Company Description

At KIPP Chicago, we are guided by a simple, yet powerful mission: Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. Our campuses are located in the Austin, Englewood, North Lawndale, and West Humboldt Park neighborhoods. KIPP Chicago also advises over 2000 KIPP alumni currently in high school or college through our KIPP Forward program.  KIPP Chicago is the highest-performing network of schools in Chicago, as measured by our city’s school quality index.  We attract, develop, and retain a diverse and talented staff of educators. Our students and families choose our schools because our teachers are exceptional educators who work together as a collective to ensure students achieve and thrive.  For more data and information about our successes and vision for the future, visit www.kippchicago.org

Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

KIPP Chicago is hiring School Social Workers to support our K - 8 campuses.  The School Social Worker will service all the IEP minutes for one of our K-8 campuses, either on the west side or south side of Chicago.  This is a full-time position, working Monday - Friday (8:00 - 4:30). 

RESPONSIBILITIES

KIPP Chicago Schools’ students perform beyond statistical expectations because our teachers and staff are exceptional.  They have a “whatever it takes” attitude toward their role in students’ success.  They are remembered by students and families as inspirational.

The expectations specific to the School Social Worker include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Maintain a caseload of students receiving regular, ongoing clinical services. Provide direct service minutes that align to the goals and services outlined in the student’s IEP, complete weekly progress notes to maintain compliance.
• Collaborate with the IEP team to create and update the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) and Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)/Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) (if applicable) for each student served.
• Attend and participate in the IEP meetings of students on the social work caseload.
• Conduct social work assessments and participate in eligibility determination meetings.
• Effectively manage crises for students assigned to your caseload.
• Provide clinical services for general education students (size of general education caseload is dependent on size of special education caseload).
• Collaborate with teachers and staff, conduct classroom observations, and provide support & feedback as needed.

KIPP Chicago Schools staff are supported in their demanding work by experienced and dedicated leadership who have themselves proven successful in the teaching role.  Our leaders maintain consistent school-wide systems and procedures -- academic, behavioral, cultural, logistical -- designed to permit staff to do their best work.

Our supports for our staff’s work include, but are not limited to the following:

• A recent model of Mac laptop computer

• A monthly stipend to support the cost of mobile phone usage

• Common behavioral expectations upheld by all school staff and recorded through our student paycheck system with attached school-wide incentives and disincentives

• Principals and assistant principals who are routinely present throughout the building and day

• In-building technology support

• Highly efficient and thoughtful scheduling, including for special events like field lessons or testing windows

• A team of ambitious, talented staff, every single one committed to our important work

Qualifications

The requirements for the Lead School Social Worker are:

• A Master’s of Social Work from an accredited university (required)

• An Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with a School Social Worker endorsement (required)

• At least one-year clinical social work experience in a school or school-like setting serving students and families from an historically underserved community (preferred)

• Proficiency in Spanish (preferred)

• Demonstrated experience working and communicating with families, related service providers and external service providers (e.g., DCFS or SASS)

• An ability to self-manage caseload, prioritize assignments, and demonstrate flexibility while working as a member of the team

• Model positive and healthy character traits and habits, such as being organized, consistent, and understanding and always holding high expectations for oneself and students. Also, model a willingness and desire to request feedback from others in service of improvement

• Unquestioned ethics, integrity, and commitment to the KIPP Chicago mission and willingness to serve the KIPP Chicago community

• A cleared CPS background check before first date of employment 

Additional Information

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

KIPP Chicago Schools offers a competitive compensation and benefits package:

• Competitive salaries commensurate with experience
• Competative rates for medical insurance and short-term disability insurance
• Dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, and long-term disability insurance are offered at no cost
• Contributions to the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund in accordance with Illinois state law
• An additional, optional 403(b) retirement account
• Robust professional development 

STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

KIPP Chicago Public Schools is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying for employment. KIPP Chicago does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic background. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.