School Social Workers Association of Georgia
President
Cory Lowe
Vice-President
Erin Woodcock
Erin Woodcock she is a LMSW and is currently serving as the Vice-President. She attended Armstrong Atlantic State University to earn her bachelor's degree in Health Science and went on to earn her MSW from Valdosta State University. She is currently working in District 1 for the Effingham County Board of Education as a School Social Worker and Foster Care Point of Contact.
Past-President
Crystal Wright
Parliamentarian
Dr. Lisa Clark-Hill
Dr. Lisa Clarke Hill is currently serving as SSWAG Parliamentarian. She attended Albany State University and earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree, and went on to attend Ohio State University to earn her Master of Social Work degree with an emphasis in Clinical and School Social Work and finally she earned her Doctorate of Social Work degree from Capella University. She is currently working in District 2 for the Colquitt County Board of Education as a High School Social Worker
Secretary
Dr. Sidrah Kahn
Dr. Sidrah Khan is a Certified School Social Worker and has over 10 years of experience in the field of social work. Dr. Khan currently serves the Henry County Board of Education as a School Social Worker. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Georgia State University and her Master of Social Work degree from Kennesaw State University. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Social Work through the University of Kentucky, focused on Administration and Leadership. Ms. Khan is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and School Social Workers Association of Georgia (SSWAG), and serves SSWAG in the capacity of the Secretary.
Treasurer
Dr. Bianca Booker
Dr. Bianca Booker is an LCSW and is currently serving as SSWAG’s Treasurer. She attended the University of Georgia to earn her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her Master’s Degree in Social Work. She went on to earn her Specialist Degree in Education/Curriculum & Instruction from Nova Southeastern University and her Doctor of Education/Counseling Psychology from Argosy Sarasota University. She is currently working in District 8 for the Camden County Board of Education as a School Social Worker.
District 1 President
Hanson Polk
District 2 President
Karen Menefee
District 4 President
Tamisha Brothers-Bembry
District 5 President
Alaiya Shotwell
District 6 President
Ashley Harvell
District 7 President
Mari Casole
Mari Casole, LCSW holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Social Work from Rutgers University. Mari works as a School Social Worker and Homeless Liaison for Cartersville City Schools, where she provides trauma-informed support to at-risk students and families, advocates for equitable access to resources, and leads collaborative efforts with community partners. She currently serves as the District 7 President.
District 8 President
Hailey Rojas
Hailey Rojas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is currently serving as District 8 President. Ms. Rojas received a master's degree from Georgia State University in Special Education as well as a master's degree in Social Work from Valdosta State University. She has over 19 years of combined experience in education and social work and is currently employed by Glynn County Schools in District 8 as a School Social Worker.
District 9 President
Nick Hartley
Nicholas Hartley is currently employed with the Hall County School system as a school social worker. He has served as a school social worker there for the past 5 years. He attended the University of Georgia for both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in social work. Nicholas has been in the field of social work since 2017 as a mental health therapist and moved into the school social work role in 2020 and still provides therapeutic services on the side. He is currently serving as the District 9 President for SSWAG.
District 10 President
Tawana Bruce
Awards Chair
Rasha Portis
Legislative Chair
Melinda Carson
GNETS Liaison
Historian
Dr. A Thomas
Dr. Thomas is a Certified School Social Worker and is currently serving as SSWAG’s Historian. She completed her undergraduate studies in Social Work (SW) at Tuskegee University then earned her Master of Science in SW from Columbia University in New York City. Continuing in her studies, she went on to receive both a Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) from The University of West Georgia in Carrolton, GA, and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL. She is currently working in District 4 for Atlanta Public Schools.
Journal/Research Chair
Dr. Cynthia Turner
Dr. Cynthia Simmons Turner is currently serving as the Journal/Research Committee Chair. She attended Florida A & M University to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Welfare with minors in Sociology and Criminal Justice. She received her Masters of Social Work Degree from Florida State University with a Clinical Social Work Concentration. Her Education Specialist was obtained from Kennesaw State University in Teacher Leadership for Learning with a Concentration in Inclusive Education. She received her Ph.D. in Social Work Policy Planning & Administration from the Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work Clark Atlanta University, She is currently working in District 4 for the Dekalb County School District as a School Social Worker.
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Long Range Planning Co-Chair
Heather Anderson
Heather Anderson is a LCSW and is currently serving as the SSWAG long range co-planner. She attended Appalachian State University in Boone, NC to earn her bachelor's degree in Psychology and Spanish. She obtained her MSW degree from the University of Georgia. She is currently working on a specialist degree in Play Therapy through Ole Miss. Heather works in District 5 for the Cobb County School District where she has been employed as School Social Worker since 1999.
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Long Range Planning Co-Chair
Heather Anderson
Heather Anderson is a LCSW and is currently serving as the SSWAG long range co-planner. She attended Appalachian State University in Boone, NC to earn her bachelor's degree in Psychology and Spanish. She obtained her MSW degree from the University of Georgia. She is currently working on a specialist degree in Play Therapy through Ole Miss. Heather works in District 5 for the Cobb County School District where she has been employed as School Social Worker since 1999.
Long Range Planning Co-Chair
Petrina Fowler
Petrina Fowler is a Certified School Social Worker and has worked in the field of social work for over 28 years. She currently serves in the Cobb County School System and is an adjunct professor at Kennesaw State University. Petrina holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Norfolk State University and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland. Petrina also pursued a Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology at Argosy University. She is a member of the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA), the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and the School Social Workers Association of Georgia (SSWAG). Petrina lives in Marietta, with her husband of 24 years, Tim Fowler, and their two beautiful children, ages 18 and 14..
Membership Chair
Ashley Dykes
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Mentor Chair
Gwenetta Sullivan-Echols
Gwenetta Sullivan -Echols is an experienced Social Worker having worked in child welfare, mental health and school setting. Mrs. Sullivan-Echols currently serves as SSWAG Mentor Chair. She also serves on GaDoe McKinney Vento Advisory Council. Mrs Sullivan-Echols matriculated her social work degrees from Alabama State University and Clark Atlanta University. She is a School Social Worker in MUSCOGEE County School District.
Interagency Liaison
Julie Hawkins
Nominating Chair
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Procedural Guidelines Chair
Alicia McClung
Alicia McClung, MSW is serving SSWAG as the Procedural Guidelines Chair f0r SSWAG. She attended Indiana University where she obtained her BSW and MSW degrees. Alicia is currently working in District 4 for Fulton County Schools as a School Social Worker serving a high school.
Professional Development Chair
Penny Maggioni
Penny Maggioni is an LMSW currently serving as Professional Development Chair. She attended the University of Georgia where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology as well as her Master's Degree in Social Work. She was a participant in the inaguaral SSWAG LEAD program. She currently serves as a school social worker in the Savannah-Chatham County School District
Public Relations Chair
Amber Wade
Amber Wade is an LCSW and is currently serving as the Public Relations Chair for SSWAG. She attended Thee Clark Atlanta University and earned both her bachelor's degree in Psychology and a master's degree in Social Work, with a concentration on child and family and school social work. She is currently working in District 4 for the Clayton County School System as a School Social Worker and Coordinator for the district's crisis team.
Retirement Chair
Ida Hafford-Brown
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Georgia DOE Liaison
Lindsay Oliver
Dr. Lindsey Oliver is the appointed GaDOE Liaison to the SSWAG Exec Board. She became the School Social Work Specialist at the Georgia Department of Education in 2021. She has been a school social worker in Georgia for 11 years. She attended the University of North Georgia for her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, University of Georgia for her MSW, and University of Southern California for her DSW.
University Liaison
Dr. Katina Cooper
Event Sponsorship and Vendor Coordinator
Angela Gay
Webmaster
Jarod Anderson
Jarod A. Anderson is an MSW and is currently serving as SSWAG’s Webmaster. He attended the University of South Carolina to earn his bachelor’s degree in psychology and his Master’s Degree in Social Work. He is currently working in District 9 for the Gwinnett County Public School System as a School Social Worker.
School Social Worker Evaluation Tool
Dr. Jacqueline Brown-Pinkney
Dr. Jackie Brown-Pinkney currently holds the position of Past President within SSWAG. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Georgia Southern University, earning a bachelor's degree in Sociology with an emphasis on Social Work. Subsequently, she attained her MSW from Savannah State University and her Ed.D. from Georgia Southern University. Dr. Brown-Pinkney is employed by the Effingham County Board of Education, serving as the Assistant Coordinator for Social and Emotional Learning and Lead School Social Worker within District 1.
School Social Work Lead Committee
Chatelah Brown
Dr. Chatelah Brown is a School Social Worker for Atlanta Public Schools where she supports students enrolled in three non-traditional programs in her district. In addition, she is the LEAD Chair for School Social Worker Association of Georgia LEAD (Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Development) Program. Dr. Brown has over 20 plus year of experience in the field and is currently developing a textbook and training curriculum for University Social Work programs and school districts that provide social work supports. She is also a member of SSWAG District 4.
Fall Conference Chair
Chatelah Brown
Spring Conference Chair
Petrina Fowler & Rasha Portis
Crisis Team Coordinator
Nick Hartley
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SSWAG You Make a DIfference
Dr. Shayla Snipes is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is currently serving as the You Make Difference Chair. She currently serves as a School Social Worker in the Atlanta Public School System and as a Teaching Assistant at Clark Atlanta University. Dr. Snipes holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Auburn University and a Master's degree in Social Work from The University of Alabama. Dr. Snipes earned her Ph.D. in Social Work Policy Planning & Administration from the Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work Clark Atlanta University. She is a member of the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).