Job Description

 2026-27 Mental Health Practitioner

About KIPP DC

For 25 years, KIPP DC has partnered with students, families, and the community to create joyful, academically excellent schools across the nation’s capital. Today, our network of 22 schools educate more than 7,500 students in grades PreK3-12, supported by 1,500 dedicated teachers, leaders, and staff.

Our work is grounded in five pillars–Academic Excellence, Joy & Sense of Belonging, Highly Effective Teachers and Leaders, Safe, Structured, and Nurturing Learning Environments, and Commitment to College Readiness–which ensure every student is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to pursue success in college, careers, and beyond. Our schools combine high expectations with joyful, affirming environments that nurture academic success and personal growth for students and staff alike.

As part of the national KIPP network, we share best practices and innovations while maintaining deep roots in Washington, D.C. Together, we strive toward a future without limits for our students, alumni, and community.

About the Role

KIPP DC is looking for a dynamic, committed and flexible mental health practitioner to become part of a vibrant educational community. KIPP DC Mental Health Practitioners (MHPs) are responsible for delivering effective, high-quality, interventions that are data driven. MHPs advocate for policies, programs, and services that respect diversity, address individual needs, and support the inherent dignity and worth of all students, families, and school personnel. We are looking for team members that will drive the social, emotional, and behavioral well-being of our students and families through a responsive continuum of services to ensure academic growth.

Standard work hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm two times per week, and 7:30 am to 4:00 pm three times per week. This role is an exempt position and reports to the school leader and the Mental Health Leadership Team.  This position is for the 2026-27 school year.
Key Responsibilities

Service Delivery 35%

• Provide group and individual behavior support services (BSS) for Special Education students as outlined by the Individualized Education plan to address social-emotional issues impacting educational progress
• Provide counseling and/or behavior support services to general education students, including those with 504 Plans, to address social-emotional issues impacting educational progress
• Engage in regular progress monitoring via student and classroom observations and assessment to assess student response to interventions and inform goal development and service delivery
• Respond to acute mental health crises and safety concerns, conduct risk assessments, and provide appropriate intervention and postvention services to students and families.
• Develop and manage student behavior intervention plans (BIPs), monitor progress, and collaborate with school-based behavior analysts and teachers to ensure fidelity to plans 
• Acts as a team member who supports mental and behavioral health programming at the Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 levels of the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).
• Respond to requests for behavioral assistance related to de-escalation and/or unsafe behaviors.

Workflow Documentation 30%

• Complete all necessary special education paperwork for special education meetings
• Complete all necessary communication with students and families about safety, risk assessments, community-based referrals, and clinical interventions.
• Log progress notes with all of the required information about the student’s specific IEP goals, responses to the designated interventions, and plan for upcoming sessions, in a timely manner
• Serve as 504 case manager for all students with a 504 plan.  Complete paperwork, monitor implementation of accommodations, provide behavior support services when applicable, and log notes when applicable.
• Collect data to track plan fidelity and monitor progress towards goals for IEPs, Tier 3 plans, and BIPs.
• Collects social/emotional & behavioral functioning data for students in the referral process

Stakeholder Collaboration 20%

• Consult and collaborate with school leaders, teachers, families, and student support team members to offer prevention and intervention strategies to resolve learning and behavioral challenges of students.
• Support stakeholders in understanding the integration of child development, student academics, and social-emotional functioning. 
• Demonstrate a positive, collaborative, problem-solving mindset with students, parents/guardians, educators, administrators, community members, and colleagues.
• Work directly with Community Based Organizations to make referrals for students in need of mental health services.
• Collaborate with the school team to decrease chronic absenteeism.

School and Community Support 15%

• Serve as the school liaison to social service agencies in the surrounding community.
• Act as the School-Based Homeless Liaison, identifying and supporting families that are in need of permanent housing through completion of referrals and fulfilling identified needs.
• Participate in mediations, manifestation determination reviews and hearings, and due process proceedings as it relates to students on caseload.
• Participate in school Open Houses, Parent-Teacher Conferences and other school events engaging parents outside of normal operating hours.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in social work or professional counseling. (Required)
• Licensed Graduate ( Required ) or Independent ( Preferred ) Social Worker or Professional Counselor by the DC Department of Health (DOH)
• Commitment to working with students with limited access to quality educational opportunities. (Required)
• Experience working in an urban public school. (Preferred)
• Pass all background check requirements under the School Safety Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018. (Required)

Compensation and Benefits

• When it comes to compensation, at KIPP DC we strive for clarity, equity, and to be highly competitive. We look at compensation benchmarks in schools across DC. Mental Health Practitioner salaries are exempt and start at $71,475 and increase with years of experience. Please see the salary scale here . Mental Health Practitioners can earn up to $5,000 in renewal add-ons to their base salary each year they return to KIPP DC.
• KIPP DC offers a robust benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurances; various voluntary benefits; and employer paid benefits such as short term disability, long term disability, life insurance, and a membership to One Medical.
• KIPP DC also offers a 403(b) retirement account with a 3% employer contribution and a 3% match with vesting after three years.
• Currently, individuals in this role have up to 10 paid sick days, 12 paid holidays, paid Thanksgiving week break, winter break, spring break, and summer break. This is subject to change and your exact schedule will be shared in your offer letter.
• All employees who use public transit through WMATA are eligible for pre-tax deductions for transportation costs.
• Teachers are provided with a laptop computer for work
• Social work or professional counseling supervision hours towards independent licensure, in-house
• In-house CEU workshops towards licensure renewal
• Reimbursement of licensure renewal fees.

#ZR

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

KIPP DC Public Schools does not discriminate against, or tolerate discrimination against, employees or applicants for employment on any legally-recognized basis or protected class including, but not limited to, actual or perceived race, color, national origin, immigration status (except as necessary to comply with federal, DC, state, or local law), religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity or expression), marital status (including domestic partnership status), genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy, family responsibilities, personal appearance, veteran status, uniform service member status, status of being unemployed, status of victim a survivor of domestic violence, sexual offense or stalking, matriculation or any other protected class under federal, state, DC, or local law.

Click here or here to review KIPP DC’s non-discrimination policy and KIPP DC’s Title IX Coordinator’s contact information.

Please Note: If you encounter difficulties submitting your application or fail to receive a confirmation email after applying, kindly reach out to Danica Cunningham at [email protected] . Please include your name, resume, and specify the role you are applying for in your email. We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Temporary work, Summer holiday, Local area, Monday to Friday, Flexible hours

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