Celebrating Our School Social Workers

The impact of school social workers cannot be overstated. They have a powerful relationship with students, caring for their social-emotional well-being and connecting them with the resources they need to thrive. They are also instrumental in shaping safe, welcoming learning environments where students feel supported and empowered every day. 

So, in honor of National School Social Work Week, CPS is thrilled to spotlight how the work of these professionals is enriching our students’ daily learning experience.

One of the most critical times for social-emotional growth is in early childhood. No one knows that better than Fabiola Perez-Duran, the school social worker at Barbara Vick Village Early Childhood and Family Center. Every day, Ms. Perez-Duran helps our youngest learners develop a strong sense of self, manage their emotions, work with others, and navigate challenges, all of which are foundational skills our students will use for the rest of their lives!

Another person who has shown incredible skill in meeting students’ social-emotional needs is Siedah McNeil, the social worker at James Madison Elementary School. Known for her creativity and innovation, Ms. McNeil has created a warm, calming area in the school where students can go if they are feeling overwhelmed and need a safe space and extra support.

Social workers are also critical to ensuring that school communities are inclusive, equitable learning environments where all students feel a deep sense of belonging. At Peirce School of International Studies, Candance Cook-Bey and Kaylah Parks facilitate a Black Student Union that provides Black students with a space to celebrate their culture and build community with their peers.

And at Langston Hughes Elementary School, social worker May Saengpraseuth Alirad recently defended her dissertation, which focuses on how schools can better support the social-emotional needs of their students of color, particularly Asian-American students. Her work is critical to ensuring our students receive robust, age-appropriate, and culturally sensitive mental health supports that will set them up for success in school and beyond.

Resourcefulness is a vital quality for school social workers, as evidenced by Karina Cabrales-Dominguez at Whittier Dual Language Magnet School and Saucedo STEAM Magnet Academy. Ms. Cabrales-Dominguez has cultivated an extensive network of community-based resources and mental health providers, ensuring that her students and their families have access to the support they need. A steadfast leader in her community, she is known for her ability to navigate complicated situations with professionalism and grace, and for going above and beyond to meet the needs of her students.

Another incredibly resourceful school social worker is Donna Flanagan at Walter H. Dyett High School for the Arts. Ms. Flanagan, who has been with CPS for more than 25 years, has created 37 fully funded Donors Choose projects, and won grants from American Airlines, Oppenheimer Family Foundation, Chicago Family Foundation for Education, and AllState Foundation. These resources have helped Ms. Flanagan provide Dyett students with hygiene and school supplies; art supplies and instruments; self-care books on mindfulness, and much more. Her outstanding work has not gone unnoticed, as she was named School Social Worker of the year by the Illinois Association of School Social Workers in 2021.

School social workers support nearly every aspect of the student experience, and the team at Lincoln Park High School rises to this challenge every day. Adam Hart, Kelly McGuire, Vanessa Rodriguez, and Caroline Sturges bring a wide range of strengths and experience to Lincoln Park’s Behavioral Health Team, Climate and Culture Team, Sanctuary Team, and Crisis Response Team. This superstar social work team collaborates to support students in crisis, enhance and amplify school culture, and help students reach their postsecondary goals. They are passionate about creating positive change, and their impact is felt by the entire school community!

Grecia “Grey” Herrera, too, is known for being a true partner to her fellow school social workers. At Piccolo School of Excellence and Reilly Elementary School, she is particularly skilled at providing students with engaging enrichment activities like art projects, and resources like The Welcoming Library, which contains books in both English and Spanish that celebrate immigration stories. Mrs. Herrera uses the arts as a vehicle for students to express their whole selves.

Speaking of caring for the whole child, there are school social workers all over our city whose commitment extends beyond the normal school day.

Sayre Language Academy’s Cara Hickey Klazura, for example, coaches volleyball and helps her students learn teamwork and sportsmanship.

And Diana Powitz’s social work student group at Taft High School worked together to create substance use prevention information for their community.

Rickover Naval Academy’s Phil Weiss founded a Hydroponics Club where students learn how to grow vegetables and herbs using a water-based nutrient solution.

And at Southside Occupational Academy, Savannah Ortiz coaches a Special Olympics Unified boys basketball team, a fully inclusive opportunity for students with and without disabilities to play basketball together. The team won their second IHSA State Championship in a row last year, and practice for the 2025 season is now underway!

With their patience, empathy, and innovation, school social workers are making a huge difference in the lives of CPS students every day. Please join us in thanking and celebrating them during National School Social Work Week!