2026-27 Social Worker (Part-time)

Worcester Cultural Academy Public Charter School is seeking a skilled and compassionate School Social Worker to join our growing team in Worcester, MA. This is a part-time (.75) position (5 days per week, 6 hours per day) and an expansion of an existing role — a sign of our growing commitment to the social-emotional wellbeing of our students and community. We are looking for a candidate who brings clinical skill, cultural humility, and genuine warmth to some of the most important work in our school. We welcome candidates who reflect the cultural diversity of our community.

Who We Are

WCA is a growing charter public school that opened in August 2023 with a vision of becoming a K–8 community. We launched with kindergarten and have added a grade every year since — this fall we welcome our first 7th graders. As an EL (Expeditionary Learning) Education school, we believe in hands-on learning that challenges students to grow in three dimensions: mastery of knowledge and skills, character, and high-quality work. We partner with organizations like the EcoTarium, Worcester Art Museum, and Hanover Theater and anchor our curriculum in Learning Expeditions that make learning meaningful and real. We know that students cannot access that kind of learning without feeling safe, supported, and seen — and our School Social Worker is central to making that possible.

We want to be honest with prospective candidates: this is energizing, demanding work. Even in a part-time capacity, you will be navigating complex student needs, building trust with families across cultural and linguistic differences, and serving as a critical support system for students and staff alike. If that kind of meaningful challenge excites you, you'll fit right in.

What You'll Do

Direct Student Support

• Provide individual and small group social-emotional support to students across grades K–7, with a focus on social skills development, emotional regulation, and behavioral support
• Implement trauma-informed practices in every interaction, creating a consistent experience of safety and trust for students who need it most
• Support students experiencing crisis, de-escalating situations with skill and calm and connecting students to appropriate follow-up care
• Collaborate with the BCBA and special education team to support students with the most complex emotional and behavioral needs
• Contribute to the development and monitoring of behavior intervention plans and social-emotional goals within IEPs
• Maintain accurate, confidential documentation of student contacts, interventions, and progress

School-Wide Support and Consultation

• Serve as a resource and thought partner to teachers and staff on trauma-informed practices, de-escalation strategies, and supporting students with social-emotional needs
• Contribute to school-wide initiatives around social-emotional learning, student culture, and restorative practices
• Collaborate with the Assistant Principal and school leadership on individual student cases and broader behavioral trends
• Participate in student support team meetings, IEP meetings, and other collaborative planning processes
• Support the identification of students who may need additional evaluation or outside services

Family and Community Engagement

• Build authentic, trusting relationships with families — meeting them where they are, communicating across language and cultural differences, and connecting them with resources and support
• Serve as a bridge between families and community agencies, mental health providers, and social services
• Work to grow the school's capacity to connect families with resources beyond the school walls — this is an area we are actively investing in and want this role to help shape
• Communicate proactively with families about their child's social-emotional progress and needs, always centering family voice and perspective

Compliance and Documentation

• Maintain all required documentation in compliance with state and federal regulations
• Follow mandatory reporting requirements with diligence and care
• Coordinate referrals to outside agencies and track follow-through to ensure students and families receive the support they need

What You Bring

• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited program
• Licensed Certified School Social Worker (LCSW) in Massachusetts, or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), or eligibility for licensure
• Experience providing social-emotional support to children and adolescents in a school or clinical setting
• Deep knowledge of trauma-informed practices and their application in a school environment
• Experience supporting students with emotional and behavioral needs, including those with IEPs
• Strong crisis intervention skills and the ability to remain calm and effective under pressure
• Experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse student and family populations
• Ability to collaborate effectively with teachers, administrators, and outside providers as part of a team
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build trust across a wide range of relationships
• Familiarity with community resources and social services in the Worcester area is a strong plus
• Flexibility, compassion, and a genuine commitment to the wellbeing of every student and family

Part-time (benefits-eligible) - 0.6 or 0.75

Salary commensurate with experience; $45,000-$67,500

Pay: $45,000.00 - $67,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person