Social Worker at KNDMS (26/27 School Year)

About the role

The Social Worker provides services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of KIPP Colorado students. The Social Worker will work with students to set social emotional goals and will develop differentiated plans for supporting the students in meeting these goals. They will create a schedule for meeting with individual students and groups of students and monitor and share out student progress. The social worker will also ensure that we are in compliance regarding social emotional services mandated by students’ Individualized Education Plans.

What we do

• Believe deeply in the mission, values, and RIDE commitments of KIPP Colorado Schools and that all children can and will learn
• Assume personal responsibility for student achievement
• Read, internalize, and adhere to the KIPP Colorado Policies and Procedures manual and guidelines
• Provide an active presence, strategic supervision, and intentional monitoring to ensure student safety and engagement in rigorous learning (regardless of my role and its proximity to students)
• Take ownership for the development of your craft and engage actively in coaching sessions (meet 1-2 times every 1 or 2 weeks (depending on need and role) with a manager, receive coaching, implement all provided feedback, engage in active practice, etc.)
• Commit to being prepared. Such as: internalizing and preparing for lessons, preparing for O3s/coaching, preparing for meetings, coaching, PD, reading and internalizing written communication, etc.
• Meet professional obligations including and not limited to meeting deadlines and honoring schedules
• Leverage existing professional tools, including but not limited to Google Suite (google documents, etc.) and Microsoft Suite (including but not limited to your KIPP Colorado email, Teams chat / meetings, Teams phone, and Microsoft Outlook calendar)
• Maintain strong attendance each day and be on time to all responsibilities
• Collaborate with colleagues and seek feedback in the spirit of continuous improvement
• Reflect on professional practices to meet individual professional development goals
• Actively participate in professional development, grade level, and department meetings
• Actively engage and implement in all school-wide and Org wide professional development
• Serve as a positive, contributing member of a grade team or functional team, collaborating with colleagues to tackle common challenges and implement org and grade-wide initiatives
• Share candid, solutions-oriented feedback with peers and leadership on a regular basis, assuring that feedback is shared directly with the intended recipient
• Aid in both student and staff recruitment and engagement- including events, home visits, calls home, and other determined and related requirements
• Assist with other duties as assigned (such as but not limited to, lunch duty, arrival/dismissal duty, bathroom duty, hallway duty, school support duties, etc.)

Evaluation and services

• Develops and executes needs assessments in the first month of school year
• Uses a variety of appropriate formal and informal tools and techniques including observations and interviews to evaluate the progress and performance of KIPPsters and their families
• Provides services to students in one-on-one and small group counseling sessions
• Collaborates with school team to determine the services needed for each student, based on their IEP goals and requirements, their personal goals, and other school-based goals for their learning and development
• Promote family support of KIPPsters learning experience within the context of multicultural understanding and competencies
• Develops and provides training programs that address school goals and mission
• Engage in individual and school safety implementation, including prevention, assessment/intervention for KIPPsters at-risk of harm to self or others, child abuse reporting and crisis response

Advocacy

• Advocate and facilitate change that effectively responds to the needs of KIPPsters, families and KIPP Colorado network using appropriate statutes, case law, policies, and procedures
• Assist KIPPsters and their families to gain access to formal and informal community resources

Consultation and collaboration

• Consult with community members, families, and KIPP school staff to facilitate an understanding of factors in the home and community that impact KIPPsters’ educational experiences
• Initiate and support activities to overcome institutional barriers and gaps in services as a participant of interdisciplinary teams in accordance with the school mission and with the unique contribution of bringing the KIPP staff, home, KIPP school and community perspective to the KIPP interdisciplinary process
• Work with internal and external individuals, groups, and organizations to develop programs or systems of care that support and enhance the health, social and emotional well-being, and safety of all KIPPsters and staff
• Facilitate KIPPster access to community health and mental health services
• Orient community providers to KIPP school climate, and the community
• Participate on RTI/problem-solving teams, such as KIPPster intervention teams, discipline support teams
• Track student attendance rates
• Lead collaboration with Grade Chairs to take preventative and responsive action toward maintaining a 95% average daily attendance rate

Program planning, implementation and evaluation

• Effectively plan, implement and evaluate KIPP programs that promote KIPPster and family success
• Apply knowledge of environmental factors in planning programs
• Conduct individual and/or KIPP school-wide assessments and surveys to assess the school and/or the community needs
• Assist the KIPP school in planning programs that alleviate situations, which may interfere with the learning process of KIPPsters
• Assist in the evaluation of effective school-based programs

Student support team lead

• Lead attendance team in identifying and tracking interventions for KIPPsters who are struggling in school
• Oversee RTI/attendance team so that RTI and attendance concerns are addressed in a systematic and efficient manner

Additional responsibilities

• Participate in active presence and strategic supervision and monitoring to ensure student safety and engagement in rigorous learning
• Partner with the Assistant Principal of Special Services and Special Education Teachers to ensure proper implementation of 504s, BIPs, IEPs, safety plans, accommodations, modification, and language support for students
• Enforce positive behavior systems
• Attend designated school functions outside of school hours (Back to School Night, Report Card Conferences, Community Events, etc.)
• Perform necessary support duties including (but not limited to) bus, lunch, and dismissal duties, chaperone field trips
• Participate in parent meetings, conferences, and periodic evening events
• Develop strong relationships with the families of students through home visits, participation in school events and phone calls home
• Communicate regularly with families about academic progress and behavior
• Participate in daily duties (i.e. breakfast, lunch, dismissal) to support school operations
• Aid in both student and staff recruitment

About a successful candidate

• Masters Degree in Social Work (required)
• Spanish bilingual (preferred)
• Colorado Department of Education Special Service Provider License with a Social Worker endorsement (required)
• LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) (preferred)
• Previous school social work experience (preferred)
• At least 2 years of teaching experience (highly preferred but not required)
• Ability to work during after-school, evening, and weekend meetings and events at the school (required)
• A full understanding and commitment to an Exceptional Student Experience (more about that HERE) (required)
• Commitment to and experience with youth of various cultural and economic backgrounds
• Outstanding organizational skills and high attention to detail; outstanding written and oral communication skills
• Proactive problem solver who demonstrates initiative and teamwork
• Strong work ethic coupled with an enthusiastic and passionate approach to one’s work
• Multi-faceted, multi-skilled, resourceful and willing to do whatever it takes to help the school reach a level of academic excel