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Social Worker

Employer
Cambridge Public Schools
Location
Cambridge, MA, US
Salary
Competitive
Position : Social Worker
Martin Luther King, Jr. School

Martin Luther King, Jr. School Community:
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School is an innovative public PK-5 school. We are fortunate to provide every student with a longer school day and Mandarin Chinese language study. We believe our programs prepare, enrich, and challenge our students for success as global citizens and scholars. Our school is located near vibrant Harvard Square and we have a diverse and international student population. We are actively working towards becoming an antiracist school, and are taking steps towards identifying and dismantling racist structures, hearing and elevating underrepresented voices, and striving to achieve an equitable and just educational experience for all students. We strive to promote a sense of community, where all adults and children feel respected and appreciated.

The Role:
The Social Worker plays an important role in supporting the positive academic, social, and emotional development of our students. The Social Worker will support teachers in developing Tier 1 structures, routines, and rituals that support each child's ability to successfully participate in classroom activities, while also working directly with students who require additional Tier 2 & 3 support. Reporting directly to the Principal, the Social Worker will serve as a member of the Student Support Team and will collaborate closely with the Assistant Principal, the School Adjustment Counselor, the Behavior Specialist, and the district Lead Teacher for SEL.

The MLK School serves children and families from a diverse range of racial, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. We recognize that elementary-aged children benefit from seeing themselves reflected in the adults around them and we are eager to field applications from a range of candidates whose backgrounds mirror the diversity of the students we serve.

Key Responsibilities:
While the exact day-to-day duties of the Social Worker will be determined by the needs of students, key responsibilities will likely include some combination of the following:
  • Meet and collaborate regularly with teachers and other staff around instructional practices that support students' social/emotional development in JK-5 classrooms;
  • Provide over-the-shoulder coaching and professional development to enhance teacher capacity in implementing routines, structures, and curricula that support positive SEL;
  • Provide direct services to individuals and groups, including (but not limited to), counseling/therapy, social support groups, SEL skills-development sessions, and de-escalation support and crisis response, when needed;
  • Maintain positive communication with parents/caregivers and collaborate with School Counselor and School Psychologist to manage family contacts and assist families in accessing community services and outside referrals;
  • Attend meetings designed to support students' social, emotional and academic needs;
  • Participate in a multi-tiered system of support by administering screeners and assessments, recording and tracking student behavior, attendance, and engagement data, analyzing data trends and patterns, working collaboratively to determine effective interventions, and progress monitor the effectiveness of such interventions;
  • Participate in district elementary social worker network meetings and engage in additional school, district, and/or outside professional development opportunities;
  • Participate in documentation and mandatory reporting, as needed, including risk assessments to ensure safety (suicidality, threats, etc.) and the filing of 51As;
  • Serve as the school's 504 coordinator, collaborating with the district's Lead Teacher for 504 Plans to determine eligibility, gathering relevant data and documentation, facilitating meetings, and monitoring implementation of 504 plans for eligible students; and
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
Your Skill Set:
As the incoming Elementary Social Worker, you will possess many, though perhaps not all, of the following characteristics and qualifications:
  • Master's degree in social work, clinical psychology, counseling, or guidance;
  • Hold current Massachusetts School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor licensure and LCSW or LICSW School Social Worker (Required);
  • At least three years successful experience in social work within an urban, multicultural educational setting and demonstrated ability to work in a positive and affirming way with elementary-aged children from diverse racial, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds;
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate with others in a fast-paced environment;
  • Understanding of/experience with special education law, policies, and practices;
  • Trained (or willing to be trained) in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI);
  • Flexibility, a growth mindset, and willingness to learn new skills;
  • Able to articulate an asset-based view of parents and caregivers;
  • A commitment to social justice and a willingness to collaborate with other members of the school community to understand and address the effects of implicit racial bias;
  • Experience in program administration; and
  • Ability to speak Mandarin Chinese a plus.

How to Join Our Team:
Please upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills, experience, and commitment to equity in education meet the qualifications of the position as well as stating how you heard about this opportunity.

At the Cambridge Public Schools, we are committed to cultivating an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are embraced, acknowledging that a team reflecting diversity of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and veteran status allows us to serve our communities better. To that end, we welcome and encourage applicants to bring their authentic selves when considering employment opportunities within our school district.

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