School Adjustment Counselor and/ or School Social Worker

SY 2024-2025

Applicants selected will be subject to security background investigation and must meet and maintain eligibility and suitability requirements.

People of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
Learn more about the Lincoln Public Schools at https://www.lincnet.org/employment

Primary Purpose

To support students in grades 5-8 to make academic, social-emotional, and functional progress and maintain positive interactions with peers and adults

Contractual Relationship

Functions in accordance with the provisions of the contract between the Lincoln School Committee and the Lincoln Teachers Association

Organizational Relationship

Reports to Administrator for Student Services, the Coordinator of Student Services and the building principal.

Duties and Responsibilities

Consultation

• Consults with parents/guardians, administrators, classroom teachers, special educators, paraprofessionals and other staff regarding students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs in language understandable to each audience
• Conducts home visits as needed
• Observes in classrooms to help teachers to develop, implement and evaluate a dynamic plan for improving challenging classroom behaviors
• Develops Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) and works with school personnel and parents to help them understand and monitor effectiveness
• Shares critical information with building administrators concerning children and families about whom concerns have been expressed
• Communicates to teachers, parents and administrators an understanding of child development and what constitutes typical and atypical behavior
• Helps teachers and others understand the impact of socio-cultural factors as they pertain to student performance in school to maximize student learning
• Helps teachers and others to successfully include students with disabilities in general education classes
• Consults with community agencies, family support systems and hospitals concerning student support as requested
• Provides training and conducts teacher and/or parent groups as appropriate
• Participates in grade, team, and parent meetings as assigned

Coordination/facilitation

• Facilitates IST process under the direction of principal(s)
• Facilitates students’ transitions
• Prepares reports and written communications as necessary
• Maintains contact with outside individuals and agencies, including DCF, as a school liaison
• Works with principals to inform staff of mandated reporting law and facilitates 51A filing
• Works with parents and others when referrals to outside agencies are appropriate, for referral and proper follow up
• Serves on Special Education Teams to determine eligibility, services, placement, and writes IEP goals and progress reports as assigned
• Serves as liaison for students in special education as assigned by the coordinator
• Serves as member of the crisis team(s)
• Serves as a member of the student services department and participates in department activities, e.g., department meetings, trainings, etc.
• Participates in kindergarten screening
• Serves as building based Section 504 coordinator as assigned by building principals

Direct service

• Provides short term, remedial interventions to individuals and families
• Works with students with disabilities, their parents, and peers to help effectively address the special education needs of students
• Completes family and developmental histories, conducts observations and assigned formal and informal psycho-social evaluations
• Engages in crisis intervention as requested or as need presents with proper follow up and documentation
• Acts proactively to improve outcomes for students when they or their families appear to be at risk
• Conducts short- and long-term classroom, small group, and/or individual discussions and/or instruction

Perform other tasks or duties at the discretion of the principal or the principal’s designee.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in related field
• License from the Massachusetts Department of Education as a social worker, school adjustment counselor
• Demonstrates the ability to relate sensitively and positively to multi-cultural populations

Lincoln, Massachusetts

Lincoln is a residential suburb located 12 miles northwest of Boston. The community is rich in history with a strong tradition of citizen participation. The school district serves students in grades pre-kindergarten through eight. In addition to the K-8 Lincoln School, the district operates the Primary School and Middle School at Hanscom Air Force Base as well as an integrated Preschool. Lincoln has a long tradition of educational excellence and strives to offer innovative, student-centered instruction in an inclusive setting with small class sizes. As a founding member of the METCO Program, Lincoln has maintained its commitment to diversity and multi-cultural education.

Lincoln Public Schools Vision

The Lincoln Public Schools strive to cultivate all students and staff to be collaborative leaders who are critical thinkers, equity-oriented, and growth-minded, as outlined in the LPS Portait of a Learner.

The School Committee subscribes to the fullest extent to the principle of the dignity of all people and of their labors and will take action to ensure that any individual within the District who is responsible for hiring and/or personnel supervision understands that applicants are employed, assigned, and promoted without regard to their age, color, active military/veteran status, disability, national origin, ancestry, race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, or housing status. Every available opportunity will be taken in order to assure that each applicant for a position is selected on the basis of qualifications, merit and ability.