ETS, Social Worker, Morse School

Morse School; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Morse School in Cambridge is seeking an Extended Term Substitute, Social Worker to support students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs from September 2026 through December 2026. The role reports to the Building Principal and works with teachers, families, and staff to create a safe, inclusive learning environment.

The position requires a Master’s in social work, at least 3 years of experience in diverse settings, strong communication, and MA licensure or eligibility.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work or mental health counseling.
• At least 3 years of successful experience in social work, preferably in urban/educational settings.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to collaborate with administration, staff, students, families, and other stakeholders.
• Preferred Massachusetts Licensure: DESE School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor and clinical licensure (LCSW, LICSW, or LMHC).

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing support and consultation around SEL and mental health practices.
• Participate in a multi-tiered system of support, analyze data trends and intervention effectiveness.
• Collaborate with the Office of Social Emotional Learning and district colleagues.
• Deliver continuum of social, emotional, and mental health services (crisis intervention, counseling, referrals).
• Work with students and families to coordinate resources and referrals to external providers.
• Support Tier 1 SEL curriculum and school-wide practices to build SEL competencies.
• Assess complex situations to identify immediate supports for safety concerns.
• Provide education and professional development for school staff on cultural and social-emotional factors.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Master’s degree in SW/mental health

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Cultural humility

Collaborate with staff & families

Assess & design interventions

Education

Master’s degree in social work or mental health counseling

Massachusetts licensure preferred (DESE School Social Worker/SC)

Job description

ETS, Social Worker, Morse School

Cambridge Public Schools Morse School - Cambridge, Massachusetts Open in Google Maps

Job Details

Job ID: 5913142

Application Deadline: Posted until filled

Posted: Sep 02, 2026 4:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Immediately

Job Description

Position : Extended Term Substitute, Social Worker

Available September 2026 throughDecember 2026

Morse School

The Morse School Community:

The Morse School serves children and families from every Cambridge neighborhood and from over 40 different countries. At the Morse School, we nurture not only our children’s curiosity and intellectual skills, but also their healthy social and emotional development. Morse School families, teachers, and staff members work together to foster a sense of safety and belonging and to support students in developing a sense of civic responsibility and an appreciation for people with different origins, identities, beliefs, and learning styles. We strive to promote a sense of community where all adults and children feel respected and appreciated. The Morse School follows an inclusion model, with English learners and students with moderate disabilities learning alongside their general education peers with support from special educators, ESL teachers, related service providers, and interventionists.

We are actively working towards becoming an antiracist school, and are taking steps towards identifying and dismantling racist structures, hearing and elevating underrepresented voices, and striving to achieve an equitable and just educational experience for all students.

The Opportunity:

The School Social Worker is highly qualified and knowledgeable in the implementation and delivery of a variety of behavioral health supports that address the impact of trauma and mental health challenges while building skills and resiliency so that students may achieve their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally. The School Social Worker will report directly to the Building Principal and work collaboratively with the school administration, educators, support staff, and the family liaison to create a high-quality educational experience for students in a safe and welcoming learning environment. The School Social Worker will also collaborate with the Office of Social Emotional Learning and engage as a member of the district’s school social worker department.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide ongoing support, modeling, and consultation with educators, administrators, and school staff around asset-based, culturally and linguistically responsive school and classroom practices that support the social-emotional development of all students.
• Actively participate in a multi-tiered system of support through the administration of SEL and/or mental health screeners and assessments, analyzing data trends and patterns, working collaboratively with school staff to determine effective interventions, and progress monitoring the effectiveness of such interventions (ex, SST, TAT participation and/or facilitation)
• Collaborate and work in partnership with the Office of Social Emotional Learning through attendance at meetings, professional development, and supervision sessions to ensure continuous improvement of clinical practice and service delivery.
• In partnership with school based teams, provide a continuum of evidence-based social, emotional, and mental health services, including crisis intervention, assessment, individual and group counseling, and referral/collaboration with community providers.
• Work in partnership with students and families to provide psychoeducation, identify resources, and coordinate referrals to external agencies and programs to support the needs of students and families.
• Support the implementation of Tier 1 social emotional learning curriculum and classroom and school wide practices to help students develop SEL competencies such as self-awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
• Provide timely assessments in complex situations in order to identify immediate supports necessary to address safety concerns, suicidality, and/or concerns around suspected abuse or neglect.
• Provide education and professional development for school staff in collaboration with the building principals to help educators improve their understanding of the cultural, societal, and social emotional factors that can impact students’ behavior and access to education
• Perform other duties as assigned

Your Skill Set

As the incoming ETS School Social Worker, you will possess many, though perhaps not all, of the following characteristics and qualifications:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in social work or mental health counseling.
• At least 3 years of successful experience in social work, preferably in a diverse, urban, educational, or therapeutic setting.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to create an environment that promotes individual growth, positive self-identity, and inclusivity.
• Ability to collaborate and consult effectively with administration, staff, students, families, and other stakeholders to address a broad range of needs.
• Ability to assess complex situations and design individual, small group, and whole school interventions to address student needs.
• Demonstrated cultural proficiency and a deep sense of cultural humility, self-awareness, and reflection.
• Preferred Massachusetts Licensure: DESE School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor and clinical licensure (LCSW, LICSW, or LMHC)
• Proficiency in a language other than English (preferred)

At the Cambridge Public Schools, we are committed to cultivating an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are embraced, acknowledging that a team reflecting diversity of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and veteran status allows us to serve our communities better. To that end, we welcome and encourage applicants to bring their authentic selves when considering employment opportunities within our school district.

Position Type: Full-Time

Job Categories: Student Services > Social Worker

Job Requirements

• At least 1 year(s) of relevant experience preferred.
• Bachelor degree preferred.
• Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Contact Information

• Samantha Headley , Principal
• Morse School
• Email: [e-mail]