[2026-2027] School Social Worker (LCSWA Required)

Description:

Organizational Overview

Every School. Every Student. Every Day.

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) North Carolina, is a network of eight tuition-free, college-preparatory public charter schools educating approximately 3,000 students in grades K-12 in Durham, Halifax, Northampton and Mecklenburg counties. At KIPP NC, we are committed to improving the life outcomes of North Carolina’s children through the delivery of research-based, rigorous curricula, and clearing the paths that our students choose to follow by ensuring that they have the roadmaps and guideposts they need to arrive at success - however they define it.

At KIPP, we see the gifts in everyone who walks through the doors of our schools. Especially our teachers and social workers. Their skill. Energy. Love. Their determination. On the good days and on the hard days. So we support our teachers and social workers to make the most of those gifts. It starts with respect – for our teachers’ and social workers’ innate talents and desire to learn, for their professional growth and the lives they lead beyond our walls. We offer pay and benefits that reflect our appreciation for the invaluable role our teachers and social workers play in lighting paths to opportunity for our students. And as our teachers progress through the day, the year and their careers, we ensure they always feel the KIPP Team and Family at their backs, with opportunities to lead, and support to grow.

Together, our students, schools, families and communities share an ambitious mission to create a future without limits. And the only way to realize it is with talented teachers and social workers like you. Shape the future, for your students and yourself, by joining KIPP today.

ROLE OVERVIEW:

Social Workers at KIPP North Carolina provide crucial support and services to students. In this role, social workers will work directly with students, teachers, community partners and families to provide individual and group counseling, as well as link families to long-term solutions and external support organizations. Social Workers report to their school Principals and are coached by the Director of School Social Work on the Regional Support Team.

Responsibilities of a School Social Worker include, but are not limited to:

Service Delivery 30%

• Facilitate individual sessions using evidence-based, student centered interventions to guide conversations and achieve student’s goals.
• Facilitate group sessions using evidence-based, student centered interventions as a model to guide conversations and influence social emotional skills/ behaviors.
• Facilitate classroom lessons modeling evidence-based, student centered interventions for students and teachers.
• Build peer connections by using evidence-based, student centered interventions during restorative practices (such as circle, peer conflict resolution) and lunch bunch.
• Participate in continuous training to develop and build their evidence-based and student centered toolbox.
• Respond to acute mental health crises and provide appropriate intervention services to students and families.
• Develop and manage 504 plans, monitor progress, and provide support and consultation to general and special education teachers to promote implementation. Provide support in the development of student behavior plans.
• Conducts student and classroom observations to monitor individual student progress
• Provide on-going consultation to teachers, parents, and other school personnel to support students’ learning, behavioral challenges, and mental health needs.
• Conduct risk assessments when students present with safety concerns.
• Act as a team member who supports mental and behavioral health programming at the Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 levels of the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
• Facilitate Professional Development for staff to spread awareness on social worker's role in the school
• Initiate monthly initiatives at the school and spread awareness to all students and staff

Workflow Documentation 25%

• Serve as 504 case manager for students with a 504 plan.
• Ensure that students’ 504 plans are complete, compliant and updated at least annually.
• Share students’ 504 plans, especially accommodations and services, with students’ teachers and school leadership teams.
• Ensure that students with 504 plans receive accommodations on all formal tests
• Prepare and lead annual review 504 meetings at least once per year for each student, and reevaluation 504 meetings at least once every 3 years for each student.
• Manage the 504 initial referral and eligibility process.
• Manage the 504 Manifestation Determination process.
• Collects data to track plan fidelity and monitor progress towards goals for 504s
• Manages the Mckinney-Vento Program for the school

Stakeholder Collaboration 20%

• Consult and collaborate with school leaders, teachers, and student support team members to offer prevention and intervention strategies to resolve learning and behavioral challenges of students.
• Conduct classroom observations to observe students and model for teachers how to support students with unique behaviors and mental health disabilities
• Support stakeholders in understanding the integration of child development, student academics, and social-emotional functioning.
• Demonstrate a positive, collaborative, problem-solving mindset with students, parents/guardians, educators, administrators, community members, and colleagues.
• Work directly with Community Based Organizations to make referrals for students in need of mental health services.
• Collaborate with the school team to decrease chronic absenteeism and truancy.

School and Community Support 25%

• Participate in Attendance meetings and support families who have been identified as Truant by creating a plan to increase student attendance
• Conduct home visits to ensure well-being of student and to provide support to families in their natural environment
• Serve as the school liaison to social service agencies in the surrounding community.
• Act as the School-Based Homeless Liaison, identifying and supporting families that are in need of permanent housing through completion of referrals and fulfilling identified needs.
• Participate in mediations, administrative reviews, discipline hearings, and due process proceedings as it relates to students on caseload.
• Participate in school Open Houses, Parent-Teacher Conferences and other school events engaging parents outside of normal operating hours

**This list is not comprehensive and the Director of Social Work and Principal reserve the right to add responsibilities as needed.

Additional Needs:

• Work Hours: 7:30am - 5:00pm Monday - Friday
• This is a 12 month role and works truncated hours during the summer

KIPP Employee Mindsets

• All Means All: At KIPP NC, we believe we serve the needs and do whatever it takes for every kid, no matter their needs, abilities, or levels.
• See a Need, Fill A Need: We believe that if there's a need at a school, that to be a great team player, we fill that need. A teacher is absent? We cover their class during our prep. A student is crying in the hallway? We comfort them whether or not they're our student.
• Openness to Feedback: We believe that the only way for us to improve as professionals is to be open to feedback and add new tools to our toolbox. We stay after to practice teacher moves, annotate lessons, submit our lessons for feedback, happily have admin in our classroom to observe, and never miss a one-on-one with our coach to discuss our practice and learn how we can grow.
• Student Centered: At the end of the day, we always do what's best for kids.

Total Rewards - Compensation & Benefits

KIPP Gaston Compensation: $51,000 - $87,000

KIPP Charlotte / Durham Compensation: $55,000 - $89,000

We currently offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Healthcare (medical, vision, and dental) at no cost to individuals and deep discounts for dependents
• Enrollment in an optional 403b with employer match up to 6%
• On-going professional development opportunities:
• Support programs for new teachers
• Assigned coaching and weekly/biweekly development meetings for all teachers
• Regular content and grade-level specific PDs
• Teaching Licensure Support
• Generous time off:
• Paid Time Off (17 days PTO & 6 days sick leave annually)
• Paid Time off for all major national holidays (including Fall Break, Winter Break, and Spring Break

Requirements:

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Knowledge:

Required Qualifications

• A deep commitment to the mission of KIPP NC and an unwavering belief in the potential of all our students
• Possess a deep commitment to both racial equity and improving the lives of kids from marginalized communities
• Bachelor’s degree
• Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited institution
• Current North Carolina licensure (or ability to gain reciprocity) in social work at the Master’s level: e.g., LMSW or LCSW
• If hold an LCSWA, must be able to obtain own supervision for their LSCW
• Knowledge of federal and state Special Education law
• Knowledge of best practices for special education and assistive technology
• Independent self-starter with a strong focus on student development
• Proven written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational and planning skills
• Possession of a passionate and loving attitude toward all children
• Responsiveness; follow-up and follow-through with students, families, and faculty members are essential
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment in decision-making
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing priorities
• Experience collaborating with team members and providing constructive and instructive feedback
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
• Physical Qualifications
• Ability to stand for 8+ hours per day
• Ability to carry up to 50 lbs
• Ability to deescalate an escalated child

Preferred Qualifications

• 2 years of experience as a School Social Worker
• Experience developing and delivering Professional Development to adults
• Fluency in Spanish
• Ability to synthesize knowledge and present it to stakeholders in a comprehensive manner
• Ability to interpret policy, procedures, and data
• Ability to work both on broad-based strategy and everyday details

Additional Information

• Social Workers are 12 month employees and work during the summer
• Hours during the school year are M, Th, F 7:30am - 3:30pm & Tues, W 7:30am - 5pm
• All school Social Workers support the school with arrival, lunch and recess duty, and dismissal