Join Our Team and Empower Student Success!

The Grove at the Academy is seeking a school social worker who is responsible for supporting the social-emotional and functional needs for students who qualify for special education within Specialized Schools.  The social worker will deliver services in the school, community, home, and virtual environments. The social worker will develop academic, functional, social development, and behavior regulation skills for students with disabilities.  The social worker will lead and participate in the evaluation and IEP process in compliance with IDEA and ISBE.  The social worker maintains a connection with community resources, mental health agencies, and private providers in order to maintain a strong communication system and continuity of programming for students and families. The social worker works collaboratively with school staff, support personnel, administrators,  parents, and community members to facilitate the educational benefit and positive post-secondary outcomes for students. Must possess or be able to obtain appropriate Illinois credentials for position and have excellent human relations skills and demonstrated professionalism, EL Certification and Bilingualism preferred. Experiences with the following are sought: trauma informed practices, parent coaching and consultation, supporting students struggling to maintain consistent attendance and connection to the school environment, and family and community outreach.

Responsibilities:

• Participates in appropriate professional organizations and maintains current knowledge of practices and local resources.
• Remains current regarding the availability of outside agencies, hospitals, substance abuse programs, and social service agencies and actively networks with community resources and private providers.
• Provides individual and family intervention/coaching, including individual and group counseling, based on student and family needs.
• Frequent collaboration with teachers to support classroom goals and instruction, as well as to provide both direct and consultative services to students within the classroom setting.
• Participates in regular home visits to provide individualized social emotional and academic support to students, increase student engagement, provide parent coaching and consultation, and collect data to support IEP goals.
• Assist in staff and program development, with particular emphasis on student engagement and trauma.
• Provides supportive services to students with disabilities, including but not limited to participation in the special education evaluation, eligibility review process, IEP development, and related services as appropriate and in compliance with IDEA/ISBE regulations.  This may include supporting all teams within Specialized Schools, including but not limited to Vanguard, READY, International Newcomers Academy, The Academy, and LIFE.
• Act as Local Education Agency (LEA) Representative for Annual Review, Eligibility Determination, and Domain meetings.
• Facilitates process for developing Functional Behavior Analyses and Behavior Intervention Plans
• Involved in professional activities which strengthen practitioner's skills.
• Facilitate homebound/hospital instruction services as necessary.
• Acts as one of the Specialized Schools McKinney Vento Liaisons.
• Assists students and school teams with transitioning students, for example students new to Specialized Schools, students returning from hospitalization, the reintegration process from residential and therapeutic day school settings, and the 8th grade articulation process.
• Provides immediate support for students who are at risk to self or others
• Serve on the Crisis Team to support and intervene for the school and community in times of crisis.
• Attendance/student engagement and intervention support for students at Specialized Schools and in private therapeutic day school programs.
• Other duties as determined by supervisor (Director for Specialized Schools).
• May include flexible hours in order to connect directly with families within the community.

Qualifications:

• State of Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with a School Social Worker Endorsement.
• Minimum of a Master's degree.
• Possess highly developed interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Possess excellent communication skills.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board of Education may find appropriate and acceptable.
• EL certification or bilingualism preferred

Join Our Community:

District 214 offers a supportive and collaborative environment where professionals are empowered to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students. If you are a dedicated and compassionate School Social Worker, we encourage you to apply.

Salary information is available on the District 214 website

Click the RED "APPLY" button above to begin an online application.

Please be aware that as a requirement of your application you will be invited to complete a digital interview via RIVS.  The invitation will come to your email and the RIVS system gives you five (5) calendar days to complete the interview from the time the invitation is issued.  Keep in mind that the interview must be completed before you can submit your application, even if the interview expiration is beyond the date of the application deadline. Therefore, all your application materials, interview included, must be submitted by the application deadline.

If you previously received an invitation and didn't complete the interview you will need to request an extension. Please email [email protected] to request an extension.

                                                        

    "We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our district. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status."