School Counselor / Social Worker

Job Opportunity: School Counselor / Social Worker 
Location: Washington, DC
Department: SPED
Application Deadline: Until filled
Employment Type: Full-time
Reports to: Director of Student Support
Compensation: Salary starts at $66,440 - $97,135 and will be commensurate with degree and years of experience 

About Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School

Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School's mission is to provide diverse families of Washington DC a public Montessori education designed to enable children to develop within themselves the power to shape their lives and the world around them.

Our vision is for students to have the competence and courage to individually excel, and collectively build a just society.

Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School was founded in early 2016 in Washington, DC and currently serves 388 students from Pre-K 3 through grade 6. At Breakthrough Montessori PCS, we believe in the unbounded potential of all children; students of all races, classes, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and backgrounds deserve a personalized education. Our school is grounded in an institutional commitment to development, prevention, and community. We support human development through a strict application of the time-tested Montessori instructional model. We support prevention through early learning, support, and intervention, enabling us to quickly and effectively address learning challenges. Finally, we support the community through an intensive approach to family engagement. 

Breakthrough Montessori PCS is committed to equity in all areas of our school's work. We believe in the unbounded potential of all children. Therefore, we are a supportive environment that seeks to employ a diverse staff reflective of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, and backgrounds. Breakthrough Montessori PCS is a coaching school; all team members receive and give coaching to support professional growth. 

Position Summary:

Under the direction of the Director of Student Support, the School Social Worker will provide individual and small group counseling, support the social and emotional development of the whole school, collaborate with teachers and related service providers, maintain necessary documentation as needed for IEPs, and monitor progress on FBAs and BIPs as needed.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

The Social Worker is a 12-month position. Working hours are Mondays from 8:00 am-4:30 pm and Tuesday-Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm. 

Responsibilities include the following:

Counseling

• Provide individual and small group counseling to meet IEP mandates and support the goals of students referred through the Child Study Team
• Support students through short-term crisis intervention as needs arise
• Build students’ social skills, anger management, self-esteem, and conflict resolution to improve classroom performance and overall well-being

Coordinator of Services

• Attend IEP and Child Study Team meetings, contributing the social worker perspective on student needs and supporting collaborative case planning
• Maintain the Social Service Resource List, community referral knowledge, and connections to outside agencies, and refer students and families to appropriate supports
• Complete and oversee documentation required for the delivery of services, including IEP goals and objectives, progress notes, Medicaid reimbursement forms, social histories, and psychological evaluations
• Oversee and monitor functional behavioral assessments (FBAs) and behavior intervention plans (BIPs) in collaboration with behavioral and instructional staff
• Serve as the school’s McKinney-Vento Liaison, identifying eligible students, coordinating services, and ensuring compliance with federal McKinney-Vento requirements
• Serve as the school’s primary liaison with the DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA), ensuring timely reporting of suspected abuse or neglect in accordance with mandated reporter requirements and following up on open cases as appropriate

Attendance, Truancy & Student Support Team

• Serve as a core member of the school’s Student Support Team (SST), participating in case reviews and intervention planning
• Monitor chronic absenteeism and truancy trends, engaging families and conducting home visits when needed to address barriers to attendance
• Maintain attendance-related documentation and coordinate referrals (including Truancy Court) in accordance with OSSE and DC reporting requirements

Leadership and Family Engagement

• Serve as an advocate for children and families in need, communicating clearly and regularly with families and conducting home visits when necessary
• Co-facilitate parent and family workshops to strengthen the school-family partnership
• Plan and co-facilitate teacher professional development sessions on social-emotional learning, trauma-informed practices, behavior management, attendance support, and other student support topics
• Attend and participate in school events outside of regular school hours
• Other duties as assigned

Collaboration

• Work alongside teachers and students to develop the social skills and work habits needed for academic success
• Meet regularly with teachers to discuss counseling case reviews, behavior plan progress, social-emotional curriculum planning, and other student concerns
• Establish and maintain relationships with families as needed to best serve the child
• Collaborate with outside agencies to share information and ensure the creation of seamless service delivery plans for students

Required Competencies and Qualifications:

• Have a firm commitment to upholding the school’s mission and anti-bias/anti-racist pedagogy.
• Independent and takes the initiative in building out school-wide curriculums and managing caseloads
• Commitment to upholding the confidentiality of students and parents
• Proven ability to work as a member of a diverse team of educators
• Enthusiasm and commitment to Breakthrough’s vision and mission
• Creative, energetic and nurturing personality
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills

Education and Experience:

• Experience working with diverse populations of students, parents, and families.
• Masters Degree required
• LGSW required, LICSW preferred
• Experience working as a school counselor or social worker in school-based settings, preferably in a public school setting
• Ability to collaborate with families, school staff, and the community
• Previous experience with Montessori schools preferred. Without previous Montessori experience, demonstrate an eagerness to learn about the method and support its implementation.
• Previous ABAR work or training preferred

Working Conditions:

The working environment characteristics described represent those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The position involves sitting, bending, standing, pushing, and reaching with both hands/ arms as necessary and may require some lifting up to 40lbs. In addition to the routine use of standard office equipment.