LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ – As the first week of March kicks off, Linden Public Schools takes a moment to honor the dedicated and compassionate professionals who make a profound impact on the lives of students every day—𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀.

This week, the Student Services Department hosted a special luncheon and meeting to celebrate their unwavering commitment to fostering safe, supportive environments for learning. From addressing the emotional well-being of students to advocating for their success, Linden’s school social workers are true champions of student development, and their contributions deserve to be recognized and celebrated.

𝗔 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

On Wednesday afternoon, the Student Services Department, led by Ryan M. Devaney, gathered school social workers for a luncheon to honor their tireless dedication.

This celebration was not just about a shared meal but a reflection on the vital roles these professionals play in supporting the emotional, social, and academic success of every student in the district.

"We are incredibly proud of the work our social workers do. They don’t just address challenges—they find solutions that make a real difference in our students’ lives," said Devaney. "Their ability to connect with students and families, their work on the frontlines of social-emotional support, and their unwavering commitment to fostering safe, inclusive school environments makes them true heroes."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗲𝘀

Every school in Linden is fortunate to have a dedicated social worker who contributes to the holistic development of students. Their roles extend far beyond offering counseling—they act as the emotional anchors for students navigating life’s challenges, advocates for student rights, and facilitators of critical programs that help foster a positive school culture.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀:

𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝘆, 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗡𝗼. 𝟭

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲, 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗡𝗼. 𝟮

𝗖𝗵𝘆𝗻𝗮 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗡𝗼. 𝟮

𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗲𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗡𝗼. 𝟰

𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆, 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗡𝗼. 𝟱

𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗶 𝗕𝗼𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻, 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗡𝗼. 𝟲

𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲-𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗴𝗼, 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗡𝗼. 𝟴

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗥𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗸𝗶, 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗡𝗼. 𝟵

𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗦𝗼𝗲𝗵𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹

𝗚𝘄𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻, 𝗦𝗼𝗲𝗵𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹

𝗞𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗼𝗲𝗵𝗹/𝗠𝗰𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀

𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗠𝗰𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆, 𝗠𝗰𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹

𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹

𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗱 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹, 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹

𝗘𝗯𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘀, 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹

𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗿, 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺-𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

These professionals go above and beyond their core duties, serving as Anti-Bullying Specialists, 504 Designees, I&RS Chairpersons, and Testing Coordinators. Their commitment also extends to teaching Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) in classrooms, organizing family engagement events, and responding to crisis situations as they arise.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀

School social workers are the unsung heroes of the educational experience. From providing individual counseling to helping students navigate personal challenges to leading workshops on resilience and emotional intelligence, they lay the foundation for students’ well-being. Their work often goes unnoticed, but it’s these quiet acts of service that make a monumental impact on a student’s life.

“Social workers provide essential support for students, but they also offer vital emotional guidance and resources for families. We are proud of their role in creating a school culture that prioritizes mental health and emotional well-being,” said Devaney.

The district’s social workers ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive, both academically and personally. Whether they are helping a student cope with a personal crisis or guiding a classroom through lessons on empathy, their presence in Linden Public Schools strengthens the fabric of the entire community.

𝗔 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

As Maya Angelou famously said, "I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This quote encapsulates the essence of what Linden's school social workers provide to their students—feelings of safety, comfort, and understanding that go beyond academic success.

"We are so grateful for their endless support. They are always there for our students, helping them navigate challenges and offering a listening ear when they need it most," Devaney added.

Each day, these social workers make students feel seen, heard, and valued. Their work may not always be in the spotlight, but their impact is undeniably profound. As we celebrate Social Worker Week, let us remember the crucial role they play in shaping the future of Linden’s students—ensuring that every child feels supported, cared for, and empowered to reach their full potential.