The posting
Job Description
ABOUT OUR DISTRICT
The Syracuse City School District is undergoing a new phase of innovation and transformation with the goal of ensuring that all students graduate high school with the skills needed to be ready for college and career. For Syracuse, all means all. The School Board and Syracuse community have charged the Superintendent with improving student achievement, and she is seeking a dedicated and diverse team of educators to partner with her in moving the district toward its goals.
The Syracuse City School District represents 35 schools and programs, including 6 high schools, 6 middle schools, 6 K-8 schools, 13 elementary schools, and 4 alternative education programs, serving approximately 19,000 students Pre-K–12. Of these students, 82.3% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, 20.1% are served by the Office of Special Education, and 83% are students of color.
REPORTS TO: Director of PreK
WHO WE WANT:
Successful SCSD educators are passionately committed to urban education and all in for Syracuse students. They:
- Believe strongly that all students can learn at high levels;
- Demonstrate commitment to serving urban students, schools or communities, and to closing the achievement gap;
- Demonstrate willingness to put the interests of students above all others;
- Actively contribute to a culture of high expectations in their school and district;
- Adapt seamlessly to the complexities of the urban school environment; and
- Follow current trends in education policy and research, including Common Core standards, comprehensive assessment systems and data-driven instruction.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The School Social Worker applies theory, principles and methods to assist in the prevention, assessment, evaluation, formulation and implementation of a plan of action based on student and family needs and strengths. The School Social Worker intervenes to address the mental, social, emotional, behavioral, and developmental conditions and disabilities experienced by students and families within our school communities as outlined in the Syracuse City School District Practitioners Model for Evaluation. Due to the necessity of working with families and community-based agencies to provide and/or coordinate comprehensive services for students and families, a District’s school social worker’s work hours may at times occur outside traditional school hours requiring a flexible work schedule.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Link students and families with school and community resources
- Attend parent teacher conferences as needed.
- Assist in school-wide attendance initiatives and report on collected data
- Make home visits as needed
- Encourage families to effectively participate in their child’s education
- Help families understand school policies, services, and programs
- Provide Crisis intervention
- Provide Suicide assessments / evaluation
- Refer Child Protective cases and make referrals to mental health agencies
- Provide Classroom discussions and presentations
- Provide Individual and group counseling of students and as indicated on student IEPs
- Collaborate with school teams to develop and monitor Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals, Functional Behavioral Assessments, and behavior plans
- Actively participate in various meetings with families, school teams, and multiple agencies as needed
- Facilitate Student Intervention Team meetings and review data collected at regular intervals
- District crisis team member
- Collaborate with all school personnel to assess student’s social/emotional obstacles to academic success
- Consult with therapists, doctors, parents, child protective, law guardians, family court
- Complete social histories as part of evaluation team and document attempts to meet with families
- Develop/facilitate/coordinate prevention activities and intervention strategies that include Non-Violence services, programs and training
- Is familiar with DASA – Dignity for All Act, & collaborates with various parties to report or investigate concerns
- Work collaboratively with college/university partners on District initiatives
- Supervise social work practicum students from local colleges or universities as approved by building administrator, Related Service Supervisor, and social worker.
- Master's degree in social work
- New York State certification for School Social Worker
- Provide own transportation throughout the community (mileage is reimbursed with submission of accurate records)
- Training and or experience with Culturally Relevant Education (preferred)
- Prior demonstration of exemplary attendance is expected of any candidate for hire.
- The successful candidate will be required to pass a fingerprint-based background check, at the cost of $101.25 to the candidate.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master's degree in social work
- New York State certification for School Social Worker
- Provide own transportation throughout the community (mileage is reimbursed with submission of accurate records)
- Training and or experience with Culturally Relevant Education (preferred)
- Prior demonstration of exemplary attendance is expected of any candidate for hire.
- The successful candidate will be required to pass a fingerprint-based background check, at the cost of $101.25 to the candidate.
- City Residents are encouraged to apply!
SALARY/SALARY RANGE
- Compensation is based on qualifications and experience in accordance with the Unit 1 contractual agreement and ranges from $59,499-$102,037 for the 2026-2027 school year. *Any non-certified long-term substitute will be paid $53,000.
- Teachers may also have the opportunity to participate in our Summer School Programs, which are compensated at an hourly rate of $45.00.
- Teachers of color or those with experience and a deep background in Urban Education may qualify for the District's Urban Fellowship Program.
