School Social Worker (Part-Time 5-10 hoursweek)

Who We Are

Zero Dropouts is dedicated to designing innovative student development opportunities in collaboration with school districts communities and students. Our mission is to co-create solutions that recognize foster and unleash students unrealized potential so that their lives are transformed as they thrive in their education and work.

Next GED Online is designed to serve highly mobile students and those who face barriers to in-person learning. Highly mobile students include those who frequently move due to housing instability foster care placement or family circumstances as well as students experiencing homelessness justice engagement or mental and physical health challenges that make traditional schooling inaccessible. Many of our students balance work caregiving responsibilities or other commitments that require a more flexible educational model.

Unlike traditional online programs that can be isolating and entirely self-paced Next GED Online is built to foster community and connection. Through a combination of flexible and personalized learning plans live instruction and ongoing support students engage with teachers peers and mentors in meaningful ways. Our relationship-based approach ensures that students receive the academic and personal support they need to persist complete their education and transition successfully to postsecondary opportunities.

What We Believe

We Believe Mysteries are Opportunities
We are inspired to solve the deeply complex mysteries that face our world. Our innovative approach drives us to uncover hidden truths and create tailored solutions that address the unique challenges of our clients and communities.

We Believe in Anti-Deficit Ideology
Anti-deficit ideology focuses on recognizing and valuing the strengths abilities and potential of individuals and communities rather than highlighting their shortcomings or deficiencies.

We Believe in a Sociocultural Model for Learning
People develop knowledge and skills through an active learning process that encourages interactions with teachers peers and their communities. We meet people where they are in their learning journeys centering their experiences and identities in the process to foster both independent learning and collaboration.

We Believe in a Power With Approach to Relationships
We use a power with approach that emphasizes collaboration mutual support and collective empowerment in our relationships with youth partners and each other. Instead of hierarchical or competitive dynamics it focuses on sharing power fostering partnerships and working together to achieve common goals.

We Believe Organizations are Living Systems
We believe that organizations and groups operate as dynamic living systems. This perspective emphasizes interdependence and collaboration fostering resilience and adaptability. By nurturing supportive relationships and collective growth we create conditions and environments where all members can thrive.

Who You Are

You are a student-centered relationship-driven School Social Worker who believes that young peoples strengths stories and lived experiences are the foundation for meaningful support. You bring a power-with approach to your practice and are grounded in anti-deficit trauma-informed and culturally responsive methods.

You hold a current Colorado Special Services Provider (SSP) license with a School Social Worker endorsement and are experienced in supporting adolescents with diverse needs ideally in alternative community-based and/or online learning environments. You are organized flexible and able to maintain consistent high-quality support within a very part-time schedule (5-10 hours/week).

Most importantly you believe that learning happens in relationshipand you are committed to building trusting collaborative strengths-based partnerships with students families educators and districts so that each learner can thrive and meet their IEP goals.

Key Responsibilities

Direct Services & Student Support

• Provide IEP-aligned social-emotional services counseling and skill-building using trauma-informed anti-deficit and strengths-based approaches.
• Build and maintain supportive trusting relationships with students through virtual and occasional in-person sessions.

Collaboration & Teaming

• Partner closely with Program Administrators Special Populations Coordinator teachers families and district teams to ensure coordinated relational support for each student.
• Participate in IEP meetings case consultations and ongoing communication loops to align decisions and services with student goals.

Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain accurate IEP documentation service logs progress monitoring notes and updates in accordance with CDE and district requirements.
• Ensure timely completion of all compliance-related tasks with attention to detail and alignment with student strengths and progress.

Communication & Family Partnership

• Communicate clearly empathetically and proactively with students and families centering belonging agency and dignity.
• Support students in navigating challenges identifying strengths and developing skills that foster persistence in their educational pathway.

Required Qualifications

• Current Colorado Special Services Provider (SSP) license with a School Social Worker endorsement.
• Experience providing social-emotional services to adolescents including students with IEPs.
  Knowledge of trauma-informed culturally responsive and strengths-based practices.
• Ability to deliver virtual support effectively and adapt services to student needs.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills with students families and multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to maintain accurate timely documentation aligned with CDE and district requirements.
• Organized reliable and able to manage a very part-time caseload (5-10 hours/week) with consistency.
• Belief in anti-deficit ideology and a commitment to centering student agency identity and lived experience.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Prior experience in alternative education and online learning environments.
• Experience supporting highly mobile youth students experiencing homelessness or justice-involved adolescents.
• Familiarity with GED pathways credit recovery or flexible learning models.
• Experience collaborating with multiple districts or navigating varying IEP processes across systems.
• Training in restorative practices motivational interviewing or other relational SEL approaches.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Please submit your application materials through our website.

WORK SCHEDULE & FLEXIBILITY: This role is very part-time and as-needed. Weekly hours may fluctuate depending on student schedules IEP service requirements and individual student availability. Flexibility is essential as services may need to occur at varying times to align with student school-day or after-school availability.

COMPENSATION: Starting at $35/hour

BENEFITS: Paid Time Off (Sick Time Holidays) 401(k) - Not PERA eligible