The posting
About Mastery:
Founded in 2001, Mastery Schools is a public charter network of 23 K-12 schools in Philadelphia and Camden, serving more than 14,000 students.
At Mastery, we’re on a mission to provide all students with the academic and personal skills they need to succeed after graduation and pursue their dreams. Student achievement is not just a goal for our organization; it's the reason we exist, and every member of our team is dedicated to securing student success. We are also committed to pursuing equity, actively disrupting systemic racism, and addressing the disparities that limit our students' choices.
Our culture is built on respect, service, and the belief that the success of our students, their families, and the communities we serve will help us achieve our mission. We foster a positive, open, and inclusive environment where honesty, humor, and continuous improvement are celebrated.
Join us in creating a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. Together, we can make a lasting impact.
This position is located at our Pastorius-Richardson campus, a K-8 in Germantown- located at 5650 Sprague St, Philadelphia, PA 19138.
The Opportunity:
The Social Worker provides direct support to students by addressing behavioral, emotional, and social barriers to academic success. This role works with students, families, and school staff to provide counseling, crisis intervention, and community resource connections. The Social Worker also plays a critical role in managing child welfare concerns, supporting at-risk students, and facilitating school-wide student assistance programs.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide individual and group counseling services to students with social, emotional, and behavioral needs.
- Serve as the primary liaison between the school and external service providers, coordinating student and family support.
- Manage crisis intervention and behavioral health emergencies, ensuring student safety and well-being.
- Lead child abuse reporting and mandated communication with the Department of Human Services.
- Conduct home visits to assess family needs and provide targeted support.
- Support students experiencing grief, trauma, homelessness, pregnancy, or parenting challenges, connecting them with appropriate resources.
- Oversee student assistance programs and school-wide intervention strategies.
- Maintain accurate documentation of student interventions, services provided, and referrals.
- Develop and facilitate professional development sessions for staff on student mental health, trauma-informed practices, and behavioral supports.
- Serve as a visible, trusted resource for at-risk students, providing mentorship and advocacy.
- Track student support data to assess intervention effectiveness and identify trends.
- Perform other duties as assigned to support the overall well-being of students and the school community.
Qualifications:
- Strong knowledge of child and adolescent mental health, trauma-informed care, and behavioral interventions.
- Familiarity with child welfare reporting, community support resources, and social services coordination.
- Ability to build strong relationships with students, families, and staff in a diverse school community.
- Excellent problem-solving, communication, and crisis management skills.
- Ability to track and analyze student intervention data to drive program effectiveness.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-need school environment.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred for New Jersey locations.
Education and Experience:
- Master’s degree in Social Work or a related clinical field required.
- PA: Licensure as an LSW, LPC, or LCSW; Pennsylvania School Social Worker Certification strongly preferred.
- NJ: Licensure as an LSW or LCSW strongly preferred; New Jersey School Social Work Certificate required.
- Minimum of two (2) years of experience serving as a child or adolescent social worker preferred and/or providing counseling and crisis intervention in a school or community setting.
Physical Requirements:
- This role may involve working throughout the school building, leading counseling sessions, observing classrooms, supporting students in crisis, and sitting for extended periods while completing documentation; reasonable accommodations will be made as needed.
Salary and Bonus Information:
- This role is eligible for a $3,000 signing bonus!
- New-to-Mastery Social Workers can expect a starting annual salary of between $60,900-$78,500 based on years’ of experience and level of education. Salaries range from $60,900-$102,500, with growth opportunities as your career progresses.
Mastery's Benefits Package:
We offer a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth. Some of our most popular benefits include our 403(b) retirement plan for PA employees (with a 5% match from Mastery for full-time employees), enrollment in the State of New Jersey Pension Plan for NJ employees, a robust Employee Assistance Program, mental health and counseling programs, an annual Professional Development Fund, and discounts and perks at a myriad of retailers, travel organizations, insurance providers, and so much more, as well as access to the Health Advocate Helpdesk to help you navigate various benefits-related topics. Please go here to see all of our Benefits offerings!
Annual Calendar:
As you plan to make Mastery your new work home, please feel free to review our calendar here. We like to think our calendar is a benefit of working here too!
Why You Should Apply:
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. Mastery may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.
