School Social Worker

About the role

The Lansing School District serves over 10,000 PreK-12 students across 25 school buildings in the increasingly diverse urban community of Lansing, MI. We are unique compared to other districts because of the wide variety of exciting and innovative educational options from which families and staff members can choose. All of Lansing School District’s team members are dedicated to our mission to provide an excellent education to all students in a safe and nurturing environment.

In the pursuit of our mission, we are hiring a School Social Worker to service a bundle of schools across our district. School Social Workers assist with mental health, foster positive behavioral support, and consult with teachers, parents, and administrators. They also provide individual and group counseling/therapy. School social workers are instrumental in furthering the mission of the schools which is to provide a safe and welcoming setting for teaching and learning.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree with concentration in social work
• Michigan Social Worker license (even if still considered "Limited")
• Commitment to Lansing School District's mission and vision
• School Social Worker certification (SSW 310 form) or enrolled in a Michigan Program
• Ability to obtain your School Social Worker Certification (or permitted if you have not yet completed the SSW310 coursework) through Michigan Department of Education

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience working with children, their families, and their school support systems
• Experience constructing Positive Behavior Support Systems
• Experience working with a diverse population of students in an urban school setting

Job Responsibilities

• Maintain a caseload of at-risk learners to provide support and behavioral interventions leading to academic success
• Conduct group sessions with students in both a special ed and general ed setting who have common problems which impede their ability to be successful, (i.e. anger management, coping skills, etc.)
• Share knowledge of community resources with individual students and families to increase their success at school and beyond
• Develop, monitor progress towards, and communicate student goals and growth plans
• Other tasks as needed in order to best serve Lansing students

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.
• Must be able to move throughout the building and campus, including classrooms, hallways, and outdoor spaces.
• Frequent verbal communication is required to instruct students, lead meetings, and collaborate with staff and families.
• May be required to stand or walk for extended periods, including during supervisory duties.
• Occasional bending, reaching, or sitting on the floor to interact with students.
• Regular use of computers and instructional technology for planning, instruction, and communication.
• Must be able to lift or carry instructional materials and supplies weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Additional information

We value internal mobility and list "Strong Internal Candidate" when considering an internal candidate before posting a job. We still encourage all candidates to apply.

Complete the attached online application at your earliest convenience. If selected, we will contact you to set up an interview. While we strive to provide prompt feedback, the high volume of applicants may limit our ability to do so. All of our jobs will be posted for at least 10 days (unless otherwise noted), but we will review applications on a rolling basis.

External candidates interested in multiple positions within the same department need only apply to one posting and can indicate other roles of interest in the final question. We will consider your application for various roles based on your qualifications.

Internal candidates should apply using their SSO email address and submit separate applications for each role of interest.

Thank you for your interest in joining our mission-driven team. We look forward to meeting you!

This job description is intended to outline the general responsibilities and qualifications for the position. It is not an exhaustive list of duties, and the Lansing School District reserves the right to modify job responsibilities as needed. Due to the evolving needs of the District, additional job responsibilities may be assigned (depending on funding sources).