Social Worker - Title 1

Mesa Public Schools; Mesa (AZ); On-site; USD 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sick leave

Holidays

ASRS retirement matched

Health insurance

Life insurance

Performance pay available annually

Job summary

Mesa Public Schools is seeking a Social Worker to help lead students toward realizing their potential by translating district standards into meaningful learning experiences. The role focuses on maintaining a safe educational environment and addressing intellectual and emotional needs of all students.

The Social Worker will collaborate with families, school staff, and community agencies, conduct home visits, identify risks, and provide targeted interventions. Travel between sites may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, or related field.
• Master’s degree in social work.
• ADE Certification for Social Work; required if funded by federal grants.
• Arizona IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card.
• Valid Arizona driver’s license and ability to make home visits.
• Minimum three years of social work experience in a school setting or similar.

Responsibilities

• Serve as liaison between family, school, and community agencies.
• Conduct home visits and assess students’ needs.
• Identify and report abuse or neglectful situations to appropriate agencies.
• Provide intervention services to students and families during crises.
• Coordinate with outside service agencies to provide referrals.
• Maintain accurate records in compliance with regulations.
• Assist with gathering/disbursement of clothing, shoes, and hygiene items.
• May provide transportation for students to receive services.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Crisis intervention

Advocacy

Cultural sensitivity

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work

Master’s degree in social work

ADE Certification for Social Work

Arizona IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card

Valid AZ driver’s license

Job description

• Forbes names Mesa Public Schools in their list of Best Employers in Arizona for multiple years.
• East Valley Tribune names Mesa Public Schools as Best Place to Work in East Valley for multiple years.

• Forbes names Mesa Public Schools in their list of Best Employers in Arizona for multiple years.
• East Valley Tribune names Mesa Public Schools as Best Place to Work in East Valley for multiple years.

Employment Type

Full-time

Base Salary

$55,886.00

Calendar

Certified Exempt, 187 workdays

Benefits

Sick leave, holidays, matched retirement through the Arizona State Retirement System, health, and life insurance

Performance Pay

Available annually

New Hire Experience

$500 for each full-time year of certified teaching or verified like experience

New Hire Education

$65/hour of graduate level credits: BA +45 hours max, MA +60 hours max $1000 for advanced degrees

The Social Worker will lead students toward the fulfillment of their potential by translating the district curriculum standards and objectives into meaningful learning experiences through classroom instruction and indirectly through special area assignments. The Social Worker is responsible for maintaining a positive and appropriate educational environment and creating a program that meets the intellectual and emotional needs of all students.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a liaison between family, school, and community agencies
• Conduct home visits and gather information to assess student’s needs relevant to the student’s educational, social, and physical development
• Identify and report abuse and/or neglectful situations to appropriate agencies
• Provide intervention services to students and their families during time of crisis and as needed
• Identify cultural, ethnic, financial, physical, and emotional challenges and provide support to alleviate barriers
• Consult with school personnel to identify problems affecting a student’s academic progress, behavior and personal well-being
• Provide social, personal, and behavioral interventions to students
• Coordinate activities with a variety of outside service agencies to provide referral information to students and their families
• Plan, coordinate, and conduct in-service activities on intervention issues and techniques
• Maintain, compile and report accurate records in compliance with district, state, and federal regulations
• Assist with the gathering of disbursement of clothing, shoes, and hygiene items
• May provide transportation, upon administrative approval, for student and/or family to receive services
• Perform other related duties, as may be assigned, to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or a related field
• Master’s degree in social work
• ADE Certification for Social Work required, if funded by federal grants
• Valid Arizona IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card
• Valid Arizona driver’s license and ability to make home visits
• Minimum three years successful social work or related experience or one year of field instruction in a school environment
• Supervised fieldwork in school settings or with children and families
• Attendance at workshops, conferences, or training sessions focused on school social work issues, such as trauma-informed care, diversity and inclusion, and crisis intervention
• Bilingual preferred

Skills & Competencies

• Adheres to established federal and state laws, board policies and regulations, and district procedures; supports the mission statement of the district and school
• Adheres to the Statement of Awareness/Understanding adopted by the MUSD Governing Board, and complies with the Meet and Confer Agreement
• Accepts supervision and direction of the site administrator
• Appropriately communicates and interacts with other staff in academic planning and school committee work
• Attends and participates in staff meetings and extra-curricular/school-related activities and committees
• Demonstrates a commitment to continuous professional growth
• Maintains a professional appearance and demonstrates behavior that is conscientious and responsible
• Does not engage in discriminatory practices on any basis, including race, origin, gender, socio-economic status, disability, religion or political beliefs
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned by the site administrator

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Designated office within the school but may travel between multiple schools or sites within a district
• May occasionally work outside regular school hours to meet with families or attend community events
• Face high levels of interaction and variability each day
• Handle challenging situations, including trauma, mental health crises, and family conflicts
• Must balance emotional demands with administrative tasks, such as writing reports and maintaining case records
• Primarily sedentary work: Spending time sitting at a desk or computer for documentation and communication
• Light physical activity: Walking through school campuses, climbing stairs, or moving between locations

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Mesa Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination. The District strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Applicants and employees may contact Human Resources to request reasonable accommodations needed to perform the essential functions of this position.