Social Worker - South Carolina Bridge Connections Academy

Description

South Carolina Bridge Connections Academy (SCBCA) is a tuition-free, full-time alternative virtual public school for students in grades 9-12 located throughout the state of South Carolina. The school operates in partnership with the Charter Institute at Erskine. SCBCA is accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, an accrediting division of AdvancED.

South Carolina Bridge Connections Academy strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

Position Summary

Working from your home in South Carolina, the School Social Worker promotes SCBCA's academic mission by providing services that strengthen home/school/community partnerships and alleviate barriers to learning. The Social Worker significantly contributes to the development of a healthy, safe, and caring environment by advancing the understanding of the emotional and social development of children, the influences of family, community, and cultural differences on student successes, and by implementing effective intervention strategies. Dropout prevention will be the Social Worker's primary objective. All SCBCA staff must be able to participate in monthly in-person activities, including but not limited to:

• School and department meetings,
• Student engagement opportunities,
• Required training/development,
• School-level events, such as state testing and graduation.

All responsibilities must be carried out in a manner that reflects SCBCA's mission, values, and commitment to professionalism, collaboration, and student-centered practices.

The school-level Social Worker will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:

• Connect students and families with available community resources to fully develop each person's individual potential;
• Implement programs for students and families related to interpersonal adjustment issues;
• Work with school teams to identify and help families access school and community resources in order to remove barriers to attendance and academic success;
• Participate in the development of crisis prevention and management plans for the school;
• Coordinate with teachers to help identify students who are "at risk" or "in crisis";
• Act as the main point of contact for these students and families, communicating regularly with them;
• Report and refer critical incidents that jeopardize student well-being as obligated by South Carolina law, administrative regulations, or ethical standards;
• Stay abreast of all SCDE regulations relating to incident reporting and documentation;
• Support professional development activities for teachers and school staff members;
• Work as part of the IEP team to develop social goals and provide virtual social work services to help the student reach these goals;
• Collaborate closely with counseling and school leadership;
• Play an integral role in holiday gift drives or charitable giving and launching district-wide programs;
• Serve as lead contact for South Carolina initiatives related to sexual abuse and assault awareness (e.g., Erin's Law compliance and the SC Comprehensive Health Education Act);
• Support South Carolina truancy laws (SC Code Ann. § 59-65-10) and SCDE attendance regulations by supporting attendance review, academic probation, and exemption status (such as Medical Homebound students);
• Promote best practices/strategies for state testing assignments and support;
• Promote or organize training for staff such as Mental Health First Aid and/or comparable programs during (and throughout) the school year;
• Serve as central liaison for foster care programming and support McKinney-Vento (MKV) program data reporting;
• Responsible for social work annual audit data and state reporting components;
• Other duties as assigned.

Essential Responsibilities

Instruction & Academic Support

• Support high-quality synchronous instruction and asynchronous resources aligned to SCBCA curriculum and South Carolina state standards.
• Support differentiated Tier 1 instruction and collaborate within the MTSS/RTI model to plan and support Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions.
• Collaborate effectively with teachers and support staff to ensure all student accommodations are implemented with fidelity and aligned to individualized learning needs.

Student & Family Engagement

• Build strong, positive relationships with students and families to support academic success and engagement.
• Support parent conferences, create and update Personal Learning Plans, and communicate regularly regarding progress, attendance, and needs.
• Support students with alternate lessons, assessments, and targeted instructional strategies to meet individualized learning goals.

Assessment & Accountability

• Participate in all required South Carolina state standardized assessments in in-person and virtual sessions, including the End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP), SC READY (if applicable), WIN Ready to Work, ACCESS for ELLs, and SC-Alt, in addition to benchmarks, CFAs, and diagnostic assessments.
• Maintain accurate records of attendance, communication logs, academic progress, and intervention documentation.

Collaboration & Professional Practice

• Work collaboratively within the Professional Learning Community to monitor data, plan instruction, and ensure student success.
• Partner with Teachers, School Counselors, Special Education staff, and team members to meet student needs and ensure strong communication loops.
• Support social, engagement, and community-building activities-both virtual and in-person-to cultivate belonging for students and families.
• Attend required school and district professional development and pursue ongoing growth in instructional practice.

Community Engagement & School Support

• Assist in the organization and facilitation of school-wide events (graduation, field trips, engagement activities).
• Participate in student recruitment efforts, marketing events, and family orientations as needed.
• Support the creation of a positive, inclusive virtual school culture through consistent communication, engagement, and community-building practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support school operations, strategic initiatives, and student success.

Essential Skills & Competencies

• Strong commitment to equitable practice, high expectations, and individualized student support
• Ability to use data to inform instruction and intervention
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Effective collaboration within virtual and in-person teams
• Strong organizational skills and timely completion of all required documentation
• Comfort with technology-based instruction and virtual learning tools
• Flexibility, problem-solving ability, and a student-centered mindset

Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Certification

• Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited institution.
• Valid South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) educator certificate in School Social Work.
• Must successfully complete South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and federal FBI fingerprint-based background checks prior to employment.
• Preferred: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) through the SC Board of Social Work Examiners.

Experience & Skills

• Experience and demonstrated interest in working with at-risk youth in an alternative or virtual environment.
• Candidates should have familiarity with specific South Carolina resources and agencies that will assist in the healthy social, mental, and academic development of students and families.
• Strong technology skills (especially with Microsoft Office products, Google Suite, and student information systems like PowerSchool).
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Highly organized and punctual.
• Student and family-focused approach.
• Experience in teaching or supporting Title I schools.
• High degree of flexibility and demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment.
• Team player track record with strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively with students, parents, staff, and community members from diverse backgrounds.
• Willingness to travel for marketing and state testing events (may require occasional overnight travel).
• Ability to work occasional evening hours as needed to support families.
• Must be able to use a personal electronic device and an email address for two-step authentication.

SCBCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.