School Social Worker - Great Lakes Learning Academy

Connections Academy; East Lansing (MI); Remote; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Connections Academy, a leading online educational institution, is looking for a dedicated School Social Worker to support at-risk learners. This role involves promoting academic success through emotional and social support, collaborating with families, and implementing intervention strategies. Ideal candidates will hold a Master's in Social Work and possess excellent communication skills. The position allows for remote work with requirements for travel across Michigan.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program.
• Michigan licensure (LLMSW or LMSW) required.
• Experience with at-risk youth in urban settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide social emotional support and interventions for students.
• Maintain a caseload of at-risk learners.
• Collaborate with teachers and staff to help families access resources.

Skills

Communication skills

Customer-focused approach

Flexibility

Technologically proficient

Education

Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW)

Tools

Microsoft Office products

Job description

School Summary

Great Lakes Learning Academy is authorized by Central Michigan University. The school is operated by Great Lakes Learning Academy, a nonprofit corporation, through a contract with Connections Education, LLC, to provide its educational program and other services. The school is governed by an independent board of directors, and all board meetings are open to the public.

Position Summary and Description:

Working from your home office in Michigan, the School Social Worker will promote the academic mission by providing services that strengthen home/school/community partnerships and alleviate barriers to learning. The School Social Worker significantly contributes to the development of a healthy, safe, and caring environment by advancing the understanding of the emotional and social development of children and the influences of family, community, and cultural differences on student successes and by implementing effective intervention strategies. The main focus will be providing support through the general education setting and through tiered interventions and instruction for students needing social emotional support. There may be additional support of the Special Education Department as needed to support goals written in student IEP’s.

• Maintain a caseload of at-risk learners to provide support and behavioral interventions leading to academic success
• Conduct group sessions with students in both a special ed and general ed setting who have common problems which impede their ability to be successful, (i.e. anger management, coping skills, etc.)
• Share knowledge of community resources with individual students and families to increase their success at school and beyond
• Develop, monitor progress towards, and communicate student goals and growth plans
• Implement programs for students and families related to interpersonal adjustment issues;
• Work with school teams to identify and help families access school and community resources, in order to remove barriers to attendance and academic success;
• Participate in the development of crisis prevention and management plans for the school;
• Coordinate with teachers to help identify students who are “at risk” or “in crisis”;
• Act as the main point of contact for these students and families, communicating regularly with them;
• Report and refer critical incidents that jeopardize student well-being as obligated by law, administrative regulations, or ethical standards;
• Attend trainings regarding child abuse and neglect, homelessness, foster care and other social work issues while also training staff on issues related to student safety and child welfare;
• Support professional development activities for teachers and school staff members;
• Work as part of the IEP team to develop social goals and provide virtual social work services to help the student reach these goals;
• Collaborate closely with School Counselor and Director or Manager of Special Education; and
• Other duties as assigned
• Must be able to use a personal electronic device and an email address for two-step authentication.

Certification

• Valid Michigan licensure (LLMSW or LMSW) through LARA
• Eligibility for temporary, continuing temporary, or full approval as a School Social Worker by MDE
• Starting in 2025-2026, eligibility for a School Social Worker Permit, Preliminary School Social Worker Certificate, or a Professional School Social Worker Certificate

Qualifications

• Michigan Residency Preferred
• Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program
• Experience and demonstrated interest in working with at-risk youth in an urban environment
• Knowledge of special education processes, autism supports, behavior plans, and trauma-informed practices
• Candidates should have knowledge and familiarity with specific Michigan resources and agencies that will assist in the healthy social, mental, and academic development of students and families
• Ability to work remotely, if necessary
• Ability to travel across Michigan to support families and work with agencies
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Customer focused approach
• High degree of flexibility
• Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment
• Technologically proficient (especially with Microsoft Office products)
• Travel and attendance at in-person events, including State Testing is required throughout the school year, as determined by the school. This may require overnight travel
• Ability to work some occasional evening hours, as needed to support families

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.