School Social Worker - Middle School (6-8) **Anticipated**
School Social Worker
Revised: September 2026
Perm/contract: SY26-27 | Department: Core Instruction |
FLSA Status: Non-exempt | Level: Middle Grades (6-8) |
Primary Reporting Location & Hours: Assigned School Building &In accordance with Oak Park Teachers Association Collective | Reports to: Building Principal & Core Instruction Administration |
Compensation: (prorated per start date) In accordance with Oak Park Teachers Association Collective | Date Available: SY26-27 |
Bargaining Unit & Classification: OPTA & Certified | Supervisory Responsibilities: N/A |
Benefits: (prorated per start date) Insurance- medical dental vision life and disability insurance are available Leaves- paid sick and personal days provided Retirement- pre-tax retirement plans (e.g. 403b) available |
D97 Ideal Team Member Profile
- The ideal team member in District 97 is a visionary and equity-centered leader who inspires excellence and fosters collective responsibility for student success. This individual:
- Champions the districts vision and drives forward-thinking innovative practices that anticipate future educational needs.
- Stewards public trust and resources with fiscal responsibility and ethical transparency.
- Demonstrates relentless commitment to student success ensuring that every decision supports equitable opportunities and outcomes for all learners.
- Organizes and empowers teams to work collaboratively toward shared goals recognizing the interdependence of roles across departments and schools.
- Fosters a culture of care learning and service grounded in authentic engagement with students families staff and community members.
- Models integrity professionalism and confidentiality serving as a role model for ethical and respectful conduct at all levels.
- Thrives in a culturally racially and linguistically diverse environment showing a deep passion for inclusive practices and building belonging for all team members.
- Seeks and embraces feedback especially when it challenges them to grow and improve in service of students and colleagues.
- Understands the powerful intersection of leadership learning and equity and aligns their work to dismantle systemic barriers.
- Courageously addresses unprofessional behavior holding self and others accountable to high standards in service to the community and students.
About This Role
School Social Workers are ethically driven masters level practitioners with the unique ability to improve student academic outcomes by improving students social-emotional well being and school climate supporting teachers and administration assisting families with their childs social-emotional needs and identifying local resources and intervening in crisis situations. School Social Workers have the skill set necessary to assist in working with children with behavioral challenges. School Social Workers have a positive effect on the students they work with leading to positive educational outcomes.The ideal candidate will work in support of the districts equity commitments as expressed inBoard Policy 7:12: Ensuring Racial and Educational Equity.
Essential Role Responsibilities
- Perform casework service with individual students to address personal social or emotional needs related to their educational and social progress.
- Perform case work service with parents to increase parents understanding their constructive participation in resolving their childs problems and their knowledge and use of appropriate resources available.
- Consult and collaborate with other school personnel in gathering and giving information on a case or classroom group and in establishing and planning for respective roles in the modification of students behavior.
- Supervise the referral of students to and serve as liaison with such outside agencies as the Department of Children and Family Services and the Juvenile Court as appropriate.
- Serve as liaison between home and school when considerable follow-up is necessary as in welfare cases foster home children and disadvantaged students.
- Assist children directly toward adjustment in school.
- Keep all necessary records as required.
- Other duties as assigned by the Principal.
Required Skills & Knowledge
- Understanding of social work instruction laws and policies.
- Strong communication collaboration and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency in using technology for instruction and record-keeping.
- Reliable organized and able to prioritize tasks effectively.
Education Credentials and/or Experience
- Professional Educator License with School Social Work Endorsement
- Masters of Social Work Degree
Physical Requirements:
This position requires the performance of light workï½which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to move objects. The position includes close visual acuity frequent talking hearing walking and standing occasional lifting carrying pushing and/or pulling some stooping kneeling crouching and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity. The job is performed in non-hazardous environments and a clean atmosphere. The position may require indoor and outdoor supervision during varying temperatures and climatic conditions.
Apply through Frontline:
Applications are currently being accepted for this position via ourdistrict website. Please reach out to our human resources department at if you have questions about the application process.
We encourage interested applicants to apply as we continue to uplift our equity policy. Our goal is to recruit employ support and retain racially and linguistically diverse and culturally competent administrative instructional and support personnel. Oak Park Elementary School District 97 is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race religion color national origin gender sexual orientation age marital status veteran status or disability status. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
The mental demands physical demands and work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow an employee with disabilities to perform the essential functions.