareness and appropriate use of available resources
• Provides crisis intervention as needed
• Serves as a liaison between the school system, home, and the community to enhance student services
• Makes provisions for being available to students and parents for educations-related purposes outside the instructional day when necessary
• Performs other such duties and assumes other responsibilities as may be assigned by the Special Education Supervisor, School Principal and/or in consultation with the Assistant Superintendent of Special Education

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Planning and Preparation: Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of content and pedagogy, students, and resources. Design coherent instruction and select appropriate instructional activities, and has the ability to assess students learning.
• Classroom Environment: Creates an environment of respect and rapport, establishes a culture for learning, manages classroom procedures, manages students behavior, and has the ability to organize physical space.
• Instruction: Communicates clearly and accurately, uses questioning and discussion techniques, engages students in learning, provides feedback to students, and demonstrates flexibility and responsiveness.
• Professional Responsibility: Reflects on teaching, maintains accurate records, communicates professionally, contributes to the school and district, grows and develops professionally, and shows professionalism.
• Technical: Demonstrated skills in writing, editing and public speaking. Competent in digital environments; databases, spreadsheets, publishing software, Microsoft Office, etc.
• Interpersonal: Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with students, staff, parents, and community. Strong organization, communication and interpersonal skills. Comprehensive strategic thinking and rapid problem-solving skills to effectively handle crisis communications. Ability to cope with deadline pressures. Creative problem solver. Ability to facilitate meetings efficiently. Empathetic, humanistic and open-minded. Strong sense of teamwork. Strategic thinker. Must be able to make difficult decisions that impact the organization in a positive sense. Must be able to work harmoniously with the community, students, parents, staff, and administration, etc. Must be able to communicate effectively with students, parents and staff. Must exhibit sound judgment in dealing with people. Must have strong organizational skills.

District Core Competencies:

• Support the establishment of mutual respect and equal human dignity across the entire school community.
• Welcomes inclusion, equity and diversity.
• Have an unwavering commitment to the success of all students.
• Understanding that your identity may be different than students, parents, and staff, you are willing to put those differences aside for the success of all students.
• Regardless of the identities of students, staff, or parents, works collaboratively to build a successful relationship with them.
• Willingly anticipate, identify and adopt change.
• Engage in all job-related interactions and activities, with contacts from within and outside the District, in a courteous and professional manner.
• Communicate with styles that are approachable and respectful.
• Participate in professional development and training to become more effective and efficient.
• Take initiative to manage multiple tasks.
• Effectively organize work to be as productive as possible.

Physical Demands:

• Manual Dexterity: Work requires definite skilled and accurate physical operations requiring some closely coordinated performance.
• Physical Effort: Work requires handling average weight materials or equipment, but not for sustained periods.
• Working Conditions: Some exposure to definitely disagreeable elements may exist.

Terms of Employment: Full-time; Monday through Friday; 185 days per year

Salary Range: SW+45 / Step1: $50,048 - SW+45 Step 8: $61,379 (Based on experience and education as defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement)

How to Apply:

• Internal applicants should apply online at and attach a resume to the online application.
• External applicants should apply online at and attach three letters of recommendations, resume and transcript(s) to the online application.
• All applicants must be willing to interview in person and demonstrate skills through a situational analysis.
• Applicants will be contacted within three weeks if invited for an interview.
• Minority candidates are encouraged to apply.

Contact Persons:

• Vasiliki Vourvahis Frake, Director of Educational Services, View email address on click.appcast.io, View phone number on click.appcast.io

Application Deadline: When filled

Woodland School District 50 is an Equal Opportunity Employer with established policies prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, marital status, arrest record, military status, order of protection status, unfavorable military discharge, citizenship status provided the individual is authorized to work in the United States, use of lawful products while not at work, being a victim of domestic or sexual violence, genetic information