Upper School Social Worker 2024-2025

Upper School Social Worker

FTE:  1.0 FTE

Lakes International Language Academy (LILA) is an award-winning language immersion public charter school in Forest Lake, Minnesota. LILA prepares tomorrow’s critical thinkers and global citizens through language acquisition and inquiry-driven study. Convenient to both Minneapolis and Saint Paul, LILA is located close to the 35W-35E split in the North Metro.

Job Summary:  The School Social Worker will focus on obtaining and analyzing data to determine social-emotional needs of students at LILA’s Upper School (grades 6 – 12). Social Worker will implement the social skills program that aligns with the IB Attributes to meet the social and emotional needs of students, and participate in parent/teacher communication. This position also serves as liaison between students and federal, state, and local social and community support programs. The School Social Worker will work under the guidance of the Director of Special Education and Student Services.

Essential Functions:   Provide basic and comprehensive services to individual students and families; assist in identifying students’ needs; provide crisis intervention and prevention for families and students; collaborate with school nurse, community agencies and industry professionals to meet individual student needs; conduct interviews to obtain student social history; refer students to and serve as a liaison with outside agencies; teach coping skills to students to help them regulate emotions; assist students with social-emotional learning; teach skills for student success.  

As an employee at LILA, the Social Worker will also be asked to maintain knowledge of current and emerging trends; participate in regular planning and staff development activities; participate in professional development for language immersion, Responsive Classroom, and the International Baccalaureate Program. 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work or another qualification to assist students with social and emotional learning

• Social Worker license through the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB)

• Must be able to function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with students, parents, and staff.

Preferences:

• Experience in a school setting preferred.

• International Baccalaureate experience preferred.

• Spanish and/or Mandarin Chinese language proficiency is preferred, but not a must.

Opportunities:

• Work in a diverse culture: Many of our teachers were born in Mandarin and Spanish speaking countries.  Nearly all have traveled extensively, with the large majority having lived in a Mandarin or Spanish speaking country for at least a semester.

• Social functions: We usually start the school year with a staff retreat in August, and have a January staff party with guests as well.  Each Friday, various staff members offer well-attended gatherings around sports or exercise, including volleyball, football (soccer), kettlebells, or Zumba.  Other social activities abound.

• Professional Development: LILA provides professional development for new staff depending on needs and interest, but always including best practices of teachers in the International Baccalaureate programs and building a safe and inviting classroom climate for learning.

• Career Track and Advancement: Many leadership positions are available to Lakes International teachers, depending on their interests, efforts, and expertise.

• Grants to Teachers: The LILA Foundation frequently offers “Inquiry 360” grants to teachers to pursue enriching experiences that they can bring back to share in the classroom.  Teachers are encouraged to pursue these experiences abroad.  Inquiry 360 grants are competitive and are awarded in April for use the following summer.

Physical Requirements:

This position requires vocal communication, hearing, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, standing, walking, sitting, pushing, pulling, use of hands to grasp and feel, and vision abilities including close, distance, and adjusting focus.  Lifting/moving required frequently up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds or more.  Work occasionally requires exposure to bloodborne pathogens and is generally in a moderately noisy location.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.