Freedom Preparatory Academy

Family and Support Specialist (2023-24 School Year)

ABOUT US

Freedom Prep Academy Charter Schools, a Memphis-based network, prepare all students in grades Pre-K through 12 to excel in college and in life. Freedom Preparatory Academy opened in August of 2009 with a class of 96 6th graders. We now serve over 2400 students in Grades PK-12. Our students have consistently exceeded local and state averages in math and local averages in English language arts on the state exam. We have plans to expand our network across the South with our first expansion state being Alabama.

We have three core beliefs that drive our mission: Every child deserves the right to a high-quality public education, a foundation in character development is essential, and direct exposure to an array of opportunities and experiences provides each child with the self-confidence and social knowledge to compete globally. We will accomplish our mission through a highly structured, academically rigorous environment where students will master the core subjects, develop advanced academic skills, and demonstrate the school’s core values of: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Excellence, and Community.

Respect– Shows respect to all members of our school community through words and actions

Responsibility – Takes ownership of work flow and products, is proactive / solutions-oriented

Integrity – Is trustworthy and reliable and a person of their word. follows through every time

Community – Demonstrates a consistent and positive commitment to our school’s success

Excellence – Shows excellence in all work habits, sweats the details, continuously grows

POSITION SUMMARY

The Family and Support Specialist will address the social, emotional and psychological issues that can impede students’ academic success. S/he will provide social work counseling to students and parents; provide psycho-social assessment and diagnosis of behavioral disabilities with recommendations and/or environmental manipulations at the school, home and/or in the community with periodic reevaluations; makes referral to public or private agencies with appropriate follow-up; and serve as a liaison between school, family and community resources.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as a source of information regarding community resources.
• Maintains appropriate school records and provides written reports and communications.
• Provide individual or group counseling for children who are experiencing problems in school, home, or community adjustment with an emphasis upon early intervention.
• Encourage and assist families in their pursuit of community services that may assist in the remediation of school-centered problems.
• Mediate and advocate on behalf of students with family, school, and community.
• Conduct home visits to gain a better understanding of the family dynamics, in order to better meet the student’s individual needs.
• Provide collaboration and consultation regarding student problems and coordinating plans and actions to meet them. Early identification of problems is emphasized.
• Facilitate the involvement of community agencies in efforts directed toward the remediation of student problems in school adjustment.
• Collaborate with teachers and other professionals in assessing student needs and designing strategies to help individual students.
• Assist parents in preventing problems by facilitating communication with the school.
• Assist parents with understanding problems experienced by their children. This is accomplished through home visits, group counseling, parent training and referrals to community services.
• Assist families with understanding their children’s educational needs and resources available within the school.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated commitment to the educational mission, vision, and goals of Freedom Prep.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work required; Master’s Degree in Social Work preferred.
• C-SSWS or C-CYFSW certification preferred.
• Ability to obtain Tennessee credential authorizing pupil personnel services as a social worker (K-12).
• 2+ years of professional work experience with background in education and urban communities preferred.
• Making referrals to public or private agencies with appropriate follow-up.
• Serving as a liaison between school, family, and community resources.
• Experience with special needs students, crisis management, and social and community organization coordination of benefits.
• Energy and entrepreneurial spirit for the charter school environment.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and creative problem solving ability; sense of creativity that infuses work with new ideas and energy; Sound judgment and decision-making abilities.
• Self-imposed orientation toward achievement that leads to producing A-level work.
• Demonstrated individual initiative and flexibility including planning ahead for upcoming challenges or opportunities and managing change effectively
• Strong computer skills including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships and collaborate with others.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills including the ability to plan and execute a course of action to accomplish objectives and the use of knowledge and experience to address problems and opportunities.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Willingness to travel locally using own transportation; willingness to travel within the state, as required
• Willingness to work additional hours and/or evenings, on occasion.

REPORTS TO Social Work Department Head

PTO POLICY Support Based Administrative

HOW TO APPLY: We are excited to review your application! Please visit our Join Our Team page to learn more and apply directly at our Apply Now link on the same page. Upon creating your profile, please submit your resume, references, transcript, screening reflections, and related credentials. It should take less than 30 minutes to upload your application.