Middle School - Social Worker/Guidance Counselor - 2026/2027 - LONG TERM SUBSTITUTE

About the role

Under General Supervision, the Employee will help facilitate solutions for students to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. School Social Workers collaborate with educators, administrators, and families to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments for all students and strengthen connections between home and school.

Responsibilities

• Supports students to enhance personal and social growth and offers opportunities to participate in planning and directing their own learning experiences, increasing responsibility for behavior and attitudes
• Provides opportunities and resources for students to increase academic success, improve interpersonal relationships, learn problem-solving and decision-making skills, and resolve conflicts and crisis situations
• Provides individual, group counseling or in-class support for students experiencing personal, social, emotional, or behavioral problems with an emphasis on early intervention
• Delivers large group instruction to address identified social, emotional, and/or behavioral needs
• Consults and collaborates with school personnel regarding student problems and coordinates plans and actions to meet them, emphasizing early identification
• Consults with and assists instructional staff on program modifications and strategies to encourage and support student personal and social growth and responsible behavior
• Provides appropriate staff development to schools
• Establishes and maintains open, positive lines of communication to assist families in improving students’ transitions between home and school and in utilizing appropriate community and school resources
• Maintains ongoing, communicative relationships with families to share information about students’ educational programs
• Serves as the school liaison to community agencies by consulting and collaborating with school personnel, social agencies, and other community resources to provide coordinated social services to students and families
• Promotes family support of students’ learning experiences within the context of multicultural understanding and competencies
• Participates in team meetings and IEP conferences including pre-referral interventions, placements, IEPs, and annual reviews
• Participates in the case study evaluation process by obtaining and/or reviewing information related to social history, adaptive behavior, and cultural background
• Prepares, with team members, teachers, and parents, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each identified student; monitors plan implementation; and participates in annual reviews
• Completes diagnostic social histories on students referred for evaluation, assessing social and academic adjustment in terms of school performance, family and personal history, socio-economic and cultural influences, and community factors
• Creates student-centered goals and uses a variety of tools to collect data on progress to report to the educational team
• Uses formal and informal tools and techniques including observations and interviews to evaluate educational functioning
• Develops short-term and long-term intervention plans consistent with curriculum; students’ needs, strengths, diversity and life experiences; and social and emotional factors
• Plans school and/or system-wide programs to promote a safe, healthy, caring school climate that fosters academic success
• Conforms to the National Association of Social Work (NASW) Code of Ethics and Standards for School Social Work practice
• Maintains current knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations, with emphasis on persons with disabilities, child welfare, mental health, confidentiality, and student and parent rights
• Notifies appropriate personnel and/or services of evidence of substance abuse, child abuse, child neglect, severe medical or social conditions, potential suicide, or individuals appearing to be under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances
• Participates in faculty, school, parent, and community meetings and programs, sharing observations, issues, and resources; serves on applicable staff committees
• Completes all records and reports required by law or requested by supervisors in a timely fashion
• Facilitates accurate maintenance of school records for use by staff, outside agencies, and parents as required by law and DPS109
• Attends and participates in educational conferences and workshops pertinent to school social work
• Consults on issues including attendance, diversity, mental health, behavior management, delinquency, crisis intervention, homelessness, child abuse, neglect, and the importance of confidentiality
• Participates in the mobilization of resources relevant to specific crisis situations
• Provides direct intervention and/or support to staff, students, and parents/community
• Conducts risk/safety assessments as needed

Crisis Intervention

Crisis situations may include, but are not limited to:

• Self-harm
• Suicide attempt or ideation
• Threat to others
• Death (student, family, or staff)
• National crises

Requirements

• Professional Educator License (PEL), Substitute License (SUB)
• Endorsement: Social Work (PK-21), School Counselor (PK-21) or equivalent
• Successful completion of student teaching and/or internship

Qualifications

• Equivalent of a Master’s Degree
• Completion of a school social worker preparation program through an accredited university or college
• Successful completion of State proficiency exams
• Possess/maintain appropriate licensure through the State of Illinois

Skills

• Engage in collaborative dialogue with peers; maintain records and prepare reports
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Read, interpret, apply, and explain policies and procedures
• Meet requirements of schedules and timelines
• Take professional initiative; plan and organize work independently
• Read a variety of materials; engage in ongoing professional development
• Implement a student-centered approach to problem-solving and conflict resolution
• Work cooperatively and effectively with certified and non-certified personnel, parents, and community members
• Ability to solve practical problems in situations with limited standardization
• Interpret instructions provided through written and oral formats

Mental Demands

• Foundational knowledge and understanding of child growth and development, learning assessment and diagnosis, social work research related to learning, State and Federal special education laws and regulations, and best practices in school social work

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to stand, walk, talk or hear, and taste or smell
• Frequently required to use hands to handle or feel instructional materials and school social worker resources
• Occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds
• Specific vision abilities: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus

Work Environment

• Uses board-approved school social worker resources, technology, and assistive technology
• Works in a school setting with children; occasionally works in outdoor weather conditions
• Subject to noises associated with an educational environment
• Personal computing skills with web browsers, word processing, spreadsheet, databases, and student database systems

Pay

$300 per day

Schedule

Dates: 11/20/2026 to 3/19/2027

Availability: One (1.0) position, Full-Time

Placement: Shepard Middle School

Work Calendar: Teacher