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REMEMBERING JEAN: School Social Work Pioneer, Mentor, and Friend Ronda Armstrong
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Jean Purdy, first Supervisor of School Social Work at Heartland AEA 11 died on March 16, 2009. Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church, 2500 University, Des Moines, Iowa 50311 or the residence where she lived, Calvin Community, 4210 Hickman, Des Moines, Iowa 50310. Make the check payable to First Christian Church or Calvin Community and note "memorial for Jean Purdy". |
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A native Iowan, Jean graduated from East High School in Des Moines. She received her undergraduate degree from Drake University, after she returned from service in the Woman’s Army Corp during World War II. In 1961 she earned the Master of Social Work degree from the University of Iowa.
Jean had a distinguished career in the juvenile probation and corrections fields before turning to school social work. In 1975 she became social work supervisor for Heartland, the largest of Iowa’s new AEAs where she grew the staff from the five hired the first year to over thirty by the time she retired in the mid 1980s. She also consulted with the social work staff of the Des Moines School District. |
Ronda Armstrong, a retired school social worker, lives in Des Moines with her husband and two cats. In addition to keeping in touch with family and friends, she pursues her passions: reading, writing, ballroom dancing, and promoting kindness and well-being. She knew Jean through their work together and their thirty-four year friendship. Ronda thanks Kaye Hanna, Carol Adams, Jim Clark, Pete Peterson, Marlys Jordan, Chris Brown, and Shirley Leonard for sharing their memories about Jean. | |||
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Jean, heralded as one of Iowa’s foremost school social work pioneers, held vital leadership positions in the early years of Iowa School Social Workers’ Association. She emboldened others to impact relevant issues affecting the fledging specialty and clients served. She mentored new leaders who shaped school social work in Iowa, the Midwest and nationally. Jean advocated relentlessly for school social work services and the vital role social workers played in addressing the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of all-age children and their families. She served on countless social work and community boards and committees. She enjoyed her role as adjunct professor for the University of Iowa School of Social Work.
Those who knew Jean as a supervisor, a mentor, a colleague, or a friend cited her supportive and empowering relationship style, her ability to create opportunities for others to showcase their strengths, her kind and compassionate acts toward others, and her skill in motivating and inspiring those around her to soar to new heights as professionals and caring individuals.
As a role model Jean taught responsibility, resourcefulness, self-reliance, and resilience. She trusted her staff’s ability to carry out tasks in spite of overwhelming circumstances. She’d counsel, “Do your best; that’s all you can ask of yourself.” After listening to staff questions and ideas, she’d often suggest, “Use your judgment. You’ll do fine!”
After she retired, she kept in touch with friends and former staff. She remained interested in their lives and gave her faithful support. After she moved to Calvin Community she organized social, musical, and educational programs for residents. She never forgot her passion for social justice. She continued to challenge her church and community members to act.
Jean’s integrity and professionalism will long be remembered, as well as her delightful humor and the camaraderie she sparked. Her life shaped generations of social workers who have impacted countless lives. Heartland staff once explained, “Jean is like a rare gem or a shining star. Few could claim to surpass her significance.” (continued in next column) |
Jean’s influence compels us to never underestimate the power of a significant adult to stimulate positive change. The gifts and lessons of her life regenerate through us as committed, informed, action-oriented, and caring professionals and people. As Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful. committed people can change the world: indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”
By spreading joy we do as she did, we make the world a better place.
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ISSWA's 2008 Annual Fall Conference is Held in Ames The Iowa School Social Workers Association held it's annual Fall Conference, School Mental Health Professions: Using Data to Support Interventions in Schools, on Friday, November 7, 2008 at the Heartland AEA 11 Office in Ames. There were 47 conference attendees. The Keynote presenter was Linda Moran, School Social Worker from the Northwest AEA, who has presented at many national conferences. Moran's presentation was entitled, Public Relations for School Social Workers/Mental Health Providers: Showing Our Service's Data Outcomes Related to NCLB Mandates. Other presenters included John Richardson from Heartland AEA 11 whose presentation was entitled Positive Behavior Supports and Charlene Thiede, LISW, Independent Consultant, presented Ethics for School Social Workers. An Awards Luncheon was held to honor school social workers whose outstanding professional accomplishments demonstrate what quality school social work practice is. See the Recognition documents on the Archives page of this website for the award criteria. |
 Linda Moran and John Richardson
Charlene Thiede and the Ethics Attendees |
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Annual Membership Meeting Elects New Officers The Annual Membership Meeting of the Iowa School Social Workers Association was brought to order by President Sue Smith. The ISSWA's Treasurer's Report was given by Doug Walter. Sue Smith discussed ISSWA's goal of advocating for school social work as a profession by increasing the understanding of district and AEA administrators and staff, the Schools of Social Work in Iowa and the public of the unique role school social workers play in schools, interventions that are specific to school social work, and how school social work interventions increase student achievement. In order to accomplish the Associations' goals she and the Executive Board have established three committees. The Licensure Committee will interact with the Social Work Board and the membership to establish criteria for supervision and preparation for the LISW for school social workers. Members of the Licensure committee are Belinda Blackburn, Jaimie Gilley, Emily Donovan, Connie Mettlin, Julie King, Christin Squier, Jodi Vogel, Lynn Sheagren, Penny Nordstrom, Melissa Ford, Doug Walter, and Kelly Van Gelder. The Research and Data Committee that will develop resources that school social workers can access to identify research supported interventions for students. The Research and Data Committee includes Charlene Thiede, Tabitha Mcree, Wendy Marckmann, Martha Yerington and Jean Simpson. The Promotions Committee will increase awareness of school social work in Iowa by speaking in college classes and providing an ISSWA presence at conferences and other events. Members of the Promotions Committee include Kelly O'Berry, Mollie Conrad, Varetta Braden and Belinda Blackburn. Contact Sue at sue_smith@aea11.k12.ia.us. if you are interested in working with a committee. The election of officers was also conducted. The candidates were running unopposed and they were elected by a unanimous voice vote. New Officers include Molly O'Meara Conrad, ISSWA's new President-Elect, Melissa Ford, Secretary, Kelley O'Berry, Member-at-large, and Doug Walter who was elected to a second term as Treasurer. |
Election of Board of Directors
Mollie O'Meara Conrad from the Mississippi Bend AEA 9 in Bettendorf and Melissa Ford, from AEA 267 in Grinnell.
Kelly O'Berry, from the Des Moines Public schools and Doug Walter from the Mississippi Bend AEA 9 in Bettendorf. Thanks to Departing Officers
We thank Katy Lee from the Grant Wood AEA 10 for completing her two-year term as Member-at-large. We also thank Linda Moran who graciously stepped in to fill the Secretary vacancy for the last year. Linda is also the Editor of the ISSWA Newsletter and will continue on the Board. |
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ISSWA AWARDS BANQUET HELD ON NOVEMBER 7 Jill Schager is the 2008 Iowa School Social Worker of the Year The Iowa School Social Worker's Association selected Jill Schager from AEA 267 in Iowa Falls as the Iowa School Social Worker of the Year for 2008. Jill came to school social work in 2001 with a background as a Hospice Social Worker and a Clinical Social Worker in a residential treatment center for children. She has a BS in Elementary Education and she is completing a Masters Degree in English as a Second Language. She represents Iowa as the Practitioner Representative on the Midwest School Social Work Council and she serves as the Recognition Chair Person for the Council. In that role she recognizes the accomplishments of others. As the Practitioner Rep from Iowa she serves on the ISSWA Board as the communication link between the Council and the Iowa Association. In 2003 Jill Chaired the Program and Speakers Committee for the Midwest School Social Work Conference that was held in Cedar Rapids. In that roles she developed the program for the conference. She is a certified trainer in Love and Logic and in that role she frequently consults and presents on the program. In 2004--2006 she was a member of the Iowa Department of Education's Competency Enhancing Practices initiative that worked to develop a social work practice model addressing student achievement. One colleague said, "Jill has a curious mind and never stops looking for the newest and best practices." Another said that "She is humble, quiet mannered, calm in the face of calamity, level headed, kind, has a good sense of human, and is very knowledgeable (but doesn't act like it)." Jill brings a wealth of knowledge to her work as a school social worker. She integrates her knowledge in order to provide the highest level of service to students, families, teachers and colleagues in the schools she serves. Mollie O'Meara Conrad receives the 2008 Leahgreta Spears Career Achievement Award The winner of the 2008 Leahgreta Spears Career Achievement Award is Mollie O'Meara Conrad from Mississippi Bend AEA 9 in Bettendorf. Mollie completed her MSW in 1976. She began her career with troubled adolescents at Family Resources in Davenport. She also provided social work services to the Child Abuse Council and Hospice before joining the school social work staff at AEA 9 in 1991. At AEA 9 she now serves as Program Head of School Social Work, supervising school social workers and representing them at Administrative Meetings. She has collaborated with others to bring a number of special programs to schools in her AEA including the Young Women's Groups, Why Try?, Ruby Payne's Poverty Framework, Success4 and Learning Supports. More recently she became a Trainer, a Coach and SWIS facilitator for School-wide Positive Behavior Supports. In 2004--2006 she was a member of the Iowa Department of Education's Competency Enhancing Practices initiative. Mollie has provided presentations on her many areas of expertise within her AEA and at state conferences, including the ISSWA Fall Conference in 2000. Colleagues say: "Mollie’s leadership has provided staff with the ability to grow professionally in providing services to the students in our schools." |
Jill Schager with her award.
Jill Schager celebrates with Social Worker of the Year for 2005, Maggie Conrad at the Midwest Conference in Kansas. Jill was always active in recognizing others, but shy to admit her own accomplishments.
Mollie O'Meara Conrad receives her award.
Mollie receives her award and a hug from colleague and friend Mary Cashman. |
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SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE The Fourth Annual Iowa Conference for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports was held in Ames on September 30--October 1, 2008. School social workers took a leadership role in offering break-out sessions! John Richardson, School Social Worker from Heartland AEA 11 together with School Psychologist, Angelisa Braaksma Fynaardt offered a presentation titled Heartland AEA 11: Taking PBS to Scale. They described how AEA 11 expands and sustains PBS. Mollie Conrad, along with colleagues from Mark Twain Elementary offered a presentation titled: Reinvent Recess: Playgrounds can be Pleasant. They described how they reduced problem behaviors at recess in their school. Dawn Jaeger from AEA 267 participated in a panel discussion titled present on: Implementing Several School-wide Initiatives at a Single Site.
From the left, Mike Kramer, Celie Corken, and school social worker, Dawn Jaeger, from AEA 267, with Marion Panyan |
 John Richardson and Angelisa Braaksma Fynaardt
Mollie Conrad is in the middle of colleagues from Mark Twain Elementary, Jessica Graham, John Walston, Mary Hasty, and Caroline Olsen. |
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Brianne Stuchel is a
school social work student who is working as an Early Childhood Behavior
Intervention Project Coordinator at Great Prairie AEA. She and
colleague, Becky Cofelt, gave a presentation entitled the CSEFEL Coaching Model. School Social Workers Belinda Blackburn and Jackie Fober gave a presentation titled: Building Capacity for Positive Behavior Supports in AEA 267. They described the model used by AEA 267 to expand and sustain PBS,
Jackie Fober and Belinda Blackburn, School Social Workers from AEA 267 |
Brianne Stuchel is on the left, with Becky Cofelt.
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Marc Singer from Prarie Lakes AEA 8 gave a presentation titled: BARKS: A Study of Reading Research and Results. Marc described a program co-taught by himself and a reading teacher that boosts the reading skills of low-achieving middle school students.
Marc Singer, School Social Worker AEA 8 |
Sara Trueblood, School Social Worker and PBS Coach from Prairie Lakes AEA 8 gave a presentation titled: CHAMPS--A Proactive and Positive Approach to Classroom Management.
Sara Trueblood, School Social Worker AEA 8 |
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Highlights of the Midwest School Social Work Conference held in September in St. Louis What a wonderful conference! What a wonderful city! What a wonderful time to re connect and to meet new people! Over 150 registrants participated in a ½ day of pre-conference workshops. Workshops included, RTI presented by the Iowa AEA panel, “Why Try” with Christian Moore, “Ethics and Confidentiality” with Nic Dibble, and “Bullying Among Children and Youth” with Dr. Glenn Berry. The Midwest School Social Work Conference is always a wonderful time to honor our School Social Workers of the Year. Every year 11 of our best professionals are honored with a banquet on Thursday night. Download the full document here: Highlights. |
 Jill Schager is honored as the Iowa School Social Worker of the Year at the Midwest Conference School Social Work Conference. |
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REBECCA SCHMITZ JOINS ISSWA BOARD Becky Schmitz, formerly a school social worker in AEA 15, is now the State Senator representing Iowa Senate District 45. As a new State Senator Becky has already been able to help pass a number of new initiatives that will benefit the families and students served by school social workers. Among those is an increase in the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25. The Legislature also expanded efforts to let Iowans know about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that lifts 4 million Americans above the poverty line. To read more about recent legislation that could be important for the families and students school social workers serve go to the Discussion page and sign on to Nicenet. Under "Conferencing" click on "Conversations with Becky". You can respond to Becky and ask questions by using "Personal Messages" on Nicenet. |
Rebecca Schmitz State Senate District 45 |
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LINDA MORAN IS ISSWA'S 2007 SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER OF THE YEAR Linda is a school social worker for the Northwest AEA serving the schools in Denison, Iowa. Linda received the School Social Worker of the Year Award at the Fall Conference in Cedar Falls on November 2, 2007. The School Social Worker of the Year Award goes to an individual who demonstrates innovative and creative direct school social work practice and outstanding achievements and contributions to school social work through demonstrated leadership and professional participation. Linda seeks innovative ways to collect and use data to document the effectiveness of her practice. She is especially interested in demonstrating the connection between social work interventions and improved school performance. Linda has presented on her work at two national SSWAA School Social Work Conferences with standing room only. She has presented at the Center for Center for Mental Health in Schools at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Champions Gate, Florida. She also presented at the North Carolina School Social Workers; Association Fall Conference in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Linda currently is a member of the ISSWA Executive Board serving as the Newsletter Editor. |
Linda Moran receives the School Social Worker of the Year award from DeaEllen Birtwistle at the ISSWA Fall Conference on November 1, 2007. |
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CAROL SCOTT WINS THE 2007 LEAHGRETA SPEARS CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Carol Scott, from the Prairie Lakes AEA 8, received the Leahgreta Spears Career Achievement Award at the ISSWA Falls Conference. The Career Achievement Award recognizes individuals that demonstrate leadership and contributions to the profession over time, consistent levels of commitment, and an impact on others. Carol moved from a social work career in social services to school social work in 1993. Since that time she has taken a leadership role in ISSWA serving as Member-at-large, Secretary and President. She was co-chair of two fall conferences. When Maggie Conrad retired and stepped down as ISSWA President, Carol was willing to serve out the rest of her term. Carol has impacted the lives of colleagues, students and families over the years. She has a unique ability to bring families and educators together to support the needs of students. Her dedication and commitment have been evident to AEA and district colleagues, students and their families. |
Carol Scott receives the Leahgreta Spears Career Achievement Award from DeaEllen Birtwistle at the Fall Conference on November 2, 2007. |
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ISSWA'S 2007 FALL CONFERENCE IN CEDAR FALLS IS A SUCCESS Attendance at the fall conference was low with just 35 registered. However, the presentations were outstanding. The small number of conference participants encouraged positive interactions in each session. The Member-at-Large, Dawn Jaeger from AEA 267, Emily Schaefer from AEA 8 and Katy Lee from AEA 10 planned the Fall Conference, The Many Faces of School Social Work. Katy Lee was unable to attend the conference. However, Emily Schaefer and Dawn Jaeger manned the registration table. Carol Scott, ISSWA President opened the conference. Carol also introduced the ISSWA Board members in attendance. She then introduced the first speaker, Nancy Veldhuizen from Grant Wood AEA 10. Nancy presented a session on Critical Incident Stress Management. Nancy described the Critical Incident Stress Management Team in AEA 10 and asked for other examples from participants. There was a rich discussion of the factors that make this type of crisis intervention successful. The second speaker, Doug Walter, from the Mississippi Bend AEA 9, current Treasurer for ISSWA, presented on SF 277, the landmark bill approved by the 2007 Iowa Legislature that made significant changes in the Educator Quality and Student Achievement Law. Doug described the impact of this important piece of legislation on school social workers. SF 277 provides an additional $145 million in teacher compensation funding. AEA licensed staff members' salaries will increase by an average of $5,600 per person over the next two years. Doug explained that AEA employees were almost left out of this important bill. Doug is President of the AEA 9 Education Association. In that role he worked with state-wide leaders from the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA) to make sure that school social workers and school nurses were included in the salary increases. He also described other provisions in the legislation that may impact school social workers in ways not yet known. Kim Riley-Quinn and Mary Cashman from AEA 9, joined Lisa Mooney from the Linn Mar district to deliver a presentation on the Teen Screen Program than is active in many Iowa schools. They described how TeenScreen has been implemented in their schools and responded to questions and comments from the audience. Barb Brunkan from AEA 9 delivered a presentation titled, Sugar and Spice and Everything Not Nice. This session helped participants understand how girls manipulate their social scene, to explore the messages young girls receive from society and to gain an understanding of ways adults can encourage authenticity, fairness and empathy. Jill Schager from Prairie Lakes AEA 8 presented on Love and Logic. Jill demonstrated skills for neutralizing student arguing, enforceable statements to set limits and the use of choices to prevent power struggles. Participants saw examples of these skills as used by teachers in a school environment. Charlene Thiede, retired State Consultant for School Social Work, presented a three-hour session on Ethics for School Social Workers. This session will fulfill the requirement for ethics training for participants.
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Members-at-Large Emily Schaefer and Dawn Jaeger welcomed conference participants.
Carol opens the conference.
Nancy Velhuizen presented on Critical Incident Stress Management.
Doug Walter presented on HR 277.
Kim Riley-Quinn, Mary Cashman and Lisa Mooney presented on TeenScreen.
Barb Brunchan welcomed a friend to her presentation.
Jill Schager presented on Love and Logic. |
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ISSWA 2007 AWARDS LUNCHEON AND BUSINESS MEETING DeaEllen Birtwistle, Chair of the ISSWA Recognition Committee opened the awards ceremony with a rousing speech about cheering for each other as school social workers. Linda Moran was honored as the Iowa School Social Worker of the Year for 2007. Linda described her current work to develop training for high school special education students in self-advocacy. She will be seeking ways to collect data to demonstrate the outcomes achieved by this work. Linda also talked about her work with the ISSWA Newsletter. She asked members of the audience to provide information to her to be included in the Newsletter. She indicated that they didn't need to write a formal article. If they e-mail her with the content they want to share she will create the Newsletter article. DeaEllen Birtwistle presented the Leahgreta Spears Career Achievement Award to Carol Smith, out-going President of ISSWA. Carol gave a moving speech thanking members of the Association and Gary Petersen, her AEA 8 Administrator for their recognition and support. Sue Smith from Prairie Lakes AEA 8 will be the President of the Iowa School Social Workers Association after the Fall Conference. Sue will serve a two-year term as President. In 2008 the Association will elect a President-Elect to serve with her for a year before taking over as President in 2009. Carol Scott officially turned over the responsibilities of the President to Sue at the ISSWA Business Meeting.
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DeaEllen Birtwistle opened Awards Ceremony.
Jill Schager, the Practitioner Representative to the Midwest Conference presented the Midwest Award to Linda Moran as the Iowa School Social Worker of the Year.
Carol thanked ISSWA for recognizing her work.
Sue Smith and Carol Scott |
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The ISSWA Board for 2006-2007 posed for a photo at the beginning of the conference. Dawn Jaeger is completing her term as Member-at-Large and Carol Scott is completing her term as President. Sue Smith began her two-year term as ISSWA President. Nominations for the Member-at-Large position are being sought. Mary Kirk (not pictured) completed her two-year term as Secretary of ISSWA. Nominations for Secretary are being sought. Doug Walter was appointed by Carol Scott to complete the term of Steve Gonzalez as Treasurer. Doug will run for the Treasurer's position this fall. |
From left to right, Dawn Jaeger, Emily Schaefer, Charlene Thiede, Linda Moran, Jill Schager, Sue Smith, DeaEllen Birtwistle, Doug Walter and Carol Scott. |
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Cashman Named Coordinator Mary Cashman, ISSWA member and School Social Worker in the Mississippi Bend AEA 9 was named Coordinator of Agency Services for Sector II which includes North Scott, Pleasant Valley, Bettendorf, Calamus-Wheatland and Central/Dewitt Schools. She will be responsible for both special education as well as general education services. ISSWA congratulates her and wishes her success in her new endeavor
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Mary Cashman |
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WALTER APPOINTED ISSWA TREASURER
Doug Walter, School Social Worker in AEA 9, agreed to complete Steve Gonzalez's term as ISSWA Treasurer. The ISSWA Board welcomes Doug! |
 Doug Walter |
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national teenscreen conference March 14-15 2007
School social workers have taken the lead in bringing TeenScreen to Iowa. It is not surprising that they were well represented at the Second Annual TeenScreen Conference held in Washington DC on March 14-15, 2007. Among those attending were, Mary Andres from Grant Wood AEA 10; Lisa Mooney from the Linn-Mar School District, Kim Riley-Quinn and Mary Cashman from Mississippi Bend AEA 9; Steve Presley and Kathy Utterback from Southern Prairie AEA 15; Laura Fefchak and Steve Gonzalez from the Des Moines Public Schools; and Charlene Thiede, current ISSWA Membership Chair and Webmaster. |
Laura Fefchak and Steve Gonzalez from the Des Moines Public Schools |
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ISSWA's Annual School Social Work Conference 2006 a Success Heartland AEA 11 Supervisor of School Social Work Services, Jim Clark, and school social workers, Andrea Timm, Beth Dedic, and Jennifer Gilmore, gave the presentation that they delivered at the 100th Anniversary of School Social Work Conference held March 29th-April 1, 2006 in Boston. The title was Response to Intervention: A Problem-solving Approach for Enabling Learning. The learning objectives were: understanding differences between battery and functional (or problem-solving) approaches, identifying the key features of a response to intervention (RTI) approach, and the links between assessment, intervention design and implementation, data collection, and decision-making. This presentation served as a starting point for a discussion about the changing role of school social workers in Iowa. |
Beth Dedic, Jennifer Gilmore, Andrea Timm and Jim Clark, Heartland AEA 11 |
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ISSWA RECOGNIZES EXCELLENCE 2006 Iowa School Social Worker of the Year Sue Smith, Prairie Lakes AEA 8 The Iowa School Social Worker of the Year for 2006 is Sue Smith of Prairie Lakes AEA. She was nominated by her colleagues at AEA 8. for her acceptance of leadership responsibilities within the school social work department and for using her social systems knowledge to enhance student performance. Sue was chosen to be the lead school social worker for the new AEA 8 three years ago. Her responsibilities have included committee work on Curriculum Based Measurement and recruiting new social workers under the AEA team representative model. She encouraged and supported training and participation in Teen Screen, Positive Behavior Supports, and the wraparound process. Co- workers emphasize Sue’s commitment to maintaining a professional image for school social workers. Currently, Sue is President Elect of ISSWA. During her acceptance remarks, Sue reflected on her childhood growing up on an Iowa farm and how blessed she felt to have such a supportive family. She believes that her upbringing nourished her work ethic as well as her willingness to attempt many new ventures as a school social worker. |
Dea Ellen Epley Birtwistle, ISSWA Recognition Chairperson presents the award to Sue Smith
Sue Smith, Prairie Lakes AEA 8 |
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2006 Leahgreta Spears Career Achievement Award Mary Carter, Keystone AEA 1 For three decades Mary was a school social worker. She served as a leader of the Early Childhood Family Service Team and has also provided leadership as the Coordinator of the Autism Resource Team in AEA 1. Her co-workers nominated her noting her willingness to present information, to share materials, and to be committed to lifelong learning as indicators of her stellar performance. Many of Mary’s remarks during the acceptance of her award focused on the importance of keeping a sense of humor while working with children. Sustaining her energy through teamwork has been a key to her success as a school social worker. Although Mary retired in 2006, she was persuaded to return to the AEA when an unexpected opening occurred. She hopes to get back to retirement soon. |
Mary Carter. Keystone AEA 1 |
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2006 Friends of Children Award Sara Despenas, Kay Erland and Chris Wyrick Elementary Guidance Counselors in the Mason City Schools The Mason City School District’s three elementary guidance counselors are recognized as the Iowa School Social Workers Association’s Friends of Children Award recipients for 2006. They were nominated by school social workers for their strong collaboration in providing services for children, families, and schools. Kay Erland, Chris Wyrick, and Sarah Despenas joined with AEA267 school social workers to initiate and sustain Circle of Friends groups for children with special needs. They have been proactive in implementing a school-wide bully prevention curriculum. Despite school building construction and declining financial resources, they strive to deliver a continuity of services for children in their respective buildings. They truly understand that when planning student interventions, there are ample challenges and successes to share with all who are involved. During the recognition ceremony Kay, Chris and Sarah expressed how truly honored they felt to receive their awards. They also said that they value the opportunities that they have had to collaborate with school social workers and they believe that this collaboration has increased the level of acceptance of diversity among students and staff in the schools they serve.
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 Sarah Despenas
Kay Erland
Chris Wyrick Elementary Guidance Counselors Mason City Schools |
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New State Senator, Becky Schmitz Speaks Becky Schmitz, a school social worker in the Southern Prairie AEA 15 for 27 years, was recently elected to the Iowa State Senate. She made a surprise visit to the ISSWA Fall Conference and spoke briefly during the Recognition Luncheon. She wanted to express her thanks to all of the school social workers who have helped her during her campaign for the Senate. Becky began working as a school social worker in small rural districts. Over the years her job changed from working on a multi-disciplinary team to serving as a building representative. As a school social worker she was frustrated with the lack of financial support for schools and cuts in social services for families and children, so she turned to politics. She worked on five successful House campaigns and ultimately agreed to become a candidate herself. As a result she found herself busier in retirement than she had been when she was employed. However, Becky is doing what she loves best, advocating for schools, children and families. In her public speaking she frequently uses examples from her many years of experience as a school social worker. These stories have made her points more real and dynamic. She was thrilled to succeed in a very tight race and she looks forward to serving as a State Senator. There is now a retired school social worker in the House (Ro Foege) and in the Senate (Becky Schmitz). Contact either one of them on the ISSWA Discussion Page by following the directions to register for the ISSWA class on Nicenet. |
Rebecca Schmitz Iowa State Senator District 45 |
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AEA 12 School Social Worker, Linda Moran, presented at the 2006 School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) Annual Conference in Boston Linda's presentation titled, "PR FOR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS: Showing Data Outcomes Related to NCLB Mandates" drew a crowd of over 100 people. It was Moran's second consecutive presentation at SSWAA's Annual National Conference. She presented in a beautiful ballroom on the opening day of the conference. "It was thrilling! I was totally in awe, and honored" Linda said. ISSWA's current goal is to "advocate for school social work as a profession by increasing the understanding of school administrators, AEA staff, the Schools of Social Work in Iowa and the public of the unique role school social workers play in schools, interventions specific to school social work and how school social work interventions increase student achievement." Moran's presentation delivers useful information on how individual practitioners can use data from their practice to demonstrate their effectiveness. |
Linda Moran Delivers Second Presentation at the Annual SSWAA Conference |
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AEA 11 School Social Workers present at the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) 2006 Annual Conference in Boston Heartland AEA 11 Supervisor of School Social Work Services, Jim Clark, and school social workers, Andrea Timm, Beth Dedic, and Jennifer Gilmore, presented at the 100th Anniversary of School Social Work Conference held March 29th-April 1, 2006 in Boston. The presentation title was Response to Intervention: A Problem-solving Approach for Enabling Learning. The learning objectives were: understanding differences between battery and functional (or problem-solving) approaches, identifying the key features of a response to intervention (RTI) approach, and the links between assessment, intervention design and implementation, data collection, and decision-making. Approximately 80 conference participants attended the 3-hour session. The audience included individuals from all areas of the United States and a few from other countries. Due to the most recent reauthorization of IDEA 2004 that includes provisions for using a “response to intervention” process in the determination of special education eligibility, the topic was accepted as both timely and thought provoking. National and international networking was established and a continued collaboration appears to be inevitable. |
 Beth Dedic, Jennifer Gilmore, Andrea Timm and Jim Clark Heartland AEA 11 |
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| Last updated April 9, 2009 | ||||
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