About Perspectives Charter Schools

At Perspectives, our A Disciplined Life® education model teaches the whole child. We combine academic rigor, social emotional learning, and experiential opportunities to establish a culture of trust, curiosity and achievement. As one of the first charter schools in Illinois and founded by teachers, our mission is to provide students with a holistic, rigorous and relevant education, based on the ethical principles of A Disciplined Life®, preparing them for life in a changing world and helping them further become intellectually reflective, caring and ethical people engaged in a meaningful life. With 5 schools in three campuses, the Perspectives network has served public school students in grades 6 -12 on our city’s southside for over 20 years. Our scholars come from some of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods in the country, but they graduate from high school, graduate from high school with a plan to enroll in college or trade school, and take with them the tools to persist in college and career. The keys to our success are our dedicated, hard‐working, creative, and compassionate colleagues.

LOCATION: South Loop, Bronzeville, Chatham

Be a Social Worker at Perspectives, where we live A Disciplined Life®.

JOB PURPOSE

At Perspectives, we pride ourselves in the quality of supports that we give to our students. We are committed to providing an equitable and inclusive education for all. Our Social Workers embody and teach our students how to live the 26 principles of A Disciplined Life® (our social emotional learning culture and curriculum) while also providing high-quality social emotional supports to our students. We truly believe that every student is capable of greatness, and we are committed to providing a caring community of dedicated staff that meet the diverse academic, emotional, and social needs of our scholars. Our Social Workers are advocates for social justice, and hold the ability to view students as creative, resourceful, and capable individuals while providing the resources and care to allow them to function successfully at school and in life.

WHAT YOU’LL DO: CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the health, safety, and welfare of all students by maintaining a safe, inclusive, and supportive school environment.
• Collaborate with teachers, counselors, support staff, and administration to address student discipline, attendance, behavior, and overall well-being.
• Provide individualized and group interventions to support students' academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs, including students with disabilities.
• Document interventions, track student progress, and maintain accurate records of attendance, disciplinary actions, and support services.
• Participate in IEP meetings and help develop behavior-related goals and interventions for students with disabilities.
• Partner with families and community agencies to address truancy, chronic absenteeism, and behavioral challenges.
• Foster strong, professional relationships with students and families to promote engagement and student success.
• Respond promptly and effectively to attendance issues and behavioral incidents, using restorative and fair practices.
• Work proactively to create a positive school climate by implementing strategies that promote good behavior and regular attendance.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the principal or school leadership.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited College or University
• Master’s Degree in Social Work
• Professional Educators License (PEL) with Social Work endorsement preferred
• At least one year of experience of social work in a school setting

Language Skills:

• Ability to read and write proficiently using the English language
• Ability to interact and speak effectively in interpersonal situations and before groups of people

Experience:

• Evidence of success working in an urban school environment strongly preferred but not required

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM:

• A strong commitment to live by the 26 principles of A Disciplined Life and a belief that all students in Chicago deserve an excellent education
• A willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve outstanding student outcomes
• Strong classroom management skills with the ability to inspire and motivate students
• A commitment to life-long learning with the desire to take advantage of professional development and coaching to constantly improve

EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE COMPETENCIES

• Advocacy: Champion the growth and needs of our administrative leadership, teachers, and support staff, within a collaborative environment that takes into account the differentiated needs and goals of the entire organization to support our educational goals.
• Cultural competence: Effectively communicate and collaborate with diverse individuals and groups; apply positive strategies to confront social issues, including discrimination, bias and stereotype threat; and use this competence to inform teaching and learning practices.
• Equity-minded: The data-driven outlook and perspectives that call attention to patterns of inequity in access, outcomes and retention as institutional problems, in an effort to develop systemic strategies within the control of Perspectives that address these inequities. This includes being willing to have robust discussions about identity-based inequities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Majority of work will be performed in a general office/school environment. Position requires availability for extended hours plus non-traditional hours required to perform job duties. Also requires participation and attendance at organization sponsored events and meetings

BENEFITS SUMMARY:

Perspectives offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package for all full-time employees, including health insurance, dental, vision, paid time off including holidays, short and long term disability, paid life insurance, 403B and the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund. In addition we are an ISBE-approved PD provider, and all of our in-house PDs count toward the required PD hours for educator license renewal

Perspectives Charter Schools works affirmatively to include diversity among its workforce and does not discriminate in the selection of its staff on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, income, marital status, or any other dimension of diversity. We encourage diverse candidates to apply for this position.