School Social Work in Cherokee County
A Guide for Parents and Teachers
Mission Statement
Our goal is to ensure that no student in Cherokee County gains less than full advantage of the educational opportunities provided by the school system as a result of family problems or school attendance problems.
School Social Work Services
Cherokee County School Social Workers Serve Families by
- Serving as a liaison for parents and students with the school and community
- Working with families to remove barriers to school success
- Informing families of available community resources
- Advocating for families with legitimate concerns
- Making home visits to build relationships with students and parents
- Referring families to appropriate agencies when necessary to protect the right of students to receive the opportunity for a quality education.
School Social Workers:
Megan Allen, LCSW-Creekview Innovation Zone
Megan Allen has worked in the field of social work since 2005. Megan is a graduate of Woodstock High School, so she is thrilled to now be working in the community where she grew up. Megan earned both her Master’s Degree and Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from The University of Georgia. Go Dawgs! Megan is certified by the Georgia Department of Education in School Social Work and by the GA Composite Board as a Licensed Clinical Level Social Worker. Megan has worked in a variety of settings, including state agencies, private mental health programs, schools, and healthcare. Megan interventions are guided by the family systems theory and the strengths-based perspective, and she believes that with the necessary tools and support, all students can achieve success.
Madison Bobbitt, LMSW-Sequoyah Innovation Zone
Madison Bobbitt obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services in 2015 and her Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2019 at Kennesaw State University. She obtained her Licensure as a Licensed Master Social Worker in 2019. Following that, she worked as a Medical Social Worker at Grady Hospital in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Madison worked directly with mother’s and families focusing on maternal mental health. After working at Grady, she went on to work as a School Social Worker in City Schools of Decatur for five years serving students and families in all grade levels. In addition to working as a School Social Worker, she works as a home assessment contractor for families interested in pursuing foster care. She is very excited to work as a School Social Worker in Cherokee County Schools.
Brittney Farr, LMSW-River Ridge Innovation Zone-Ralph Bunche Ctr, iGrad Academy, Transition Academy,
Brittney Fox was born and raised in Georgia. She has a Master of Social Work degree from Georgia State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Kennesaw State University. Brittney has gained experience through multiple internships. These internships include a School Social Work internship and working with a non-profit in Cherokee County, The Children’s Haven. She has a passion for assisting children and families in times of need. She approaches each situation by assessing the strengths that are present and building on those strengths. Brittney is excellent at navigating through community resources to make the best connections for families.
Kelsey King, MSW - Cherokee Innovation Zone-Teasley MS, Hasty ES, Liberty ES, Knox ES, RM Moore ES
Kelsey King was born and raised in Georgia. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services: Social Engagement and Advocacy from Kennesaw State University and a Master's of Social Work from the University of Alabama. Previously, Kelsey served Cherokee County families through various roles with the Goshen Valley Foundation and is a trained Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner. In addition to being a School Social Worker, she continues to practice as a therapist. Kelsey is excited for the opportunity with CCSD to further serve Cherokee County families.
Christina Potter, LCSW-Etowah Innovation Zone
Christina Potter obtained her Bachelor's Degree in International Relations and Women's Studies at Berry College in 2005. After doing some work and traveling, she pursued her Master's Degree in Social Work and graduated from Georgia State University in 2009. Christina has experience working with children as a suicidal/homicidal crisis counselor, as a Functional Family Therapist working with children on probation and their families, as well as experience working as an in-home therapist for children in Foster Care. She has also worked with children with physical and intellectual disabilities and as a Day Treatment Counselor with children in an elementary school setting. She most recently worked as a hospice social worker. Christina completed her licensure exam this summer and is now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She is excited to start her dream job as a School Social Worker for Cherokee County Schools.
Jessica Threadgill, LCSW – Woodstock Innovation Zone
Jessica Threadgill has worked in the field of social work since 2006. Jessica has experience working with children, adults and family systems where her ongoing focus was on connecting individuals to resources in the community, psychosocial support, grief and loss, and building relationships. Jessica’s interventions come from a therapeutic and strengths perspective. Jessica has worked for state systems, private counseling agencies, and hospice during her time in Georgia. Jessica earned both her Master’s Degree and Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Michigan State University, in East Lansing, MI. Jessica is certified by the Georgia Department of Education in School Social Work and by the GA Composite Board as a Licensed Clinical Level Social Worker.
Student Support Specialists:
Student Support Specialists provide professional learning to staff and students across the district. They serve as facilitators on the Crisis Response and Prevention teams and coordinate with outside agencies, such as DFCS and the court system. Student Support Specialists also serve as the district liaisons to the Local Interagency Planning Team (LIPT) panel and collaborate with all divisions to plan and support Social and Emotional Learning.
Marcie Firebaugh, LCSW, Cherokee Innovation Zone-Cherokee HS, Clayton ES
Marcie Firebaugh is a licensed clinical social worker who has provided mental health services to children, adolescents and families since 2009. She has specialized in trauma, child development, and mental illness. She focuses on a strength-based perspective while delivering support and resources to meet the social emotional needs of students, faculty, and staff. Marcie earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from New York University and her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from College of Charleston. She is certified by the Georgia Department of Education in School Social Work and by the GA Composite Board as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Valerie Walker, System Navigator
Valerie Walker is a Cobb County native. She holds her bachelor's degree in Human Services from Kennesaw State University. Valerie has completed several social work internships advancing her experience and understanding of community needs and services. She is a researcher and always looking for resources to support students and families in Cherokee County.
Cherokee County Truancy Panel
The Cherokee County Truancy Panel is made up of volunteers from the Highland Rivers Center for Mental Health, Cherokee County Department of Juvenile Justice, Cherokee County Department of Family and Children Services and Cherokee County Department of Public Health. The Panel is supported by the Cherokee County Juvenile and Family Court staff.
Families may be invited to appear before the panel for school attendance problems when other interventions prove unsuccessful.
Panel members link families to available services when appropriate and enter into a contract with the family to improve school attendance in hopes of avoiding a petition being filed before the courts for violation of Georgia’s Compulsory School Attendance Law.