School Social Worker

Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11; McVeytown (PA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11 is seeking a School Social Worker for the 2026-27 school year, to begin August 17, 2026. This 190-day/year position offers a salary range of $52,000–$60,000, commensurate with experience.

Applicants must hold PDE certification as a school social worker in Pennsylvania. The role involves collaborating with families, school personnel and community agencies, providing counseling, conducting FBAs, maintaining records and planning interventions as part of the IEP

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to work with students, families and professionals
• Ability to manage time and prioritize tasks
• Sound decision-making using data
• Professionalism and ethical standards
• Ability to travel between school/sites served
• Crisis intervention as trained
• Maintains confidentiality of pupil information

Responsibilities

• Engage families and community agencies in planning, implementing and evaluating a student’s needs
• Provide referrals to services and assist families in accessing them
• Instruct individuals and groups in social skills per IEP requirements
• Provide group and individual counseling within IU 11 area
• Maintain records of services provided
• Identify and address barriers impacting learning
• Plan and deliver social skills lessons using evidence-based programs
• Document and evaluate student progress and adjust plans as needed
• Consult with teachers and staff; maintain contact with parents
• Assist in FBAs and development of positive behavior support plans
• Present trainings for IU and District staff, community agencies and parents
• Develop training materials and conduct research in mental health topics
• Prepare and disseminate current information related to mental health
• Complete comprehensive assessments and develop appropriate treatment or behavior plans
• Conduct counseling sessions per treatment plan or crisis intervention needs
• Evaluate responses to interventions and adjust plans accordingly
• Assist in developing student exit plans and aftercare resources
• Communicate regularly with families and educators to relay reports
• Gather data for educational decision making
• Collaborate to determine programming needs and modifications
• Prepare written reports for IEP teams
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the Director of Special Education

Education

Master's degree

Job description

The Tuscarora Intermediate Unit invites applicants for a School Social Worker for the 26-27 school year, to begin on August 17, 2026. This is a 190 day/year position. Salary range is approximately $52,000-$60,000 commensurate with experience. Individuals must be a PDE-certified school social worker to serve in a position of school social worker.

To be considered for an open position, applicants must upload the following required clearances:

• Act 24 Arrest and Conviction Report
• Act 34 Pennsylvania Criminal History Clearance
• Act 151 Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance
• Act 114 Federal Criminal History Clearance

Links to these clearances can be found here: https://www.tiu11.org/human-resources/

Fundamental Duties/Essential Functions

The School Social Worker is directly responsible to the Director of Special Education for supervision and evaluation.

1. 1. Works to engage families and community agencies in the planning, implementation and evaluation of a student's educational, social and environmental needs
2. 2. Provides referral information to student, family and school personnel including recommending student accesses to community-based services, facilitating a referral to these services, and providing any assistance to help student and family gain access.
3. 3. Instructs individuals and groups in social skill areas as required by the Individualized Educational Program.
4. 4. Provides group and individual counseling to the programs within IU 11 area and supports the staff assigned to those students.
5. 5. Maintains records of all services provided.
6. 6. Identifies and addresses social, emotional, learning, cultural, environmental and economic barriers that impede the educational process.
7. 7. Plans and delivers social skills lessons, using researched-based programs and teaching methods.
8. 8. Documents and evaluates student progress based on progress monitoring techniques and observation.
9. 9. Monitors students' adaptive/behavioral progress when appropriate.
10. 10. Consults with classroom teachers and other staff as needed.
11. 11. Maintains contact with parents of students.
12. 12. Conducts or assists in FBAs and the development of positive behavior support plans.
13. 13. Conducts presentations and training for IU and District staff, community agency staff and parents.
14. 14. Plans and develops training, including research in the topic area, for IU and District staff, community agency staff and parents.
15. 15. Prepares, maintains and disseminates current information/materials based on current research and related to mental health
16. 16. Completes comprehensive assessment of student needs, identifying strengths and needs and develops a treatment or behavior plan when appropriate.
17. 17. Conducts individual or group counseling sessions with students in accordance with treatment plan, or as necessary for crisis intervention; provides students with feedback support or encouragement or to address behaviors and attitudes, or family, social or personal problems
18. 18. Evaluates student's response to intervention/treatment and modifies intervention/treatment plan or recommends intervention/treatment extensions as circumstances require
19. 19. Assist in the development of student exit plans which integrate aftercare school based intervention/treatment and utilization of appropriate referral resources.
20. 20. Maintains regular communication verbally and in written form with student family members and educators to relay reports and other information for the continuity of care
21. 21. Gather data for educational decision making
22. 22. Collaborates with others to determine programming needs and create modifications as needed.
23. 23. Prepares and maintains written reports to document activities/recommendations made to an IEP team.
24. 24. Performs other tasks as assigned by the Director of Special Education.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Individuals must possess these skills, knowledge and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.

1. 1. Ability to communicate effectively and maintain effective working relationships.
2. 2. Ability to function effectively as a team member and work collaboratively with others and independently as appropriate.
3. 3. Relates effectively to other professionals, pupils, parents and community agency staff members.
4. 4. Sets objectives, establishes priorities, and uses time effectively.
5. 5. Expresses self clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
6. 6. Ability to be flexible and respond to the changing needs of the students and the organization.
7. 7. Ability to use data to make educationally sound decisions.
8. 8. Ability to travel between school/sites served.
9. 9. Ability to present oneself in a professional manner to include personal appearance and a pleasant demeanor to others.
10. 10. Protects the confidentiality of all pupil information in accord with Intermediate Unit policy
11. 11. Ability to lift and carry materials and equipment up to 25 pounds.
12. 12. To be able to use crisis intervention as trained, to include physical safety and physical management as trained.
13. 13. Honesty, integrity, and reliability.

Qualification Standards

1. 1. Education: Master's degree
2. 2. Experience: Valid PA license in social work
3. 3. School Social Worker, Education Specialist Certification preferred, emergency or certification eligible accepted.
4. 4. Experience working with children within the public school setting preferred
5. 5. Advanced knowledge in mental health disorders, behavior and treatment modalities preferred.
6. 6. Advanced skill in individual and family therapy.
7. 7. Advanced skill in crisis intervention