Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools

School Social Worker

 

ABOUT US

Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools (www.freedomprep.org) comprise a high-performing PreK-12 charter school network in Memphis, TN. Our mission is to prepare all students in grades K-12 to excel in college and in life. We accomplish our mission through providing a highly structured, academically rigorous environment where students master core subjects, develop advanced academic skills, and demonstrate the school’s core values of: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Excellence, and Community.

Freedom Preparatory Academy was established in August of 2009 with a class of nearly 100 6th graders. We now serve nearly 1,800 students in grades PreK-12. In 2019, as we celebrate our 10^th year of providing a quality education for students in low-income/underserved communities, we are proud to see our students exceed local and state averages in Math and local averages in English language arts. We have received numerous awards year after year for being one of the top schools for growth in the city and state of TN. In 2018, 100% of our 2^nd graduating class were accepted to four-year colleges and universities!

We have three core beliefs that drive our mission: Every child deserves the right to a high-quality public education, a foundation in character development is essential, and direct exposure to an array of opportunities and experiences provides each child with the self-confidence and social knowledge to compete globally.

 

 

 

 

JOB TITLE:                                        School Social Worker

ACCOUNTABILITY:                              Lead Social Worker

SCHOOL YEAR:                                        2020-2021

 

POSITION SUMMARY
The School Social Worker will address the social, emotional and psychological issues that can impede students’ academic success. S/he will provide social work counseling to students and parents; provide psycho-social assessment and diagnosis of behavioral disabilities with recommendations and/or environmental manipulations at the school, home and/or in the community with periodic reevaluations; makes referrals to public or private agencies with appropriate follow-up; and serve as a liaison between school, family and community resources.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
This position will play a critical role in achieving our mission of providing all children the opportunity to achieve all they can and be a part of the Freedom Prep community.  Below are some of the tasks required of the School Social Worker:

• Serves as a source of information regarding community resources.
• Maintains appropriate school records and provides written reports and communications.
• Provide individual or group counseling for children who are experiencing problems in school, home, or community adjustment with an emphasis upon early intervention. 
• Encourage and assist families in their pursuit of community services that may assist in the remediation of school-centered problems. 
• Mediate and advocate on behalf of students with family, school, and community. 
• Conduct home visits to gain a better understanding of the family dynamics, in order to better meet the student’s individual needs.   
• Provide collaboration and consultation regarding student problems and coordinating plans and actions to meet them. Early identification of problems is emphasized. 
• Facilitate the involvement of community agencies in efforts directed toward the remediation of student problems in school adjustment. 
• Collaborate with teachers and other professionals in assessing student needs and designing strategies to help individual students.  
• Assist parents in preventing problems by facilitating communication with the school. 
• Assist parents with understanding problems experienced by their children. This is accomplished through home visits, group counseling, parent training and referrals to community services. 
• Assist families with understanding their children’s educational needs and resources available within the school.   

 

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

Education:                   

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work required. 
• Master’s Degree in Social Work preferred.

Certification:

• C-SSWS or C-CYFSW certification preferred.
• Ability to obtain Tennessee credential authorizing pupil personnel services as a social worker (preK-12)

 

Other:

• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Willingness to travel locally using own transportation; willingness to travel within the state, as required
• Willingness to work additional hours and/or evenings/weekends on occasion

 

Experience:                 

• 2+ years of professional work experience with background in education and urban communities preferred.
• Making referrals to public or private agencies with appropriate follow-up.
• Serving as a liaison between school, family, and community resources
• Experience with special needs students.
• Experience with Crisis Management
• Experience with social and community organization coordination of benefits.

 

 

Skills:

• Energy and entrepreneurial spirit for the   charter school environment
• Comfortable with ambiguity and creative problem solving ability
• Deep commitment to the FPA mission and a desire to transform the lives of the underserved.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships and collaborate with others.
• Sense of creativity that infuses work with new ideas and energy.
• Self-imposed orientation toward achievement that leads to producing A-level work.
• Demonstrated individual initiative and flexibility including planning ahead for upcoming challenges or opportunities and managing change effectively
• Strong organizational and analytical skills including the ability to plan and execute a course of action to accomplish objectives and the use of knowledge and experience to address problems and opportunities
• Passionate about and has a personal commitment to improving education opportunities for public school students ·
• Sound judgment and decision-making abilities.

 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience. 

START DATE
An exceptional candidate will assume a full time role no later than July 2016.  The position will remain open until filled.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY 
Freedom Preparatory Academy is actively seeking to build a diverse and experienced team of educators.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.  We are an equal opportunity employer.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Outstanding candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and references to https://freedomprep.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx