Duties
Position/Role Summary:
The primary responsibility of this position is to support students’ emotional, social, and academic success within NTDSE programming. K–8 programming supports students with significant emotional, social, and behavioral needs across satellite and therapeutic day school environments. Responsibilities include direct services through evaluation and counseling, as well as indirect services through collaboration, consultation, and problem-solving.
Intervention Supports
- Develop and implement evidence-based intervention plans (academic, social, and behavioral) that enable students to benefit from their educational experiences.
- Provide individual and/or group counseling services regularly to enhance students' success in the educational process.
- Provide crisis intervention support to students and the school community when needed.
- Demonstrate knowledge of developing a multi-tiered continuum of services to support students’ academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs.
- Demonstrate knowledge of trauma-informed practices.
- Assists students during crisis situations by utilizing appropriate Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) techniques and other de-escalation strategies.
- Monitor student progress toward social-emotional and behavioral goals using data-informed practices.
Assessment and Problem Solving
- Provide leadership and participate in program Problem-Solving Teams to support the development of positive behavior supports and academic intervention plans.
- Complete required portions of case study evaluations using data-based decision-making.
- Collaborate with the educational team in determining eligibility, continuation of eligibility, or discontinuation of eligibility for special education services.
- Participate in IEP meetings and contribute to the development and implementation of social-emotional, functional, leisure, and behavioral goals.
Consultation and Collaboration
- Consult and collaborate with faculty, staff, and administration to address student needs and concerns throughout the school year.
- Promote the development and implementation of positive behavior supports and evidence-based interventions.
- Consult with district-wide parochial and private schools and, when appropriate, conduct initial case study evaluations for students.
- Initiate referrals and linkages to community agencies, and maintain follow-up services for identified students.
- Mobilize school and community resources to meet students' and their families' needs.
Family Engagement and Resource Coordination
- Partner with families to identify social, emotional, behavioral, and environmental factors that impact student success.
- Support families in accessing community-based services and governmental resources, including developmental disability services, mental health providers, and other support agencies.
- Assist families in navigating systems such as PUNS (Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services) and other state or local support programs when applicable.
- Provide consultation, guidance, and resource coordination to ensure families are connected to appropriate supports within and outside the school setting.
- When appropriate, collaborate with families through home visits or community-based meetings to strengthen partnerships and ensure continuity of services between home, school, and outside providers.
- Serve as a member of the Family Engagement Committee, helping plan and deliver parent education opportunities and resources that strengthen connections between home, school, and community supports.
Professional Development
- NTDSE encourages continual professional development for school social workers to stay current with assessment practices, school law, IDEA provisions, trends in special education services, and current research.
Communication Skills
- Communicates in an effective, collaborative, culturally responsive, and positive manner with students, colleagues, and families.
- Acts as an integral member of the multidisciplinary educational team.
- Maintains confidentiality in matters related to this position.
- Builds and maintains positive relationships with students, families, staff, and community partners.
- Serves as a positive ambassador for NTDSE.
Ethical and Professional Practice
- Adheres to the NASW Code of Ethics and professional standards of social work practice.
- Serve as a mandated reporter and communicate pertinent information to appropriate authorities in cases of suspected child abuse or neglect.
- Respond to crisis situations in collaboration with colleagues, as determined by NTDSE administration.
- Demonstrates knowledge of first aid, health protocols, and emergency response procedures.
- Maintain accurate records of services provided.
- Participates in professional learning, mentoring programs, and collaborative team meetings.
Follows policies and procedures established by NTDSE, partner districts, and the IL School Code.
Salary/Benefits
Per the Niles Township Federation of Special Education Educators and Support Staff Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Additional Notes
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
This position requires the ability to perform the essential functions of the role, with reasonable accommodations available as needed. Regular activities include standing, walking, sitting, bending, writing, typing, speaking, and listening, with occasional reaching, twisting, or climbing, and the ability to maintain close, peripheral, and distant vision.
Work occurs in a variety of educational and office settings, including classrooms, therapy spaces, and administrative offices. The role may involve light lifting, use of standard office equipment and technology, frequent interaction with staff and students, and occasional travel between NTDSE programs and participating districts. This description complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and may be reviewed as program needs evolve.
How to Apply
Apply online at www.ntdse.org. Click “Employment Tab”