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. To view APS brochure on FAPT Click Here. 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
Elementary Schools
- Abingdon – Megan Khaerisman
- Arlington Science Focus – Alison Versaggi
- Arlington Traditional – Yna Walters
- Ashlawn – Kory Bradley
- Barcroft – Erin Abbott
- Barrett – Wendy Cornejo
- Campbell – Cherelle Washington
- Carlin Springs – Colleen Greenwood
- Claremont – Yna Walters
- Discovery – Alison Versaggi
- Drew Model – Megan Khaerisman
- Glebe – Catherine Hall
- Fleet – Courtney Jenkins
- Hoffman-Boston – Javier Martinez
- Jamestown – Laura Weil
- Key – Mary Wilcox
- Long Branch – Laura Weil
- McKinley – Cherelle Washington Jenkins
- Montessori PS – Erin Abbott
- Nottingham – Elizabeth Ryan
- Oakridge – Catherine Hall
- Preschool Child Find – Jean Waterbury / F. Javier Martinez / Mary Wilcox
- Randolph – Flor Gonzalez
- Taylor – Courtney Jenkins
- Tuckahoe – Kory Bradley
Middle Schools
- Gunston – Kate Karns
- Hamm – Christine Katcher
- Jefferson – Elizabeth Brady
- Kenmore – Charisse Berree
- Swanson – Liska Friedman
- Williamsburg – Mary Dolby-Mcdonald
High Schools
- Wakefield – Charlene Giles | Leigh Serroka
- Washington-Lee – Heydi Baptista | Brittnee Stephens
- Yorktown – Cara Abernathy | Natalie Edwards
High Schools & Programs
- Arlington Career Center – Naghmeh Merck
- Arlington Community High School – Maryellen Buchanan
- H-B Woodlawn – Elizabeth Auten
- Langston – Elizabeth Ryan
- New Directions – Mila Vascones Gatski
- Project Extra Step/Homeless Services – Barbara Fisher
- Shriver – Phyllis Thompson
- Contract Services/SERC/Case Studies/data – Phyllis Thompson / Flor Gonzalez / Cara Abernathy / Mary Dolby-Mcdonald / Heydi Baptista
- FAPT – Heydi Baptista / Mary Dolby-Mcdonald / Cara Abernathy / Naghmeh Merck / Leigh Serroka
