What are the responsibilities and job description for the 1273 School Social Worker (Cherokee area) position at Northwest Area Education Agency?
Posting # 1273
Posting date: May 18, 2026
Posting closes: Open until filled
Location: Cherokee area
Region: East
We have a unique opportunity to work in a dual role as a school social worker, providing special education services, and as a social worker providing direct services.
Overview
Iowa's Area Education Agencies are educational partners embedded in Iowa schools. We exist to create a thriving educational landscape where all learners and educators have access to high-quality, evidence-based and strategic supports and services, collaboratively provided within districts, to help all learners achieve their full potential.
About the Agency
Northwest AEA provides special education and school improvement services to 34 public school districts and 32 accredited, non-public schools. The agency serves 45,000 students and more than 5000 educators in a 10-county area of Northwest Iowa (Lyon, Osceola, Sioux, O'Brien, Plymouth, Cherokee, Woodbury, Ida, Monona, and Crawford).
Our headquarters is located at 5800 Discovery Blvd., Sioux City, with regional offices in Cherokee, Denison, Le Mars, Onawa, and Sioux Center.
Why Northwest AEA?
Our vision, mission, and anchors guide our actions. Staff at Northwest AEA believe that what they do inspires learning and leads to changed lives for the students, staff, and families we serve. Our work is anchored in building positive, professional relationships with stakeholders and with one another. We embrace responsiveness in how we serve so that students, staff, and families can see improved results.
JOB DESCRIPTIONS
School Social Worker - Click here for a full job description
Job Summary
The School Social Worker, in partnership with educators, families and communities, integrates consultative, coaching, and collaborative services within educational systems. School social workers enhance the educational programs of students by assisting in the identification and assessment of individuals’ educational needs including, but not limited to, social, emotional, behavioral and adaptive needs; provide intervention supports and services for individuals and groups of students and serve as a liaison among home, school and community.
Working within the agency's educational framework, the school social worker fosters positive learning environments, ensures compliance with state and federal guidelines, and enhances the overall success of learners B-21.
Qualifications
- Education:
- Master’s degree in Social Work or School Social Work from an accredited program.
- Licensure:
- Iowa Bureau of Educational Examiners B-21 School Social Worker Endorsement (Initial or Full Professional Service License), OR
- Iowa Department of Public Health License: Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) or Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and Iowa Bureau of Educational Examiners Statement of Professional Recognition.
Social Worker: Direct Service- Click here for a full job description
Job Summary
Enhance the educational programs of learners by assisting with identification and assessment of the learner’s educational needs including social, emotional, and behavioral health needs; providing intervention services including brief individual, group, parent and family counseling; providing consultation and planning; actively participating on crisis teams and in crisis response; and serving as a liaison between families, educators, and community providers.
Qualifications
- Licensure through the Iowa Department of Public Health as a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) or a Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW) and a Statement of Professional Recognition from the Iowa Department of Education, or
- Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE) School Social Work Endorsement.
Click here for salary schedule.
For internal candidates, if you are interested in these positions, contact Jerome Schaefer.
It is the policy of Northwest Area Education Agency not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Jerome Schaefer, Equity Coordinator, 5800 Discovery Blvd., Sioux City, Iowa, 51111, 712-222-6114.