National School Social Work Week 2026

This week, we proudly recognize National School Social Work Week 2026 and the theme, “Unite to Ignite: Celebrating Our Impact.”

School social workers serve as the vital link between home, school, and community. They advocate for students, remove barriers to learning, and support children and families through some of life’s most challenging moments.

Director of Prevention & Intervention Marvella Allen, MSW, LISW-S, shares:

“School social workers are licensed mental health professionals who actively serve as the link between home, school, and the community. One of the most important roles of a social worker is advocacy. We are often the voices of the unheard, working tirelessly behind the scenes to address and remove barriers that others may never know exist.

As youth mental health continues to be a national concern… there is an increased need for districts to hire school social workers. While I am beyond grateful for the two amazing social workers we have in our district, we definitely need more!”

Pickerington Local Schools currently has three licensed social workers serving a District of more than 12,000 students, including two hired specifically as school social workers who provide direct and district-level support.

We are incredibly thankful for the two dedicated social workers serving Pickerington Local Schools. Their compassion, expertise, and advocacy make a difference every single day.

Look for more stories this week highlighting the valuable work of our social workers across the District!