1. What is your position at the school?
“I am the school Social Worker and 504 Coordinator.”
2. What do you enjoy doing outside of working?
“Outside of work, I love to spend time with my family. I have a son who is 19 months old, 2 bonus daughters who are 11 (almost 12) and 10, and a bonus son who is 6 years old. They are in sports, so I like to go to their performances and tournaments. I also love to do arts and crafts. I have my own floral arrangements and decor company called Craft & Bloom.”
3. Why are you doing what you do?
“My ‘Why’ behind choosing this field is fueled by my own experiences and desire to make a difference. When I was a teenager, I had my first experiences with mental health. I had a lot of anxiety and other big feelings that impacted me a lot. There was a staff member at my school who saw me in a moment of crisis, she let me sit in her office and walked me through a deep meditation practice and helped me gain a sense of control. In that moment, she saw me as a person who needed help, not just a student who wasn’t where she was supposed to be, or doing something she wasn’t supposed to do. She made a huge difference. I do what I do because I feel fulfilled when I walk alongside students and help them discover their inherent power and self worth. Everyone deserves to feel safe, loved, worthy of goodness and to know that they are cared about. I love helping kids discover that for themselves.”
4. What motivates you to do this kind of work?
“I suppose my answer to number 3 is kind of my answer to number 4. Something I could add is that my children motivate me. I do what I do because I want to do my part in creating a better place for my kids and other kids to grow up in.”
5. Where do you hope to see yourself in five years?
“In five years, I’m not sure If I will be in the schools as a social worker or working primarily as a therapist for kids. I would love to do more therapeutic work with kids and their families. Helping families heal and communicate so that everyone’s needs are being met.”
