Claire Mendez
Chicago,IL
Summary
Licensed School Social Worker with experience serving students aged 3-21 in diverse school settings. Recently served as the sole social worker for a 1,400-student district. Skilled in MTSS implementation, crisis intervention, Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA), and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP). Proven ability to expand access to student mental health services through grant funding and community partnerships. Conversational in Spanish, with experience supporting Spanish-speaking students and families.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
School Social Worker
Clarke Community School District
Osceola, IA
07.2024 - Current
- Served as the sole school social worker for a district of 1,400 students across two schools, and provided comprehensive social-emotional, behavioral, and crisis support for all students K-12.
- Participated in weekly MTSS meetings, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement targeted supports for at-risk students.
- Delivered individualized counseling services to 25 K–12 students in both general and special education, focusing on coping strategies, emotional regulation, and behavioral growth.
- Conducted crisis intervention and risk assessments, ensuring student safety and coordinated follow-up care with staff and families.
- Secured $100,000 in grant funding to expand student mental health services through partnerships with virtual counseling providers and integrated the services into the existing school system.
- Coordinated with therapy/psychiatric services providers to consistently serve 30 students district-wide, bridging student access to mental health care on a timely basis.
- Served as the district homeless and migratory liaison, ensuring compliance and connecting families to housing, food, and community resources.
School Social Worker
Heartland Area Education Agency
Adel, IA
08.2023 - 06.2024
- Provided coaching, guidance and support to teachers to target behavioral and developmental needs of students ages 5-21 across four school settings.
- Conducted FBAs and developed BIPs to support teachers and students with challenging behaviors.
- Led the Child Find process to identify and evaluate students for special education services.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to support IEP development, implementation, and student progress.
- Facilitated regular meetings with teachers, administrators, and families to coordinate services and improve student outcomes.
SEL Instructor
Williamsburg Community School District
Williamsburg, IA
07.2020 - 07.2025
- Delivered social-emotional learning (SEL) using Second Step and Character Strong curriculums to students ages 3-15.
- Facilitated small group instruction and enrichment activities, supporting both academic and social development.
- Utilized Spanish language skills to communicate with students, families, and staff, improving engagement.
- Collaborated on development of weekly family newsletters to strengthen school-home communication.
School Social Work Intern
Nuestro Mundo Elementary School
Madison, WI
08.2022 - 05.2023
- Provided individual and group support to K-5 students in a dual-language school environment.
- Led social-emotional learning and safety programs, supporting growth in student coping and communication skills.
- Collaborated with the Student Services and Intervention Team (SSIT) to support intervention planning.
- Managed caseload of 8 students, providing individual and group counseling and coordinating services with families and staff.
Education
Master of Arts - Social Work
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WIBachelor of Arts - Social Work and Spanish
Loras College
Dubuque, IASkills
- IEP Support
- MTSS Framework
- FBAs
- BIPs
- Crisis Intervention & Risk Assessment
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Case Management
- Family & Community Collaboration
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Conversational Spanish
Certification
- Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL)
- Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI)
ACTIVITIES & COMMUNITY SERVICE
- League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Vice President
- NCAA Division III Athlete, Cross Country & Track
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCES
- Teen Resiliency Advocate - Multicultural Family Center, Dubuque, IA January 2021 – May 2021
- Social Worker Internship - Lutheran Social Services, Phoenix, AZ April 2021 – July 2021
- Internship - Presentation Lantern Center – Dubuque, IA September 2020 – November 2020
Timeline
School Social Worker
Clarke Community School District
07.2024 - Current
School Social Worker
Heartland Area Education Agency
08.2023 - 06.2024
School Social Work Intern
Nuestro Mundo Elementary School
08.2022 - 05.2023
SEL Instructor
Williamsburg Community School District
07.2020 - 07.2025
Bachelor of Arts - Social Work and Spanish
Loras College
Master of Arts - Social Work
University of Wisconsin-Madison