School Social Worker

Fitzgerald Public Schools; Warren (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Fitzgerald Public Schools is seeking a School Social Worker for the 2026-2027 school year at Mound Park Elementary. The role emphasizes data-based decision making, collaboration with staff and families, and delivering targeted behavioral and educational supports.

The ideal candidate will hold Michigan School Social Worker certification, a MSW with internship, and experience in leading interventions and IEP-related processes. Strong communication and time-management skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Valid certification as a School Social Worker by Michigan Department of Education.
• Master's degree in Social Work including foundations of behavioral health and internship/practicum.
• Experience leading problem solving teams using data-based decision making.
• Experience with training and monitoring implementation of evidence-based interventions.
• Experience administering and interpreting assessments to plan student support.
• Ability to communicate clearly in writing and verbally with staff, students, and parents.
• Ability to meet deadlines and provide regular supports and services.

Responsibilities

• Participates as a member of building support teams to help all students progress.
• Leads problem solving models using data-based decision making to address behavioral concerns.
• Consults with principals, staff, and families to support student progress.
• Aligns goals from building processes to student needs.
• Reviews and revises implementation plans and interventions.
• Monitors strategy integrity and effectiveness.
• Uses assessments to determine need for special education services.
• Conducts IEP meetings and ongoing reviews of strategies.
• Provides crisis intervention training and de-escalation techniques.
• Maintains appropriate boundaries with students and families.
• Trains staff, students, and families in behavior management.
• Collaborates with staff and parents to refer students to services.
• Develops and evaluates behavior management plans using PBIS.
• Creates resources for staff, students, families for behavior support.
• Consults with principals and families to plan evaluation and role modifications.
• Provides planning for classroom organization and effective teaching strategies.
• Analyzes situations to decide in the child’s best interest.
• Works with students, families, and staff to solve behavior-related problems.
• Participates in staff meetings and in-services.
• Executes special education policies in all buildings.
• Interprets evaluation and assessment reports for parents and teachers.
• Maintains records and documentation for assigned students.
• Complies with confidentiality and ethics.
• Performs other duties as assigned; may bill Medicaid where applicable.

Skills

Data-driven decision-making

Training and monitoring interventions

Assessment interpretation to support I

Written and verbal communication

Deadlines and timely supports

Goal setting and monitoring

Disorder delineation (behavioral vs. S

Special Education law knowledge

Disabilities identification

START and PBIS training (preferred)

Education

Master's degree in Social Work with school internship/practicum

School Social Worker certification (Michigan)

Job description

NOTICE OF OPENING: School Social Worker

• Valid certification as a School Social Worker by Michigan Department of Education
• Master's degree in Social Work including foundations of behavioral health and successful completion of a school internship/practicum.
• Experience in leading problem solving teams through data based decision-making.
• Experience with training and monitoring the implementation of a variety of evidence-based interventions.
• Experience in administering and interpreting a variety of assessments and using this information to formulate an effective plan of support for students to be successful in the school environment.
• Ability to develop and maintain acceptable relationships with school staff, other professionals, students and parents.Ability to clearly, concisely, and appropriately communicate in writing and verbally.
• Ability to meet deadlines and ensure supports and services are provided to students regularly and appropriately.
• Ability to develop appropriate goals, supports, services for students and monitor their effectiveness.
• Skilled in delineating behavioral disorders from social maladjustment and conduct disorder.
• Extensive knowledge of Special Education Law.
• Extensive knowledge and experience identifying students with disabilities.
• START and PBIS training preferred.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

LOCATION: Mound Park Elementary School

WORK YEAR: 2026-2027 School Year

SALARY: Per FEA Contract

Qualifications

• Valid certification as a School Social Worker by Michigan Department of Education
• Master's degree in Social Work including foundations of behavioral health and successful completion of a school internship/practicum.
• Experience in leading problem solving teams through data based decision-making.
• Experience with training and monitoring the implementation of a variety of evidence-based interventions.
• Experience in administering and interpreting a variety of assessments and using this information to formulate an effective plan of support for students to be successful in the school environment.
• Ability to develop and maintain acceptable relationships with school staff, other professionals, students and parents.Ability to clearly, concisely, and appropriately communicate in writing and verbally.
• Ability to meet deadlines and ensure supports and services are provided to students regularly and appropriately.
• Ability to develop appropriate goals, supports, services for students and monitor their effectiveness.
• Skilled in delineating behavioral disorders from social maladjustment and conduct disorder.
• Extensive knowledge of Special Education Law.
• Extensive knowledge and experience identifying students with disabilities.
• START and PBIS training preferred.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

Duties And Responsiblities

• Participates as a member of the building support teams to assist all students in making progress.
• Uses data-based decision making to lead a problem solving model in dealing with student behavioral concerns in order to improve academic achievement.
• Consults with principals, staff members and parents/guardians to assist students in making academic and behavioral progress.
• Aligns goals and objectives from the building team process to meet the needs of students.
• Reviews, analyzes and revises implementation plans and interventions.
• Monitors integrity of strategies and plans.
• Utilizes a variety of assessment to determine the need for special education services.
• Conducts Individualized Educational Planning Team meetings and assists in ongoing review of strategies for students to determine their effectiveness of need for updates.
• Completes Crisis Intervention and Prevention training and expertly uses these techniques to de-escalate student's physical and emotionally aggressive behavior.
• Establish and maintain appropriate boundaries for students and families.
• Successfully conduct ongoing formal and informal training in behavior management for staff, students, and families.
• Ability to work with students of varying degrees of need with diverse backgrounds and characteristics.
• Works as a team member with instructional staff and parents/ guardians to refer eligible students to outside agencies and other community resources.
• Design, monitor, support, and evaluate behavior management plans using Positive Behavior Supports and recommends classroom environment modifications.
• Develop resource materials and tools for staff, students, and families to use in dealing with behavior.
• Consult and collaborate with principals, staff members and families by gathering and giving information on a case for evaluation, consultation, and establishing a plan for respective roles in the modification of a student's behavior.
• Provide consultation and planning for effective classroom organization, social structures, implementation of effective teaching techniques and development of appropriate educational plans and behavior management programs.
• Skilled in objectively analyze a situation in order to make decisions based solely on the best interest of that child.
• Skilled at working directly with students, families, and staff to help solve problems related to behavior management.
• Participate in all staff meetings and all in-services, as necessary.
• Carry out the special education policies and procedures in all assigned buildings.
• Analysis and Interprets all evaluation and assessment reports orally and written in a meaningful and understandable manner to pertinent personnel such as parents, teachers and administrators.
• Compile and maintain records, written reports, and other documentation for assigned students.
• Follow all confidentiality and ethical guidelines.
• Utilizes a variety of assessments to determine the need for special education services and to help determine appropriate supports and interventions.
• Conducts Individualized Educational Planning Team meetings and assists in ongoing review of strategies for students to ensure their integrity and effectiveness.
• Conducts evaluations for Section 504 / medical plans and develops appropriate supports.
• Recommends or participates in the development of alternative academic and behavior strategies to general education staff, special education staff and parents.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Director of Student Services and building principal.
• Able to bill for services performed through the county Medicaid system.