KCSOS Names Kern School Social Workers of the Year

March 1-7 is recognized as School Social Workers Week, a time to celebrate the staff who provide support, resources and a safe space for students and their families. In recognition of the week, KCSOS hosted a Community of Practice session Wednesday, where six individuals were honored with School Social Worker of the Year awards.

These outstanding honorees were chosen from nearly two dozen remarkable nominees who consistently went above and beyond to provide their students with the care and support they need. The awards proudly recognize excellence in six categories: Intern, Elementary School, Middle School, High School, District, and Administrative.

According to KCSOS Program Coordinator Jeffrey Coggan, the field of School Social Work has expanded dramatically in Kern County, from zero school social workers in 2015 to more than 160 just 10 years later.

“That’s a huge jump,” Coggan said. “There is at least one School Social Worker in 27 school districts, two charters, and two internal KCSOS programs.”

School Social Workers support students with counseling, help connect families to needed resources, and help to remove barriers that could stand in the way of a child’s education.

Wednesday’s Community of Practice meeting was one of three conferences held throughout the year — one in person, two virtual — so school social workers can attend workshops, meet with cohorts in other districts, and share best practices.

This celebration comes on the heels of the California Association of School Social Workers (CASSW) state conference, held for the first time in Bakersfield in January. During that conference, a social worker from Kern County won five of the six categories in the CASSW School Social Worker of the Year.

Here are the award recipients for Kern School Social Workers of the Year:

Middle School SSW of the Year
Gabriel Ruiz
Panama-Buena Vista Union School District

Administrative SSW of the Year
Mario Venegas
Arvin Union School District