School Social Workers

School social workers use a wide range of evidence-based strategies to ensure that students are in the classroom physically and mentally ready to learn. They utilize a strength-based approach that views students and organizations as parts of systems. The functioning of and relationships within and between systems are enhanced to improve student learning. School social workers understand how to go out into the greater community to engage families and community organizations to create better outcomes for students (e.g., increased academic achievement, safety, attendance, and social-emotional-behavioral functioning). Shawano School District focuses their school social work services on students who are struggling in school due to barriers to learning that may exist within the students or their environments.

School Social Workers' Primary Roles:

1. Advocacy for students and families,

2. Individual student counseling,

3. Consultation to teachers, administrators, and other school staff,

4. Referral and information,

5. Casework and management,

6. Facilitating and serving on pupil services and building consultation teams,

7. Crisis intervention and coordination,

8. Assessment of students,

9. School-home-community liaison, and

10. Group work, counseling, and student assistance programs.

School Social Workers

Jenna Brooks, Hillcrest
jbrooks@shawanoschools.org

Dani Zurakowski, Olga Brener

dzurakowski@shawanoschools.org

Jodi Guenther, SCMS
jguenther@shawanoschools.org

Cora Heindel, Shawano High School
cheindel@shawanoschools.org