Job Opportunity: 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 and will be commensurate with degree and years of experience FLSA Status: Exempt

About Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School's mission is to enable children to develop within themselves the power to shape their lives and the world around them.

Founded in 2016, Breakthrough Montessori is a public charter school in Washington, DC. In the 2024-25 school year, we will serve 388 students in PK3 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. The social worker is also the McKinney-Vento Liasion of the school.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

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

Responsibilities include the following:

Counseling ● Provide counseling to students in 1:1 and small group settings ● Meeting IEP mandates and meeting goals of students referred through the Child Study Team ● Supporting students with short-term crisis intervention ● Increasing social skills, anger management, self-esteem, conflict resolution, and ultimately, improving classroom performance

Coordinator of Services ● Attend IEP and Child Study Team meetings ● Maintain Social Service Resource List and Referrals ● Ensure completion of paperwork required for the delivery of services, such as creation of 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 ● Maintain a working knowledge of community resources available to students and families and refer students and families as appropriate ● Act as the Homeless Liaison.

Leadership and Family Engagement ● Serve as an advocate for children and families in need ● Conduct home visits when necessary ● Co-facilitate parent and family workshops ● Co-facilitate teacher professional development workshops ● Communicate clearly and regularly with families ● 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 to achieve academically ● Meet with teachers regularly to discuss counseling case reviews, behavior plan progress, social-emotional curriculum planning as well as other 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 was preferred. Without previous Montessori experience, demonstrate an eagerness to learn about the method and support its implementation. ● Previous ABAR work or training preferred

Benefits: 

We provide employees with a robust leave policy that includes:

• Paid personal time off
• Paid COVID sick leave
• Paid family leave (in addition to DC paid family leave)
• Paid bereavement leave
• Paid leave for the observation of a religious holiday 

Breakthrough invests heavily in the professional development (PD) of our faculty through:

• A weekly early release schedule with professional development and collaborative planning time from 1:30-4:30 pm every Monday;
• An individual professional development budget of $250/year to pursue additional PD opportunities;
• Conference participation and 
• A Continuing Education grant program that provides grantees up to $20,000 to complete Montessori teacher training, an advanced degree or other license. 

Other benefits include:

• Health, dental, vision
• Retirement (Vanguard Retirement)
• AFLAC
• Educator wellness groups, facilitated by a clinical psychologist.

For information on Breakthrough Montessori PCS, including more information on employee benefits and our company culture, visit our website at www.breakthroughmontessori.org. 

Breakthrough Montessori PCS is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.