Description

About LEARN

Founded in 2001, LEARN is a network of high-performing college preparatory, tuition-free public elementary and middle schools with the mission of providing children with the academic foundation and ambition to earn a college degree. There are 11 LEARN Schools serving 4,100 students in grades PK-8 across Chicago, Waukegan, North Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

It is our goal to create an environment, on every campus, in which our staff members feel supported, respected, and appreciated. Our staff work together at each school and across the network to share ideas, problem solve, and innovate to move our schools and students beyond the expected.

LEARN and our amazing educators, have received numerous recognitions for making an impact in public education, including the 2018 Chicago Magazine's Top Elementary Charter Schools and the 2018 Illinois Network of Charter Schools Principal of the Year Award. 

LEARN's mission remains crystal clear: to provide children with the academic foundation and ambition to earn a college degree. LEARN is currently looking for hard-working and passionate professionals that are dedicated to transforming public education.

About the Opportunity

At LEARN, we recognize our Social Workers face unique challenges, but they say their hard work proves to be incredibly rewarding and worthwhile. LEARN is a great place to work because colleagues are empathetic and encouraging. Administrators are on their side by providing a supportive and nurturing environment with resources for scholars, professional development, and internal transfer opportunities.

LEARN wholeheartedly embodies staff appreciation. From a genuine interest in staff opinions, to celebrating and promoting professional advancement, to providing a yearly retention bonus and other rewarding perks like gift cards, LEARN values our staff’s dedication to our scholars.

What differentiates LEARN staff is their passionate advocacy for students and their commitment to set high expectations. We welcome inspired professionals and give them the opportunities to do work that excites them.

Through our implementation of a Multi-Tier System of Support (MTSS) at all of our campuses, LEARN embraces the idea that ALL scholars are capable of becoming expert learners. Staff and administrators are constantly evaluating how to best support and celebrate our diversity to benefit ALL scholars’ academic and social-emotional needs and create learning environments that tear down barriers.

The Social Worker will provide social work services to students and their families using various social work methods, including individual, group and family counseling.

Role and Responsibilities

As a Social Worker, your critical tasks will include:

• Participating with interdisciplinary team members in developing and implementing program policies and procedures and preventing crises.
• Assessing the social and emotional needs of students.
• Providing direct social work minutes/services to students referred by self, faculty, administration, special education team members, and other ancillary staff.
• Participating and occasionally presenting at teacher meetings, assemblies, etc.
• Serving as an advocate for students' rights within the school and serving as a mediator between parents, child, and school.
• Attending all scheduled clinical team meetings.
• Establishing referral network/linkages with outside agencies for both students and parents. Tracking and following up on all referrals made in and out of school.
• Coordinating social work services and student referrals between LEARN and other agencies providing social and educational services in both the school and local community.
• Ensuring that all clients, (students, parents, families) visitors, guests, as well as coworkers, receive personalized, prompt attention and are treated with receptiveness, dignity and respect, no matter how limited the contact.

Additional tasks may include:

• Remaining available for crisis intervention social work as the need arises or arranging for such coverage by emergency social services.

Qualifications

This job is a great fit if you: 

• Have a Master’s degree or higher in Social Work and valid State/District School Social Work Endorsement/Licensure
• Have a demonstrated record of living LEARN's Core Values
• Have a persistent and intentional mindset towards the overall success of each child

Preferred

• You are bilingual 
• Possess 1 year of direct School Social Work experience

Benefits Summary 

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package for all full time employees, including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Wellness Benefits: Online Mental Health Support, free on site COVID testing
• Paid vacation, personal days, paid holidays, including 5 days off every 23 days in a school year
• Short and long term disability
• Paid life insurance
• 403B Contribution 4.5% matching as eligible
• Chicago Teachers' Pension fund or Teacher Retirement Fund
• On-going professional development opportunities:
• Mentor teachers and ongoing support for new teachers
• Coaches and coaching meetings for all teachers
• Weekly PDs

Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a valid medical or religious exemption required.

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of LEARN Charter School Network. Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.