The Stepping Stones Group
Make a Difference Every Day
Empowering Students, Enriching Futures!
School-Based Special Education Social Worker | Full-Time | Students with Disabilities | MSW and Licensed Social Workers
About the Opportunity
Are you an experienced school social worker who wants to see your work make a difference in students' daily lives? The Stepping Stones Group is seeking a School-Based Special Education Social Worker to serve as a member of the multidisciplinary educational team, supporting students with disabilities as they grow academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. You'll work with students, families, educators, administrators, and community agencies to identify barriers to learning and build strategies that help every student succeed in the least restrictive environment.
- Pay: $45-$50 per hour
- Schedule: Monday-Friday, full-time, 37.5 hours per week, on a school-year schedule
- Setting: Onsite, in-person, school-based, special education
- Resources: Access to therapy materials, assessment tools, and a district laptop for daily use
- Assignment length: Through the end of the 2026-27 school year (mid-June)
- Start date: Immediate
- Employment type: W-2
- Location: Shared with candidates during the application process
What You'll Do
- Provide individual and group counseling to students receiving special education services
- Support students in building social, emotional, behavioral, and self-advocacy skills
- Conduct risk assessments and provide crisis intervention as needed
- Help students with transitions between educational settings and grade levels
- Support attendance improvement and re-engagement efforts
- Take part in multidisciplinary evaluations and reevaluations, including social and developmental histories
- Interpret social, behavioral, family, and environmental factors that may affect educational performance
- Contribute written reports and recommendations for evaluation and reevaluation reports
- Attend and actively participate in IEP meetings, and help develop measurable social-emotional and behavioral goals
- Provide input on behavioral supports, counseling services, and community resources
- Monitor progress toward goals and maintain required documentation
- Collaborate with school psychologists, counselors, behavior specialists, and administrators
- Help develop and carry out Positive Behavior Support Plans and support Functional Behavioral Assessments
- Consult with staff on behavioral and social-emotional interventions
- Protect student confidentiality in line with FERPA and mandated reporting requirements
Minimum Qualifications
- Master's degree in Social Work (MSW)
- Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- Pennsylvania Department of Education school social work specialist certification
- School-based experience
- 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 onsite and in person in a school
- Working with students with disabilities and a range of social, emotional, and behavioral needs
- Providing both counseling and evaluation-related services
- Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team, families, and community agencies
- Working a defined school-year assignment
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience writing social and developmental histories and contributing to evaluation reports
- Experience with IEP meetings and goal development
- Experience with Functional Behavioral Assessments and Positive Behavior Support Plans
- Experience with trauma-informed care and crisis response
- 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, LSW, LCSW, or Child and Adolescent Therapist is highly valued.
Why Candidates Choose This Role
- Use your license and certification in a hands-on school setting with a consistent weekday schedule
- Work as part of a multidisciplinary team of educators and specialists
- Build experience with evaluations, IEPs, and behavior supports
- Defined school-year assignment with a clear start and end
- 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 type, your school social work certification, and your school-based experience, including any IEP evaluation work. 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.