The Stepping Stones Group
Make a Difference Every Day
Empowering Students, Enriching Futures!
School-Based Social Worker | Full-Time | Special Education Evaluations and IEP Services | Fully Licensed LCSW Preferred
About the Opportunity
Are you an experienced school social worker who wants to make a difference in students' daily lives? The Stepping Stones Group is seeking a full-time School-Based Social Worker for the 2026-27 school year to provide direct services through students' IEPs, take part in evaluations, and support students in crisis alongside school teams. This role is a strong fit for a fully licensed clinician who is comfortable with evaluations, behavior planning, and IEP goal writing.
- Pay: Competitive hourly rate
- Schedule: Monday-Friday, full-time, 37.5 hours per week, on a school-year schedule
- Setting: School-based, special education and general education
- Caseload: Approximately 30 students
- Resources: Access to school computers and printers
- Assignment length: Full 2026-27 school year (through early June)
- Start date: Immediate
- Employment type: W-2
- Location: Shared with candidates during the application process
What You'll Do
- Provide direct services to students as outlined in their IEPs
- Take part in evaluations, including broadband assessments
- Write measurable IEP goals and monitor student progress
- Complete Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs) and help develop Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs)
- Respond to crises and conduct threat assessments when school personnel are not available to assist
- Complete and approve your own Medicaid documentation
- Collaborate with teachers, school staff, and families to support student success
- Maintain accurate documentation and protect student confidentiality in line with FERPA and mandated reporting requirements
Minimum Qualifications
- Active New Mexico social work license (LCSW preferred)
- New Mexico school social work credential through the state education department
- Experience with evaluations, including broadband assessments
- Experience with FBAs and BIPs
- Experience providing direct services and writing goals through the IEP
- Experience responding to crises and threat assessments
- Experience completing Medicaid documentation, with full licensure to approve your own documentation
- Ability to complete required state clearances and background checks
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Authorization to work in the United States
You'll Thrive in This Role If You Are Open To:
- Working with students with IEPs and a range of social, emotional, and behavioral needs
- Taking part in evaluations and behavior planning
- Responding to crises when school staff are unavailable
- Managing a caseload of about 30 students
- Working a defined school-year assignment
Preferred Qualifications
- Fully licensed LCSW
- School-based experience
- Experience with trauma-informed care
- Experience collaborating with school teams on student support plans
- Bilingual in Spanish and English
- Crisis prevention or de-escalation training
Related Experience We Value
Experience as a School Social Worker, Special Education Social Worker, School Counselor, School-Based Therapist, Mental Health Clinician, Behavioral Health Clinician, LCSW, or Child and Adolescent Therapist is highly valued.
Why Candidates Choose This Role
- Use your full license in a hands-on school setting with a consistent weekday schedule
- Broad scope of work, from direct services to evaluations and behavior planning
- Full school-year assignment with a clear start and end
- Work alongside school teams who value your clinical expertise
- Evenings, weekends, and school breaks typically off
Why You'll Love Working With Us
- Competitive pay
- Health and wellness benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance and 401(k) retirement plan for eligible employees
- Professional development and training opportunities
- Continuing education resources, including free CEUs and approved webinars
- Employee referral bonus program
- Supportive and collaborative clinical leadership
- Opportunities for career growth and advancement
- Meaningful work that directly impacts students and communities
What Makes Someone Successful in This Role?
Successful school-based social workers are compassionate, organized, and dependable. They build trust with students and families quickly, document clearly, collaborate well with school teams, and keep students' wellbeing at the center of every decision.
About The Stepping Stones Group
We believe every child deserves exceptional support to succeed academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally. We partner with schools nationwide to provide high-quality educational and behavioral health services, and we give our clinicians the training, resources, and support to do their best work.
Ready to make an impact? Apply today. Please share your license and school social work credential, your school-based experience, and any evaluation, FBA/BIP, or IEP goal-writing experience. Know someone great? Refer a colleague and earn a referral bonus.
The Stepping Stones Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.