TITLE: SOCIAL WORKER - Special Education

 

LOCATION: Central Office and Training Center

 

The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) is a nationally recognized urban school district that serves approximately 22,000 students and 60+ different languages are spoken in the homes of our students. KCKPS is home to Sumner Academy, the #6 highest rated High School in the Nation and #1 High School in Kansas according to the US News rankings.

 

With Head Start/preschools, 28 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 5 college and career academies/high schools, we are the fifth largest district in the state of Kansas and our student population is approximately 56% Hispanic, 24% African American, 9% White, and 6% Asian. To serve our students, the district employs approximately 4,000 employees including more than 1,800 teachers.              


JOB GOAL:
The School Social Worker promotes and enhances the overall academic mission by providing direct services to students that strengthen home/school/community partnerships and alleviate barriers to learning for students with disabilities who demonstrate the most significant social, emotional, and behavioral needs.  Social Work services are developmental, corrective, and supportive services required to assist a child, who has been identified as a child with an exceptionality, to benefit from special education services.  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 success and by implementing effective intervention strategies.


ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

 

Assessment of Student, Family and School Needs:

Effectively and appropriately assess and address the needs, characteristics and interactions of students, families, LEA personnel and community.

 

Direct Services/ Service Delivery:

Uses knowledge and understanding of the reciprocal influences of home, school, and community to intervene for student success via such practices as assessment, crisis intervention, home visits, conflict resolution, individual and group counseling, consultation, program development, dropout prevention and coordination of school and community services.

 

Consultation and Collaboration:

Consults and collaborates with stakeholders on behalf of students and their families.

 

Advocacy:

Advocates for appropriate services for students and their families.

 

Accountability:

Advocates, facilitates, and contributes to School Social Work accountability for outcomes aligned with local, state, and federal policies and guidelines.

 

Program Planning, Implementation and Evaluation:

Effectively plans, implements and evaluates programs that promote student and family success.

Other Skills and Abilities:

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

COMMUNICATION/ORGANIZATION: Maintains communication with staff, other school personnel, and parents/guardians to enhance cooperative action which will meet the educational needs of students. Utilizes technology effectively in the performance of duties. Maintains confidentiality regarding student records. Performs other related work as required.


REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.


LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and analyze and interpret general professional journals,
technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, general curriculum and learning theories, correspondence, and protocols. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of administrators, staff, parents, students, and the general public.


PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that
must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, stand and talk or hear. Ability to work in a variety of home and community settings including the ability to ascend/descent stairs. Ability to work comfortably in a variety of positions including seated on the floor. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee must occasionally carry or push items of 20 pounds such as pushing on a bike or wheelchair or moving/rearranging furniture. While performing the duties of the job the employee visits students ‘homes. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.


WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud and is a standard acceptable level for this environment. It is directly responsible for students’ safety, work output and well-­being. Potential exposure to biological hazards and other conditions. May face hazards on the road traveling to and from home visits.


OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES: Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to Early Intervention Program;; ability to plan and implement activities/strategies/interventions based on the needs of the students. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, parents and community;; ability to speak clear and concisely in written or oral communication.


TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 186 Days

SALARY: https://www.kckschools.org/hr/salary-schedules

Certified Salary Schedule
FLSA STATUS: EXEMPT

REPORT TO: Program Coordinator, WCITS, Director of Special Education

EVALUATION: Performance will be evaluated in accordance with Board of Education policy

 

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.  The individual holding this position performs additional duties and additional duties may be assigned.  

 

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  KCKPS is an equal opportunity employer and shall not discriminate in its employment practices and policies with respect to hiring, compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of an individual’s race, color, religion, sex/gender (to include orientation, identity, or expression), age, disability, national origin, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law.

For more information regarding Title IX please contact:

 

District Compliance Coordinator

2010 N. 59th Street

Kansas City, KS 66104

913-279-2262

Title IX@kckps.org