School Social Workers & Student Support Personnel

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 between students, families, schools, and community agencies
Collaborating with families to identify and remove barriers to student success
Participating in attendance interventions and supports to promote regular school attendance and positive student outcomes
Advocating for students and families to address educational and behavioral health needs
Conducting home visits to build positive relationships and support student and family engagement
Referring families to appropriate community agencies and services when needed to help ensure every student has access to a quality education

School Social Workers

Cherokee Innovation Zone

head shot woman with glasses and black shirt — Kelsey King, MSW
Cherokee Innovation Zone
(Cherokee HS, Teasley MS,
Clayton ES, Hasty 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.

Creekview Innovation Zone

Megan Allen, LCSW
Creekview Innovation Zone
(Creekview HS, Creekland MS,
Avery ES, Ball Ground ES,
Free Home ES, Macedonia ES)

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's interventions are guided by the family systems theory and the strenths-based perspective, and she believes that with the necessary tools and support, all students can achieve success.

Etowah Innovation Zone

head shot of woman in front of trees — Marcie Firebaugh, LCSW
Etowah Innovation Zone
(Etowah HS, ET Booth MS,
Bascomb ES, Boston ES,
Clark Creek ES, Oak Grove 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.

River Ridge Innovation Zone

head shot woman in front of wall — Brittney Farr, LMSW
River Ridge Innovation Zone,
Ralph Bunche Ctr., iGrad Academy, Transition Academy
(River Ridge HS, Mill Creek MS, Arnold Mill ES,
FD Johnston ES, Little River ES)

Brittney Farr 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 mulitple 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.

Sequoyah Innovation Zone

head shot of woman with glasses in floral shirt in front of wall — Madison Bobbitt, LMSW
Sequoyah Innovation Zone,
(Sequoyah HS, Dean Rusk MS, Hickory Flat ES,
Holly Springs ES, Indian Knoll ES, Mountain Road ES)

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.

Woodstock Innovation Zone

head shot of woman in front of brick wall — Jessica Threadgill, LCSW
Woodstock Innovation Zone,
(Woodstock HS, Freedom MS, Woodstock MS,
Carmel ES, Sixes ES, Woodstock ES)

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.

LR Tippens

Student Support Advisors

Support the development and implementation of professional learning, resources, and strategies for school personnel to include suicide awareness, positive behavior framework, employee wellness, school climates that promote supportive school discipline, school based mental health counseling, and relationship building skills.

System Navigator

Supports the Local Education Agency (LEAs) in meeting the needs of students experiencing homelessness and decreases barriers to their education by connecting them, and often their families, to resources and community organizations that can provide wraparound services.

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.

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