About KIPP North Carolina

KIPP NC is a network of eight high-performing, college-preparatory public charter schools providing an academically rigorous and joyous school experience to more than 3,500 students in grades K-12 in Charlotte, Durham, Gaston, and Halifax. KIPP NC supports several thousand alumni on their journey to and through high school, college, and career.   

KIPP NC is building on a rich tradition of academic excellence and relentless fight for social justice present from the founding of both KIPP ENC and KIPP Charlotte. KIPP ENC is the second oldest KIPP region in the nation. In its 20 years of operation, KIPP ENC has been a cornerstone for students and families in rural Gaston and Halifax, operating two primary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. Over the past five years, it grew to serve even more students by opening up a middle school in Durham, an urban center in the center part of the state. KIPP Charlotte, which grew out of the strong traditions and academics of KIPP ENC, has supported students and families for the past 13 years, operating one primary school and one middle school in the largest city in North Carolina.

KIPP North Carolina is building upon the successes and experiences of KIPP ENC and KIPP Charlotte to provide inclusive school environments and an educational program that will enable our students to lead full lives and equip graduates to be future leaders and agents of change in North Carolina and beyond. KIPP NC is engaging in direct, anti-racist work, and contributes meaningfully to the dismantling of structures of inequality within our organization, schools, and classrooms.We’re committed to expanding our efforts to embed anti-racism in all of our activities and engagements within our classrooms and schools, across our organization, and throughout the State of North Carolina. All of this will be in a tireless effort to create classrooms that are homeplaces for our students, places where they feel safe, loved, validated, seen, and heard, places where all their beautiful identities will be affirmed and celebrated, and places where they will learn the academic knowledge and skills needed for college, career, and beyond.

ROLE OVERVIEW:

Social Workers at KIPP North Carolina provide crucial support and services to students. In this role, social workers will work directly with students, teachers, community partners and families to provide individual and group counseling, as well as link families to long-term solutions and external support organizations.

Responsibilities of KIPP North Carolina Social Workers include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide individual and group counseling to students with identified needs, documenting and collecting data on the effectiveness of services
• Consult and collaborate effectively with families, teachers, school leaders, and other educational/community resources regarding students with identified concerns and needs
• Identify, assess, and provide clinical intervention to students with behavioral, social, or attendance issues appropriate for school-based services
• Provide specially designed instruction to students with Social Emotional IEP goals
• Serve on the Student Support Team for behavior and attendance strategies and supports
• Conference with classroom teachers and serve as a resource on mental health and social/emotional issues that may impact classroom performance
• Collaborate with school leaders, teachers, and other stakeholders to build a social emotional program within the school, creating a culture of support and safety

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

The Social Worker will:

• Evaluate a student in crisis and make an appropriate referral and/or intervention plan
  • Meet with the student in a one-on-one session to determine the best course of action
  • Consult with teachers and school leadership regarding the student’s behavior
  • Conference with family members to get background information and the student’s behavior history
  • Collaborate with KIPP leadership, outside agencies, and other mental health service providers, when needed
• Counsel students according to their Tier 2 or Tier 3 Intervention Plan:
  • Facilitate group counseling sessions
  • Provide  individual counseling and support student to master identified goal
  • Teach social skills to enhance positive interactions with peers
  • Assess and perform crisis intervention when a student exhibits behavior that needs immediate intervention, follow up to ensure that conditions improve and / or proper referrals were made
    • Coordinate implementation of Crisis Re-Entry Plan, if needed
• Act as agency liaison working with families, agencies, and other service providers to support students with mental health needs and barriers outside of the classroom
• Assist the Principal with Community Outreach
  • Coordinate activities and projects to achieve campus goals and objectives
  • Actively recruit students via community outreach
  • Coordinate family engagement activities and community projects

Education and Knowledge:

Required Qualifications

• A deep commitment to the mission of KIPP NC and an unwavering belief in the potential of all our students
• An unwavering commitment to anti-racism, equity, and inclusion
• Possess a deep commitment to both racial equity and improving the lives of kids from low-income communities; experience working within predominantly Black, Brown, and/or low-income communities
• Bachelor’s degree
• Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited institution
• Current North Carolina licensure (or ability to gain reciprocity) in social work at the Master’s level: e.g., LMSW, LCSW, or LCSWA
• Knowledge of federal and state Special Education law
• Knowledge of best practices for special education and assistive technology
• Independent self-starter with a strong focus on student development
• Proven written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational and planning skills
• Possession of a passionate and loving attitude toward all children
• Responsiveness; follow-up and follow-through with students, families, and faculty members are essential
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment in decision-making
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing priorities
• Experience collaborating with team members and providing constructive and instructive feedback
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)

Preferred Qualifications

• Fluency in Spanish
• Ability to synthesize knowledge and present it to stakeholders in a comprehensive manner
• Ability to interpret policy, procedures, and data
• Ability to work both on broad-based strategy and everyday details

Compensation

Educators are KIPP NC’s greatest investment, which is why we take their compensation so seriously.

We believe our teachers and leaders are among the hardest working educators in the state, which is why we prioritize paying them on one of the highest public school salary scales in North Carolina. You can check out our salary scales for teachers and leaders on our website at https://kippnc.org/join-our-team.

But our commitment to compensation is not just salary-based. KIPP NC offers best-in-class benefits, including:

• All the supplies you need to do your job well, including a laptop and a high-speed internet connection at each of our schools
• Medical, vision, and dental plans that cover a lot with little out of your paycheck
• A platinum-rated 403b retirement program with an employer match that rivals those in the private sector
• Extensive professional development and support for your chosen role
• Generous time off that includes 26 holidays a year (including a week off at Thanksgiving and all major national holidays), PTO accrual starting on your first day of work, and teacher work days after long breaks

Learn more about our commitment to offering the highest salaries and the best benefits in the state at https://kippnc.org/join-our-team!

KIPP North Carolina does not and shall not discriminate on the race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, disability, source of income, or status as a veteran in any of its activities or operations.