Summary

Social workers at Great River school serve a variety of roles that include: working on Special Education teams, both through direct work with students and consultation with the team, working with Child Find Intervention processes and offering students social emotional interventions, convening groups, consulting with classroom guides and working collaboratively on wellness initiatives with the student services team.

Description

Job Title: Lower Adolescent Social Worker 
Level: Lower Adolescent – 7th – 9th grades 
Classification: 1.0  FTE full-time
Licensed: Required Licensure Area(s):  BOSW and MDE Social Work Licenses
Benefit Eligible: Yes 
Compensation: Commensurate with experience 
Reports to: Director of Student Services
School Year: 2024-25, starting immediately  

 Organization Description:
Great River School is a public Montessori school serving students grades 1st through 12th grade with the International Baccalaureate program in 11th & 12th grades.  Our community is committed to an engaging environment which prepares students for their unique roles as responsible and engaged citizens of the world.  Our vision is world peace through education.  We specifically seek to deconstruct systems of bias and oppression that interrupt relationships and access to education.  We welcome applications from all backgrounds – racial justice, gender inclusion, and accessibility of education is central to our core values as a school community.

General Job Description:
This position works collaboratively with the Student Services Department, which includes a team of four full time social workers. Social workers at Great River school serve a variety of roles that include: working on Special Education teams, both through direct work with students and consultation with the team, working with Child Find Intervention processes and offering students social emotional interventions, convening groups, consulting with classroom guides and working collaboratively on wellness initiatives with the student services team. Great River School is committed to Montessori and International Baccalaureate pedagogy and has an excellent reputation as a Public Montessori Charter School. The role of the School Social Worker is to further our mission to provide a quality Montessori education through inspiring learning environments and strong relationships based on respect for the gifts of each student.  

Areas of responsibility and Concomitant Tasks:
Provide Social Work services 

  • Respond to crisis and conduct risk assessments 

  • Support connection with outside resources 

  • Facilitate regular groups and individual check ins with both general ed and special ed students

Mental Health Advocate 

  • Serve as an advocate and lens to help contextualize student experience 

  • Provide consultation to colleagues and parents

  • Maintain list of community resources and make referrals

  • Collaborate with Program Directors to develop advisory curriculum on wellness.

Special Education

  • Write, review and manage goals for students with social work minutes in their IEPs

  • Attend IEP meetings and consult with IEP team

  • Contribute to the process of identifying students who may qualify for special education

Communication 

  • Maintain confidentiality 

  • Collaborate in communication with families, colleagues and outside providers regarding updates, progress and/or concerns 

Organization and Flexibility 

  • Maintain a weekly schedule that includes meetings, groups, Special Education minutes and interventions 

  • Work flexibly to serve these obligations, while also responding to the needs of the moment on any school day 

Qualifications:

  • Active LGSW or LICSW and MDE school social work license

  • Civility, Honesty, and Integrity; as reflected in daily interaction with faculty, students and parent / guardians

  • Judgment: as reflected in decision-making and problem-solving skills

  • Depth: ability to draw from a broad base of knowledge or experiences

  • Relationships: ability to develop appropriate relationships in support of teaching and learning

  • Flexibility: willingness to shift daily schedule based on emergent student and community needs

  • Excellent written and verbal skills.

  • Excellent organizational and time management skills 

Additional Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience working in a Montessori program

  • Experience teaching Social Emotional Skills curriculum(s) 

  • Experience with de-escalation techniques

  • Knowledge of due process paperwork and timelines

Great River School provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and or expression, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.  In addition, Great River School will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Applications will be reviewed and interviews conducted on a rolling basis until successful candidate(s) are hired.  Please send a letter of interest, resume and three professional letters of reference (email of application materials is preferred) to:

Email:  jobs@greatriverschool.org
Great River School
1326 Energy Park Drive
St. Paul, MN 55108