School social workers assist in identifying and implementing solutions to social, emotional, and learning problems which impact the academic performance of students by uniting the resources of the home, the school, and the community. They facilitate understanding between home and school by visiting the home when special concerns impact upon a student’s academic progress. They serve as members of the multidisciplinary team to develop intervention plans for students who are experiencing problems in the school setting, and may provide short-term individual or group counseling services. Social workers assist parents and school staff when students experience problems with school attendance. Social workers also serve as the link with Child Protective Services. They make referrals on behalf of students and families to community resources, such as the Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT), and maintain a working relationship with these agencies so that there is effective coordination and follow-up services. For more information about the Arlington FAPT, please click here
In addition to individual school assignments, social workers serve a number of system-wide functions, including: conducting sociocultural assessments for the preschool assessment team; coordinating Project Extra Step for homeless students; providing sociocultural assessments for students attending private schools, when a disability is suspected; conducting social history updates for special education students who are placed on a contractual basis outside of the public school system; participating on the Student Support Team; and providing social work services to students attending the Family Center and the Alternative Parenting Teens Program.
Inquiries about social work services may be directed to the school social worker in the local school/program, or to
Dr. Laura Newton, Director, Office of Student Services (703) 228-6061
- Abingdon – Megan Siegel
- Arlington Science Focus – Cherelle Washington
- Arlington Tradritional – Matthew Sims
- Ashlawn – Kory Bradley
- Barcroft – Erin Abbott
- Barrett – Wendy Cornejo
- Campbell – Cherelle Washington
- Carlin Springs – Yna Walters
- Claremont – Yna Walters
- Discovery – Megan Siegel
- Drew Model – Wendy Cornejo
- Glebe – Catherine Hall
- Henry – Erin Abbott
- Hoffman-Boston – Javier Martinez
- Jamestown – Elizabeth Brady
- Key – Mary Wilcox
- Long Branch – Laura Weil
- McKinley – Courtney Jenkins
- Nottingham – Matthew Sims
- Oakridge – Catherine Hall
- Randolph – Flor Gonzales
- Taylor – Courtney Jenkins
- Tuckahoe – Kory Bradley
- Gunston – Colleen Greenwood
- Jefferson – Christine Katcher
- Kenmore – Charisse Berree
- Swanson – Liska Friedman
- Williamsburg – Mary Dolby McDonald
- Wakefield – Charlene Giles | Leigh Serroka
- Washington-Lee – Heydi Baptista | Brittnee Eiland
- Yorktown – Cara Abernathy | Natalie Edwards
- Arlington Community High School – Maryellen Buchanan
- Career Center/Teen Parenting – Naghmeh Merck
- Child Find – Javier Martinez | Jean Waterbury | Mary Wilcox
- H-B Woodlawn – Elizabeth Auten
- Langston – Elizabeth Brady
- New Directions – Mila Vascones Gatski
- Project Extra Step/Homeless Services – Barbara Fisher
- Stratford Program – Phyllis Thompson
