Senior Social Worker

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks
, reflecting our dedication to their success. We invest deeply in our educators
, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

The Senior Social Worker is an Uncommon Schools social worker with a proven track record of high performance and leadership. In addition to maintaining core responsibilities, the Senior Social Worker plays a critical role in driving programmatic alignment, professional development, and data-informed practices across campuses.

The Senior Social Worker leads strategic initiatives, supports team development, and ensures consistency of best practices across campuses through the following:

Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of social work initiatives across all grade spans

Plan and facilitate PD sessions in August and throughout the year

Oversee the creation and distribution of McKinney-Vento support bags to ensure students experiencing housing instability have access to essential resources

Collaborate regularly with the Director of Social Work and Social Work Manager

Develop and maintain resource directories to support student and family needs

Monitor implementation fidelity and elevate concerns to the Director of Social Work

Responsibilities:

Lead the creation and implementation of social-emotional learning (SEL) initiatives and ensure consistency across all NSA-CP campuses

Plan and facilitate PD sessions in August and throughout the year

Oversee McKinney-Vento bag creation and inventory management/restocking, with direct support from the Director of Social Work/McKinney-Vento Liaison

Maintain regular communication with the Director of Social Work and Social Work Manager, elevating trends, challenges, and successes

Oversee the implementation of quarterly initiatives, including meeting with social workers to review planning and expectations in advance, and conducting campus visits during implementation to provide support, reinforce engagement, and offer real-time feedback.

Quarterly Initiative Scope & Sequence:

Plan and execute Week of Respect in collaboration with the Dean of Students

Launch beginning-of-year SEL initiatives (e.g., community-building activities, expectations setting, attendance awareness)

Establish systems and routines for initiative tracking and campus alignment

Plan and execute winter-focused initiatives (e.g., Winter Wellness/Winter Wonderful, gratitude initiatives, stress-management workshops before exams/holidays)

Implement family engagement initiatives to support student well-being during the holiday season

Monitor initiative participation and adjust based on campus needs

Plan and execute a Social Work team outing/celebration in alignment with Social Work Awareness Month, focused on staff recognition, team building, and appreciation of the social work profession

Implement additional initiatives such as kindness campaigns, conflict resolution programming, peer support groups, or restorative practices circles

Analyze mid-year data to refine SEL and intervention approaches

Lead Mental Health Awareness Month (May) programming, including student and staff wellness initiatives

Evaluate effectiveness of yearly initiatives and develop recommendations for the upcoming school year

Passionate commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools and investment in our vision for being an anti-racist organization.

Unwavering belief in high academic and behavioral expectations for all students.

Exceptional time and task management skills.

Ability to persevere despite uncertainty and unexpected obstacles.

Strong advocacy within the social work profession.

Relentless drive to empower students academically and personally.

Self-moti…