Elementary Social Worker

The Illinois Association of School Administrators; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Illinois Association of School Administrators is seeking an Elementary School Social Worker to promote students’ social, emotional, and behavioral well-being. The role provides direct counseling, consults with teachers and administrators, and partners with families to connect students with school and community resources.

The position requires MSW, a valid PEL with School Social Worker endorsement or eligibility, and experience with IEP/504 processes, crisis intervention, and data-driven

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited program.
• Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with School Social Worker endorsement (or eligibility).
• Strong knowledge of child development, social-emotional learning, tiered interventions, trauma-informed practice, and evidence-based counseling approaches.
• Experience with crisis intervention, risk assessment, and mandated reporting requirements.
• Familiarity with IEP and 504 processes, including evaluation, case management, and progress monitoring.
• Experience working with elementary-aged students in a public school setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual and small-group counseling addressing concerns such as anxiety, grief, family transitions, peer relationships, self-regulation, and social skills.
• Deliver evidence-based Tier 2 and Tier 3 social-emotional interventions aligned to student need.
• Provide social work services consistent with each student’s IEP minutes for students in the grades served.
• Support classroom social-emotional learning (SEL) through push-in lessons, modeling, and consultation as needed.
• Collect and analyze progress-monitoring data to evaluate interventions and adjust supports.
• Provide timely crisis intervention for students experiencing acute social, emotional, behavioral, or mental health concerns.
• Conduct risk and threat assessments and develop safety and re-entry plans in collaboration with administration and families.
• Fulfill mandated reporter responsibilities, including reports to the DCFS as required by law.
• Connect students and families with school- and community-based mental health and social service resources.
• Attend IEP meetings, complete related paperwork, and provide social work services as outlined in IEPs for students in the grades served.
• Serve as Case Manager 504 Plans drafting plans and monitoring implementation of accommodations.
• Contribute to the development and monitoring of behavior support plans (BIPs) as needed.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records in compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Partner with the Assistant Principal as needed to coordinate student support, behavioral interventions, and family communication.
• Consult with classroom teachers on behavior management, social-emotional strategies, and classroom-based supports.
• Provide feedback and training to instructional assistants and other team members to ensure implementation of Behavior Intervention Plans
• Collaborate with general and special educators, related-service providers, the school nurse, and outside professionals to ensure coordinated services.
• Provide proactive support and onboarding for new students in the grade levels served.

Skills

Child development

Social-emotional learning

Trauma-informed practice

Crisis intervention

Behavior management

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work

PEL with School Social Worker endorsement

Job description

The Elementary School Social Worker promotes the social, emotional, and behavioral well-being of students. The Social Worker provides direct counseling and intervention, consults with teachers and administrators, partners with families, and connects students to school- and community-based resources. The role draws on expertise in child development, social-emotional learning, trauma-informed practice, crisis response, and special education processes.

Essential Job Functions

Direct Service & Counseling

• Provide individual and small-group counseling addressing concerns such as anxiety, grief, family transitions, peer relationships, self-regulation, and social skills.
• Deliver evidence-based Tier 2 and Tier 3 social-emotional interventions aligned to student need.
• Provide social work services consistent with each student’s IEP minutes for students in the grades served.
• Support classroom social-emotional learning (SEL) through push-in lessons, modeling, and consultation as needed.
• Collect and analyze progress-monitoring data to evaluate interventions and adjust supports.

Crisis Response & Mental Health Support

• Provide timely crisis intervention for students experiencing acute social, emotional, behavioral, or mental health concerns.
• Conduct risk and threat assessments and develop safety and re-entry plans in collaboration with administration and families.
• Fulfill mandated reporter responsibilities, including reports to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) as required by law.
• Connect students and families with school- and community-based mental health and social service resources.

Assessment, IEP & 504 Services

• Serve as a member of the IEP Evaluation Team, conducting social-emotional, adaptive behavior, and functional behavior assessments as appropriate.
• Attend IEP meetings, complete related paperwork, and provide social work services as outlined in IEPs for students in the grades served.
• Serve as Case Manager 504 Plans drafting plans and monitoring implementation of accommodations.
• Contribute to the development and monitoring of behavior support plans (BIPs) as needed.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records in compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Serve as a member of the Grade Level Intervention Planning Team as needed.
• Partner with the Assistant Principal as needed to coordinate student support, behavioral interventions, and family communication.
• Consult with classroom teachers on behavior management, social-emotional strategies, and classroom-based supports.
• Provide feedback and training to instructional assistants and other team members to ensure implementation of Behavior Intervention Plans
• Collaborate with general and special educators, related-service providers, the school nurse, and outside professionals to ensure coordinated services.
• Provide proactive support and onboarding for new students in the grade levels served.

Family & Stakeholder Engagement

• Maintain regular, supportive communication with parents/guardians regarding student progress, interventions, and resources.
• Provide families with strategies, referrals, and community resources to extend support beyond school.

Other Duties

• Perform additional duties relevant to the scope of the position as assigned by administration.

Qualifications

Qualifications

• Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with School Social Worker endorsement (or eligibility).
• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited program.
• Strong knowledge of child development, social-emotional learning, tiered interventions, trauma-informed practice, and evidence-based counseling approaches.
• Experience with crisis intervention, risk assessment, and mandated reporting requirements.
• Familiarity with IEP and 504 processes, including evaluation, case management, and progress monitoring.
• Experience working with elementary-aged students in a public school setting preferred.

Salary/Benefits

Salary/Benefits

Commensurate with the current agreement between the District and the Kenilworth Educators Association.

District Name Kenilworth SD #38 Building Name Address The Joseph Sears School, 542 Abbotsford Rd
Kenilworth, IL 60043 Phone [phone] Fax [phone] IASA Region Cook North County Cook (North) County Employment Type Full-time permanent Job Category Agriculture Education Grade Level Elementary