Education Specialist Social Worker

Job Description:

Education Specialist | Helping Youth Rediscover Their Potential Wellspring Lutheran Services – New Directions, Livonia | Full-Time | Salary $50,000

Accepting Applications through September 30, 2026

Our youth are capable of incredible growth when they have the right support, encouragement, and opportunities around them.

You entered this field because you believe in helping others discover their strengths, build confidence, and achieve things they may not have thought possible. You understand that learning happens in many different ways and that success looks different for every young person.

At New Directions, you'll have the opportunity to help youth develop the skills, confidence, and educational foundation they need to build meaningful futures. Through encouragement, advocacy, and relationship-building, you'll help young people recognize their potential and work toward goals that matter to them.

The impact of that work can last a lifetime.

At Wellspring Lutheran Services, we're looking for an Education Specialist to join our New Directions team—a trauma-informed residential program serving youth with developmental disabilities and co-occurring emotional and behavioral  this role, you'll help bridge the gap between education, treatment, and residential care. You'll advocate for youth, coordinate educational services, support academic success, and collaborate with schools, therapists, residential staff, and families to ensure every young person has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Most importantly, you'll help young people discover that their future is bigger than their circumstances.

What Your Impact Will Look Like You'll become an important advocate for youth as they navigate their educational journey, helping ensure they have access to the resources, services, and support they need to succeed.

You'll work closely with schools, special education programs, vocational services, and community partners to help create opportunities that meet each resident's unique strengths, challenges, and goals.

You'll help youth transition into new educational settings, celebrate academic progress, overcome obstacles, and develop confidence in their abilities.

You'll collaborate with therapists, residential staff, psychiatrists, families, and teachers to ensure educational goals are integrated into each young person's overall treatment and growth plan.

You'll help identify barriers to success and develop creative strategies that keep youth engaged, motivated, and moving forward.

You'll have opportunities to provide individual support, tutoring, educational programming, life skills development, and advocacy that empowers youth both inside and outside the classroom.

Some days you'll be attending IEP meetings, coordinating educational services, and communicating with teachers. Other days you'll be helping a resident overcome a school-related challenge, developing summer programming, supporting vocational goals, or celebrating a breakthrough that reminds a young person of what they're capable of achieving.

Every day, you'll have the opportunity to change the trajectory of a young person's future.

The Professional We're Looking For You believe every young person deserves the opportunity to succeed.

You are passionate about education, youth development, and helping others reach their potential.

You approach challenges with patience, creativity, and a strengths-based mindset.

You understand the impact trauma can have on learning and development.

You enjoy collaborating with schools, families, therapists, and community partners.

You are organized, adaptable, and comfortable managing multiple priorities.

You believe that hope, encouragement, and consistency can transform lives.

What You'll Bring…