School Social Worker (2025-2026)

OUR MISSION 

BRICK is on a mission to support families from pre-cradle-to-career through holistic support, excellent schools, and clear pathways to college and career. By creating a comprehensive network of services, we are righting the wrongs of racial and economic inequality and paving the way for families to forge futures abundant with opportunity, wellness, and joy

OUR VISION 

BRICK envisions a world of racial and economic justice, where every child and family has the support they need to learn, achieve, and work towards a fulfilling life of personal and collective prosperity. 

To learn more about BRICK, please visit http://www.brickeducation.org

BRICK currently has schools in two regions: Newark, New Jersey, and Buffalo, New York. 

BRICK Gateway Academy Charter School is our Newark location.  As a full K-12 continuum, we start our college-focused academic programming in kindergarten and yield better results for Newark students for generations to come. We are more than a school; we are a full ecosystem of supports from cradle to career. We provide our families with free wraparound services like prenatal care, career services, and housing support. Our high school alumni receive up to six years of post-graduate assistance. BRICK Gateway Academy attracts a diverse staff devoted to nurturing our students’ intellect and identities in order to prepare them to graduate from college and to chart their own course.

To learn more about our Newark location, BRICK Gateway Academy, please visit https://www.gatewayacademy.org

Overview

Overview

Our Social Worker will observe students, design research-based interventions to meet their unique needs, and support the school in implementing those interventions to support student growth and development. In addition, our Social Worker will also collaborate with our ecosystem partners to ensure that each student and family receives access to the comprehensive wraparound services they need to thrive.

Essential Functions

Partnering with the school leadership team to implement the BRICK Network’s Ubuntu cultural program, includings its emphasis on positive identity development, social emotional learning and restorative practices

Adhering to the policies, standards, and school-wide responsibilities described in the school’s Employee Handbook or as may be instituted or in effect from time to time

Facilitating staff training sessions, including in the areas of child development, understanding student behavior, and developing social and emotional skills

Providing consistent rewards and/or consequences for student behavior to ensure that student actions reflect the school’s core values, high expectations, and code of conduct

Implementing assessments and tracking classroom data to measure the social and emotional growth of students over time

Conducting classroom observations of students; collecting and recording data; and communicating with school staff and families on scholar progress

Conducting functional behavior assessments and developing behavior intervention plans for scholars

Supporting staff in the implementation of behavior intervention plans and progress monitoring the effectiveness of those plans

Taking action to support student growth, including by designing interventions as needed to support individual students, particular classes, or grade levels

Providing individual and group counseling services for students as needed, including services that are required as part of student 504 plans or Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)

Providing crisis intervention services, such as suicide risk assessments as necessarySupporting the planning and execution of grade-level and school-wide activities and events

Helping complete necessary school wide duties for the successful and orderly functioning of the school (for example, the supervision of hallway transitions, morning arrival and afternoon departure and the chaperoning of field lessons) as well as other duties that the Principal or Director of Operations may request from time to time

Providing appropriate supervision of students during class, breaks, meals, specials, and transitions to maintain an optimal work environment and to ensure students’ safety and well-being

Attending and participating in events outside of normal school hours (for example, the Back to School Barbecue, family nights, student performances, field trips, report card nights, etc…)

Collaborating with teachers in planning grade level meetings, department meetings, staff meetings, and other professional development activities

Communicating effectively with students, families and colleagues

Connecting students and families to support services from outside agencies when appropriate and collaborating with those agencies to ensure that the care is high-quality.

Qualifications:

An unwavering commitment to the academic success and personal development of our students;

An eagerness to set ambitious, challenging, and tangible goals, and a relentless drive to achieve them;

An ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and a capacity to remain calm and focused when faced with unexpected challenges;

Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a diverse group of people

Proficiency in working with computers, including commonly used software like Google Documents, Google Sheets, and Excel

Prior experience working with children strongly preferred

A passion for the holistic development of children, including a desire to support both their intellectual and social emotional development 

A desire to collaborate with families to ensure that each family has access to the wraparound services they need to thrive

A Master’s degree in Social Work

New Jersey state certification as a school Social worker

At least two prior years of successful work supporting and building relationships with students and their families

Strong knowledge of the social service agencies that serve the community of East Buffalo and the specific services they provide

Experience holding individual and group counseling sessions with elementary-aged children

At least three years of experience working with elementary aged students in an urban setting is required

Current authorization to work in the United States – A candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment.

Salary, Goals and Employment Period

·       Salary Range: Competitive compensation package; Based upon previous experience

·       Full time

·       Employment Period: 11 Months

·       Fringe Benefits: Retirement (NJ Pension), Health, Vision, Dental

BRICK Networks is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. BRICK Networks promotes affirmative action for minorities, women, disabled persons, and veterans.