When I was first in college, I was a psychology major. I've always been interested in the human mind in the reasons that people do things. I've been told I'm a good listener, and I thought I would enjoy a career of helping people. Boy was I surprised when I started looking at PhD programs for psychology and found out that much of psychology is focused on research rather than direct work with clients!
I had to take a year after completion of my bachelors degree to work and decide what to do next. Now that psychology was not a clear path for me, I was confused and unclear about my future. I was so lucky to get a part-time job as an inclusion aide for preschool students with special needs, and I had a marvelous supervisor who happened to be a social worker. After several discussions with her about her job, I realized that social work was the career that would allow me to explore the human mind and help people!
Today as a school social worker, I support our students academically, socially, and emotionally. I work with students, teachers, and families to develop strategies for increased student success in the classroom and in the school community. I help students cultivate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens. I meet with students who qualify for special education services under IDEA (Individuals With Disabilities Education Act), students who qualify under Section 504, and students who require MTSS (formerly RtI) interventions.
My mission is to empower students to increase their self-esteem, communication, problem-solving, and self-advocacy skills in order to meet life's challenges. It is my goal to enhance the students' educational experience by promoting development in the areas of social emotional intelligence and interpersonal relationships. All children have the ability for greatness. I believe it is my responsibility and privilege to help each student discover and foster this greatness.
Here are some of the building block beliefs that make me the social worker I am:
The bottom line for my job as a school social worker is to find what is lovable about each student, ensure their teachers recognize these qualities in their students, and most importantly ensure the student recognizes those things about her/himself!
I had to take a year after completion of my bachelors degree to work and decide what to do next. Now that psychology was not a clear path for me, I was confused and unclear about my future. I was so lucky to get a part-time job as an inclusion aide for preschool students with special needs, and I had a marvelous supervisor who happened to be a social worker. After several discussions with her about her job, I realized that social work was the career that would allow me to explore the human mind and help people!
Today as a school social worker, I support our students academically, socially, and emotionally. I work with students, teachers, and families to develop strategies for increased student success in the classroom and in the school community. I help students cultivate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens. I meet with students who qualify for special education services under IDEA (Individuals With Disabilities Education Act), students who qualify under Section 504, and students who require MTSS (formerly RtI) interventions.
My mission is to empower students to increase their self-esteem, communication, problem-solving, and self-advocacy skills in order to meet life's challenges. It is my goal to enhance the students' educational experience by promoting development in the areas of social emotional intelligence and interpersonal relationships. All children have the ability for greatness. I believe it is my responsibility and privilege to help each student discover and foster this greatness.
Here are some of the building block beliefs that make me the social worker I am:
- All children want to succeed and desire positive feedback.
- Behavior is a way the student communicates with us.
- Children deserve privacy just as much as any adult.
- Children experience the most success when the important people in their lives are working together with them and communicating amongst themselves.
- Students are entitled to their feelings even when the expression of their feelings is inconvenient for the rest of the class, unexpected behavior, difficult to understand, or disruptive to the adults' plans.
- The kids who have the behaviors that most greatly challenge the school staff are the children who most need our compassion and support.
The bottom line for my job as a school social worker is to find what is lovable about each student, ensure their teachers recognize these qualities in their students, and most importantly ensure the student recognizes those things about her/himself!