About Us: Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools (www.freedomprep.org) is a network of PreK-12 free public charter schools serving students in Memphis, TN, and Birmingham, AL. Our mission is to prepare all students in grades PreK-12 to excel in college and in life. Since our founding in 2009, we have grown from a class of 96 sixth grade students to now serving over 1950 students across multiple campuses. In 2024, we expanded into Birmingham, AL, starting with grades K-1, with plans to grow to a K-5 campus.  At Freedom Prep, we are committed to transforming education for students across the South, ensuring they have access to high-quality educational opportunities that empower them to thrive. Over the past 15 years, our students have consistently exceeded both local and state averages in math and have surpassed local benchmarks in English Language Arts on state assessments. Our mission is guided by three core beliefs: every child deserves the right to a high-quality public education, character development is essential to student success, and exposure to diverse opportunities builds the confidence and skills needed to excel in college and in life.   At Freedom Prep, we cultivate a structured, academically rigorous environment that fosters excellence in core subjects, promotes advanced academic skills, and encourages students to embody the core values of Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Excellence, and Community. POSITION OVERVIEW  The Social Worker 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.  ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS  * Serves as a source of information regarding community resources * Maintains appropriate school records and provides written reports and communication * 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 * 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 families with understanding their children’s educational needs and resources available within the school * Assist parents with understanding problems experienced by their children. This is accomplished through group counseling, parent training and referrals to community services QUALIFICATIONS * Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work required; Master’s Degree in Social Work 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 * Experience with Crisis Management * Experience with social and community organization coordination of benefits * Demonstrated commitment to the educational mission, vision, and goals of Freedom Prep  * Strong computer skills including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint * Comfortable with ambiguity and creative problem solving ability * Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships and collaborate with others We are excited that you are inspired or called to learn more about our mission, values, and potential opportunities. We’d encourage you to explore a few additional resources about us, the recent investment for what’s possible, and why you should consider our community as a place for you to become a part of. We are one of the few networks that centers the whole person and their needs to thrive and support themselves and their families in the South. BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION: At Freedom Prep, we prioritize transparency in everything we do. We believe that open communication fosters trust and collaboration. As part of this commitment, we make our salary scales available online for you to view, ensuring clarity and fairness in our compensation practices. You can view our compensation scales on our website. Please click HERE to be redirected. Check out some of the unique and rare benefits here, including but not limited to:  -Paying higher, scaffolded teacher salaries from Year 1 to retirement stage -Zero dollar monthly premium options, including holistic options such as chiropractic or acupuncture care (TN ONLY) -Focus on staff well-being and collective care through our Adult Social-Emotional Learning -Support in obtaining licensure OUR COMMITMENT: Freedom Preparatory Academy is actively seeking to build an experienced team of educators. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin. We are an equal opportunity employer.