Find & Apply For Family / School / General Social Worker Jobs in Coon Rapids, Minnesota

"Students are more than the barriers they face. Help them recognize their strengths, rebuild hope, and find their path forward." Join a relationships-first school where students are known, supported, challenged, and valued. Paladin Career & Technical High School is seeking a compassionate and dependable Licensed School Social Worker to join our Care Team and special education team in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. At Paladin, social and emotional support is not separate from learning—it is foundational to it. We serve students in grades 9-12+ through personalized learning, project-based and seminar-based instruction, experiential education, work-based learning, restorative practices, and trauma-responsive support. We are looking for someone who can build authentic relationships with adolescents while maintaining strong professional boundaries, dependable systems, and high-quality documentation. If you believe in the potential of every student and want to be part of a creative, collaborative, and deeply student-centered school community, we would love to meet you.

Position Details Status:

Full-Time, 10-Month Position (187 Days)

Schedule:

Monday-Friday, generally 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Availability:

Immediate Opening Closing Date:

Open until filled

Reports To:

Executive Director /

Special Education Director Department:

Care Team and Special Education Student Population:

Grades 9-12+ Why Join Paladin?

Relationships Come First:

Students are known by name, supported as individuals, and connected to adults who genuinely care about their success.

Meaningful Student Support:

Provide direct services that help students strengthen their social, emotional, behavioral, and functional skills.

Small, Collaborative Community:

Work closely with teachers, Student Success Coordinators, special education staff, school leaders, families, and community partners.

Flexible Fridays:

Participate in hands-on learning through Paladin's unique Friday Fifth Day Experience program.

Professional Voice:

As a teacher-powered school, staff have meaningful opportunities to help shape programming, systems, and student experiences.

Retirement and Loan Forgiveness:

Enrollment in the applicable public pension program through PERA or TRA and potential eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Professional Growth:

Tuition reimbursement is available for qualifying postsecondary education and professional training.

School-Year Schedule:

Enjoy weekends, school breaks, and summers away from work. Primary Responsibilities Student Support and School Social Work Services Build consistent, trusting relationships with students and maintain a visible, accessible presence throughout the school community. Provide individual and small-group school social work services addressing students' social, emotional, behavioral, attendance, and educational needs. Plan and facilitate skill-building groups and support seminars based on identified student needs. Respond to student crises, complete risk assessments within the scope of the role, follow school safety protocols, and coordinate appropriate follow-up. Help students strengthen self-regulation, communication, conflict resolution, executive functioning, self-advocacy, and other skills connected to success in school and life. Support restorative conversations, circles, re-entry meetings, and plans to repair harm and restore relationships. Monitor attendance, engagement, behavior, and student well-being in collaboration with Paladin's Care Team. Special Education Services Provide direct school social work services and specialized instruction identified in student IEPs. Develop measurable social, emotional, behavioral, and functional IEP goals with students, families, case managers, and the special education team. Collect service and progress-monitoring data and maintain accurate, timely case notes and special education documentation. Participate in evaluations, reevaluations, IEP meetings, manifestation determination reviews, and other special education processes. Contribute social-developmental histories, observations, functional information, and other assessments appropriate to the role and licensure. Consult with staff regarding accommodations, interventions, behavioral supports, and strategies that promote regulation, belonging, access, and educational progress. Follow IDEA, Section 504, Minnesota special education requirements, student-data privacy laws, and Paladin procedures. Family and Community Partnerships Partner with families and caregivers using a respectful, strengths-based, and culturally responsive approach. Connect students and families with mental health, housing, food, healthcare, transportation, chemical-health, and other community resources. Coordinate referrals, releases of information, communication, and transitions of care while protecting student privacy. Develop effective partnerships with county teams, outside providers, community organizations, and agencies serving Paladin students. Support Paladin's basic-needs resources, including our food shelf and clothing closet. Serve as or support Paladin's McKinney-Vento liaison and services for students experiencing homelessness, as assigned. School Community and Collaboration Participate actively in Care Team, special education, staff, student-support, and professional-learning meetings. Collaborate with Student Success Coordinators, teachers, case managers, school leaders, families, and outside providers to develop coordinated student-support plans. Support daily Success Team Meetings, social and emotional learning, and schoolwide community-building practices. Contribute to a school culture grounded in Paladin's values of Trust, Unite, and Act . Lead or participate in experiential learning opportunities, including activities that may occur outdoors or off campus. Transport students in a school-issued vehicle when needed and authorized. Required Education and Licensure Bachelor's or master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university. Current Minnesota social work license through the Minnesota Board of Social Work. Current Minnesota School Social Worker license through the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, or eligibility to obtain the license before beginning the position. Candidates working toward appropriate licensure may be considered when an out-of-field permission or other approved pathway is applicable. Qualifications Knowledge of professional ethics, mandated reporting, student-data privacy, and school-based social work practice. Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with students, families, colleagues, and community partners. Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities, complete documentation on time, maintain confidentiality, and follow through consistently. Strong professional judgment, healthy boundaries, and the ability to remain calm and student-centered during stressful situations. Ability to work independently while remaining a highly collaborative team member. Ability to move throughout the school and participate actively in indoor, outdoor, and community-based activities. Preferred Experience and Strengths If you have experience with or a passion for any of the following, you may thrive at

Paladin:

Working with adolescents who have experienced barriers in traditional school settings. Providing IEP services, writing goals, collecting progress data, and participating in special education evaluations and meetings. Facilitating small groups and providing school-based social, emotional, and behavioral support. Restorative practices, circle processes, trauma-responsive care, adverse childhood experiences, and resilience-building approaches. Crisis response, suicide-risk protocols, community referrals, and coordinated care. Working across cultures and identities with humility, responsiveness, and an equity-centered mindset. Supporting alternative, credit-deficient, or historically underserved students. Salary and Benefits Salary is based on education and relevant experience under Paladin's salary structure. Paladin offers a competitive benefits package that includes employee health, dental, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance. Dependent coverage is available at group rates. The applicable public-employee retirement program is included, and qualifying employees may participate in Paladin's postsecondary education and professional-training reimbursement program.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$43,177.00 - $78,830.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Professional development assistance Retirement plan Tuition reimbursement Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person