School Social Workers are recognized annually as School Social Worker of the Year (SSWOTY) in their districts. District members are recognized for this outstanding achievement because of their leadership at district and state levels, political and legislative engagement, commitment to the Code of Ethics and their contributions to the School Social Work profession.
The winner of each district will go on to compete at the State level where one will be recognized as the State School Social Worker of the Year.
The following people were all recognized for this outstanding achievement because of their leadership at district and state levels, political and legislative engagement, commitment to the Code of Ethics and their contributions to the social work profession. We hope all of our members will join us in honoring the following School Social Workers. For those we honor posthumously we will never forget your achievements.
Past School Social Workers of the Year
1985
Samuel Boykins-Louise Eddings
1986
Rosalind C. Folsom
1987
William Mitchell
1988
Betsey Storey
1989
Jeff Townsend
1990
Penny Szwast
1991
Bobbi Butler
1992
Dianne Barber
1993
Melanie Holt
1994
Nathaniel Shelton
1995
Diana Shiley
1996
Gloria Chisholm-Boyd
1997
Sandro Blalock
1998
Sylvia W. McGee
1999
Mary L. Smith
2000
Nora Aaron
2001
Donna Greeson
2002
Ken Greene
2003
Rebecca J. Mathis
2004
Cinder Sims-Verheyen
2005
Patricia Goodwin
2006
Sandra Wilcher
2007
Dr. Tracie Hogan-Simmons
2008
Ida Hafford-Brown
2009
Amanda Schutz
2010
Christa Kirksey-Huggins
2011
Kristin Hanfland
2012
Michael Norman
2013
Maureen Bixler
2014
Dr. Cynthia Turner
2015
Carol Lynn Pitts
2016
Pamela D. Benford
2017
Michelle Blackburn
2018
Yolanda Copeland
2019
Valarie Kahiha
2020
No award due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021
No award due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022
Dr. Jacqueline Brown-Pinkney
2023
Dr. Kashera Guy Robinson
2024
Petrina Fowler