Social Worker

<strong>Detroit Achievement Academy exists to holistically support the education and development of students who have the determination, drive, and skills to shape their own path of high achievement with the ultimate goal of creating civically engaged, joyful citizens who are ready to change the world.</strong>

Detroit, MI

Detroit Achievement Academy

<h2>Detroit Achievement Academy is a free public charter school currently serving kindergarten through&nbsp;eighth&nbsp;grade students.&nbsp;</h2> <p>We at Detroit Achievement Academy want to shake things up a bit. We have a grand vision for what education can look like and are excited to be creating it in the great city of Detroit. We are using the best educational model in the country, Expeditionary Learning,&nbsp;and are committed to our students, their families, and to our neighborhood. We believe that all students can achieve at high levels and that it is our responsibility to support them in an intense and holistic way. We are thrilled to be able to provide a world-class education in a world-class city.</p> <p>Detroit Achievement Academy is proudly located in northwest Detroit.&nbsp;We currently serve 225 students and will slowly grow in size each year.</p> https://www.detroitachievement.org/

keywords: reporting,position summary,support,teamwork,communication,develop,planning,quality assurance,production,grow,experience and education,values,skills

Full Time

Overview: <strong>WHAT IT MEANS TO WORK AT DETROIT ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY:<br /></strong><br />● Being an active participant as we develop our school culture and environment<br />● Having a deep commitment to social justice and equity for all children<br />● Engaging in significant curriculum development work<br />● Working hard to provide results for our students<br />● Working with a diverse student body<br />● Welcoming visitors who are interested in our school<br />● Being challenged to examine your work in order to increase student achievement<br />● Engaging in a deep and meaningful way with the parents/guardians of all students at DAA<br />● Having extraordinarily high expectations for all students, staff, and faculty at DAA<br />● Being supported by your peers, Head of School, Executive Director, and Board<br /><strong><br /><br /></strong><strong>POSITION OVERVIEW: SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER<br /><br /></strong>The School Social Worker at Detroit Achievement Academy &amp; Detroit Prep is responsible for the social and emotional education of each student assigned to his or her caseload and is responsible for working with students, parents, other teachers and staff, and the Principal &amp; Head of School toward achieving the mission and goals of Detroit Achievement Academy to maximize the time that students are learning and growing. The School Social Worker is responsible for ensuring all students with social and emotional needs receive a high-quality education aligned with his/her personal goals both inside the general education classroom and through individualized instruction. The School Social Worker reports to the Principal &amp; Head of School.
Responsibilities: <strong>Curriculum/Programs:</strong><br /><br />● Commit to a vision of child-centered, inquiry-based education that develops children in three areas of student achievement: mastery of knowledge and skills, development of positive habits of character, and the ability to produce high-quality work<br />● Have a strong understanding of the factors involved in the overrepresentation of certain populations in Special Education and Social Work, and actively work to ensure fair, unbiased, and data-based referral, assessment, and identification practices<br />● Collaborate with Principal, Head of School, and behavior and academic interventionists to ensure that RTI systems and Special Education systems are in service of all students<br />● Develop a school social work plan based on a school and community data analysis that highlights the social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs of the students within the jurisdiction of the school social worker<br />● Develop and deliver specialized instruction inside and outside the classroom during academic periods designed to help students meet grade-level standards and achieve personal learning goals<br />● Coordinate service times with all contractual Special Education employees, such as Speech and Occupational Therapists, and behavior and academic interventionists<br />● Coordinate IEP assessments with all contractual Special Education employees, such as Psychologists<br />● Develop IEPs for special education students that are in compliance with policies<br />● Ensure the records for each identified student are up to date and well-organized and contain<br />necessary progress notes and assessments<br />● Create a clear, up-to-date IEP and 504 at-a-glance sheet for each student on caseload (in collaboration<br />with the Special Education Teacher when appropriate) to provide for lead teachers and support work toward IEP goals and implementation of accommodations and modifications in the general education setting<br />● Meet and plan at least bi-weekly with teachers who have students with IEPs and 504 plans for behavior in their crews to ensure consistency of program and curriculum implementation with accommodations and modifications<br />● Be open to visits from other teachers, administrators, family members, prospective families, and visitors to the school in ways that are not disruptive to student learning. Involve students in welcoming visitors and communicating about the program.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Instruction:</strong><br /><br />● Support the implementation of the Expeditionary Learning and Responsive Classroom models. Staff members at Detroit Achievement Academy &amp; Detroit Prep are expected to commit to learning these models.<br />● Ensure that instruction is effective and meets the needs of diverse learners; ensure lead teachers employ these techniques in the classroom through supportive and regular communication and modeling<br />● Create and maintain a physically and emotionally safe environment for students. Communicate respectfully to students at all times. Model, practice, and discuss respectful, unbiased, and effective communication with students<br />● Uphold and support the school-wide discipline policies. Document serious and less serious infractions to the policies and seek help and support from colleagues and administrators when discipline concerns arise<br />● Structure an environment that is developmentally appropriate, student-centered, print-rich, and well organized<br />● Instructional duties may include: working with small groups of students, working individually with students, assessing student learning, and assisting with the planning and preparation of classroom lessons and activities.<br />● Support our inclusion program by meeting the individual needs of students as specified in student IEPs and in plans developed and discussed.<br />● Assume lead teacher responsibilities when a Lead Teacher is absent.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Assessment and Accountability:</strong><br /><br />● Modify assessments and support lead teachers in modifying classroom behavioral support for students with special needs<br />● Assess student progress against IEP or goals and use data to plan for instruction at regular intervals<br />● Support students with completing portfolios and meeting passage requirements<br />● Collaborate with staff and students to implement consistent structures and develop traditions<br />● Collaborate with teachers to develop quality formative assessments and progress monitoring practices<br />● Support teachers in the analysis of student achievement data and adapting instruction accordingly;<br />ensures disaggregated data is analyzed to support DAA's vision of equitable education for all students.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Professional Development:</strong><br /><br />● Participate in weekly Professional Development and contribute to sessions by sharing ideas and student work, offering feedback, and possibly facilitating some sessions or discussions when requested<br />● Participate in a two or three-week summer professional development before students begin in the fall.
Requirements: <ul> <li>Dedication to our mission:​ A steadfast belief that all students can achieve at the highest levels, regardless of demography.</li> <li>Determination: ​A willingness to make things happen and a sense of urgency around educational equity for all students.</li> <li>Strong communication:​ The ability to communicate in a direct and sensitive fashion with students, parents, and colleagues.</li> <li>Team player:​ A desire to work in a team-oriented environment and collaborate with colleagues.</li> <li>Growth mindset:​ An ability to receive frequent feedback with humility and a strong desire to grow and&nbsp;develop as a leader.</li> <li>Reflective attitude:​ An ability to constantly reflect on student data as well as personal areas of&nbsp;strength and growth.</li> <li>Flexibility:​ Willingness to work in an ever-changing field and face challenges with a positive attitude</li> <li>Professional integrity:​ A personal alignment with the values and ethical standards of Detroit&nbsp;Achievement Academy.</li> <li>Master&rsquo;s Degree in Social Work (required)</li> <li>Social Work License (LLMSW or LMSW)</li> <li>State of Michigan Approval (full or temporary) in School Social Work (required)</li> <li>Clinical experience (preferred)</li> <li>Experience in an EL school or project based environment (preferred)</li> </ul> <br />Detroit Achievement Academy is dedicated to equal employment opportunities and fair labor practices. Detroit Achievement Academy provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals based on job-related qualifications, and the ability to perform a job without regard to gender, age, race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, or disability. It is our policy to maintain a non-discriminatory environment free from intimidation, harassment or bias based upon these grounds.