Heading Back to School

With the conclusion of July and as we march into August, focus turns to heading back to school. This is a time of joy and excitement for many students as they gather their school supplies, look forward to meeting their teachers, and are poised to reconnect with their friends and classmates. School Social Workers will be a wonderful part of their return to school, acknowledging that some students are less joyful about the return than others. School Social Workers will be there to connect, listen, and welcome our students back to school.

SSWAA has been working over the summer to plan, gather resources, advocate, and prepare for your return. Be watching for back-to-school resources, action alerts, and training & tools that will equip you for the work that is before you in this school year. Additionally, don't forget to join the movement - the SSWAA National Awareness Campaign! Materials have been provided to help you increase understanding about our training and role while advancing our profession. We are now up to 195 Ambassadors from 49 states and Washington DC. Join as an Ambassador today!

The SSWAA Board of Directors has also been working for the strategic advancement of the profession over the summer months. SSWAA recently had a vacancy on the Board of Directors. We are excited to introduce you to the newest Board member who has been appointed to serve until an election can be held. Meet your new Northeastern Regional Representative, Courtney Porter.

Courtney Porter, MSW, M.Ed, LSSW

Greetings fellow members of the School Social Work Association of America, 

It is my pleasure to share with you that I have been appointed as the Northeastern Representative to the School Social Work Association of America’s Board of Directors for six months until an election can be held.

I have worked in the field of education for 25 years. As the first school social worker in my hometown of Claremont, NH, I have spent the last 12 years providing a strength-based approach to supporting students and families in a manner that helps to remove the barriers that impact one’s ability to learn and grow. I value the role that community plays in shaping young agents of change. 

Since 2016, I have served as the president of the New Hampshire School Social Workers Association and in 2022, NH Governor, Chris Sununu, appointed me to the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice to represent school social workers.

I look forward to connecting with and being a voice for my fellow school social workers in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, District of Columbia and DOD schools. 

With appreciation and gratitude,

Courtney Porter, MSW, M.Ed, LSSW