Position: High School Social Worker

Work Year: 10-month employee

Reports To: Building Principal

MISSION

The mission of Albany Leadership Charter School for Girls is to prepare young women to graduate from high school with the academic and leadership skills necessary to succeed in college and the career of their choosing.

Values

College Readiness

Leadership

Empowerment

Accountability

Resolve and Resiliency

Vision

Albany Leadership Charter School for Girls will be a recognized leader in single-sex secondary education for young women. It will foster a community of scholars dedicated to life-long learning and committed to improving their communities through their pursuit of post-secondary endeavors.

Commitment to Excellence

ALCS is a family with the highest of expectations for our daughters, particularly in regards to academic achievement. Our goal is to position our girls so that their senior year can be focused on successfully transitioning to their post-secondary pursuits. If we set the standard, our daughters will rise to the challenge. We emphasize the importance of leadership through scholarship and service. “One leader changes everything” is not just a slogan students hear; it is a belief they are taught to manifest.

All Girls

There are three major advantages for girls who are educated in a single gender school, include: expanded educational opportunity, custom-tailored learning and instruction, and greater autonomy of thought and expression. Single gender schools help to foster an environment where their students think for themselves and take control of their own lives. By eliminating false gender stereotypes, all female schools can liberate and empower their girls to explore various subjects and pursue excellence in all disciplines. It is for these reasons that ALCS believes that the opportunity to experience a single-gender education, should be one that is offered freely to any and all girls who would choose it.

SUMMARY:

Albany Leadership Charter High School for Girls is in search of a full-time School Social Worker, for the 2023-2024 school year, to support our students through their educational experience. The School Social Worker will work with teachers, parents, and school leaders to develop plans and strategies to improve students’ academic performance and social emotional development. This position requires a high degree of self-awareness, knowledge on the educational impacts of trauma and creativity when it comes to addressing the needs of students.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES, SKILLS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The following statements of duties and responsibilities are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position.

Services to Students

• Offer compassionate and individualized counseling services to students, both on a one-on-one basis and in group settings, to address emotional, behavioral, and social challenges that may impact their academic success.
• Provide timely crisis intervention support to students and families during challenging situations, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all.
• Collaborate with teachers and administrators to develop positive behavioral intervention strategies that foster a positive learning environment and promote students' overall well-being.
• Create personalized intervention plans to enhance academic success, assisting students in overcoming barriers to learning and reaching their full potential.
• Advocate for best practices in education and actively support the academic and personal growth of children and families.

Social Emotional Development

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the New York State Social Emotional Learning Standards (SEL), incorporating these standards into counseling sessions and interventions to support students' emotional development.
• Assist students with conflict resolution and anger management, helping them develop healthy ways of coping with emotions and interpersonal challenges.
• Facilitate the development of appropriate social interaction skills, fostering positive peer relationships and effective communication.
• Support students in understanding and accepting themselves and others, promoting a culture of empathy, respect, and inclusivity.

School-Community Liaison

• Cultivate strong partnerships with community resources to effectively meet the needs of students and families.
• Advocate for the implementation of new and improved community and school services that enhance support for students and families.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of available community agencies and resources, connecting families to valuable support systems.

Service to Parents/Families

• Collaborate with parents and families to identify and address their child's specific needs, ensuring a strong support system for students both at home and school.
• Assist parents in accessing and utilizing school and community resources, fostering a collaborative approach to student success.
• Provide guidance and support to alleviate family stress, enabling students to function effectively in the school and community environment.

Services to School Personnel

• Equip school staff with essential information to better understand the various factors influencing a student's academic performance and behavior, including cultural, societal, economic, familial, and health-related factors.
• Develop and facilitate in-service training programs for school personnel, enhancing their capacity to address students' social-emotional needs effectively.
• Collaborate with teachers in implementing effective behavior management strategies that create a positive and nurturing learning environment.
• Identify and report instances of child abuse and neglect, ensuring the safety and well-being of students.

Other Related Services

• Demonstrate proficiency in collecting and analyzing data required for planning and implementing student-centered interventions, utilizing data-driven approaches to support students effectively.
• Actively participate in various meetings, including Special Education and Student Support Team meetings, contributing valuable insights and expertise.
• Incorporate knowledge of Culturally Responsive Education and Trauma-sensitive practices into daily interactions with students, recognizing the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the student population.

To perform this job successfully, the School Social Worker must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with less than required attributes or with disabilities to perform the essential functions to expectations.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with less than required attributes or with disabilities to perform the essential functions to expectations.

• Work effectively with and respond to people from diverse cultures or backgrounds.
• Demonstrate professionalism and appropriate judgment in behavior, speech and dress in a neat, clean and appropriate professional manner for the assignment and work setting.
• Have regular and punctual attendance.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work from accredited college or university
• Licensed Master Social Worker or Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Previous School Social Work experience is preferred

EXPERIENCE: Demonstrates proper attitude and experience working with high school girls, preferably within an urban setting. Exhibits quality relationships with staff, students, parents and broader community. Demonstrates ability to implement an organizational system to support both case management and student needs simultaneously.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, DISPOSITIONS: Understanding of school student-achievement data and New York Charter School Standards; thorough understanding of best practices for secondary schools; operating knowledge of and experience with personal computers, word processing and database software. English language skills required. Oral and written fluency in a second language may be preferred or required based on student and parent primary language needs.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, & REGISTRATIONS: NYS Certification as a School Social Worker is preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Dealing with other adults and students sometimes is in quiet areas and sometimes noisy ones.

MENTAL FUNCTIONS: While performing the duties of this job, the School Social Worker is regularly required to use interpersonal skills; frequently required to compare, analyze, communicate, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate and negotiate.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $45,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work setting:

• In-person

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Certified Social Worker (Preferred)
• Clinical Social Worker (Preferred)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Preferred)

Work Location: In person