Founding School Social Worker—Trauma-Informed & Restorative Leader

Legal Prep; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Legal Prep Charter Academy in Indianapolis is seeking a dedicated School Social Worker to join our founding team. This role provides social-emotional, behavioral, and crisis support to students and collaborates with leaders, teachers, and families.

The ideal candidate holds a valid Indiana School Social Worker license, MSW, and experience with trauma-informed practices. Spanish proficiency is strongly preferred as we serve diverse communities.

Qualifications

• MSW degree required.
• Valid Indiana School Social Worker license required.
• Experience with adolescents in school settings preferred.
• Trauma-informed practices and restorative approaches preferred.
• Knowledge of special education processes and compliance.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills.
• Spanish language proficiency strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual and small-group counseling services.
• Conduct social-emotional assessments and develop intervention plans.
• Support IEP teams and address social-emotional/behavioral needs.
• Provide crisis intervention services and family liaison support.
• Promote restorative practices and trauma-informed schoolwide culture.
• Participate in staff development and share expertise with the team.

Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Spanish language proficiency

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW)

Indiana School Social Worker license

Job description

About Legal Prep

Legal Prep Charter Academy is a free, open-enrollment public charter school with a unique law-themed, college-preparatory model designed to prepare students from traditionally underserved communities for success in college, careers, and civic leadership. Founded in Chicago in 2012, Legal Prep integrates rigorous academics with real-world professional experiences, including law courses at every grade level and monthly skills-based programming with legal and business partners.

Legal Prep’s Indianapolis campus will open in Fall 2026, launching with 6th and 9th grades and growing into a full 6–12 school. Our founding faculty will help build a structured, high-expectations, trauma-informed environment where students thrive academically and socially.

Position Overview

Legal Prep is seeking a dedicated, student-centered School Social Worker to join our founding team. This role is central to our trauma-informed, restorative model and will provide social-emotional, behavioral, and crisis support to students across the building.

The School Social Worker will partner closely with school leadership, teachers, the SEL team, and families to ensure students receive appropriate support services that promote academic success, emotional well-being, and positive behavior.

This position requires a valid Indiana School Social Worker license.

Responsibilities

Student Support & Case Management

• Provide individual and small-group counseling services.
• Conduct social-emotional assessments and develop intervention plans.
• Support students experiencing trauma, behavioral challenges, or social-emotional difficulties.
• Participate in Student Support Team meetings and collaborate on intervention strategies.
• Monitor and track student progress toward behavioral and social-emotional goals.

Special Education & Compliance

• Support IEP teams in addressing social-emotional and behavioral needs.
• Conduct social developmental studies and contribute to evaluations as required.
• Ensure documentation and services comply with state and federal guidelines.

Crisis Response & Family Engagement

• Provide crisis intervention services as needed.
• Serve as a liaison between school, home, and community agencies.
• Connect families with outside mental health and social service resources.
• Maintain consistent communication with families regarding student progress and support strategies.

Schoolwide Culture & Prevention

• Support implementation of restorative practices and trauma-informed systems.
• Assist in developing schoolwide social-emotional and behavior support initiatives.
• Provide professional development or consultation to staff on student mental health and behavioral needs.

Additional Schoolwide Responsibilities

As a founding staff member at a small school, the School Social Worker will be expected to contribute beyond traditional social work responsibilities when student support needs allow. This may include assisting with student supervision, family engagement, attendance follow-up, school events, recruitment activities, restorative practices, administrative projects, or other schoolwide priorities as assigned.

Legal Prep is seeking a collaborative, flexible team member who understands that all staff share responsibility for creating a safe, supportive, and successful school environment. The specific responsibilities of this role may evolve based on student needs, enrollment, and the operational needs of the school.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) required.
• Valid Indiana School Social Worker license (required).
• Experience working with adolescents in school settings preferred.
• Strong background in trauma-informed practices and restorative approaches.
• Knowledge of special education processes and compliance requirements.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills.
• Commitment to serving students from historically underserved communities.
• Spanish language proficiency is strongly preferred.

Why Join Legal Prep Indianapolis?

• Be part of a founding team shaping a new 6–12 public charter school.
• Help design a trauma-informed, restorative culture from the ground up.
• Work in a mission-driven, college-preparatory environment.
• Opportunity for leadership growth as the school expands.