Before they headed into public schools across the five boroughs to serve as school social workers in their field internships this semester, this year’s Fordham GSS/NYC Public Schools Collaborative program Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) students were treated to a welcome event at Fordham’s Lincoln Center Campus.
Students were treated to presentations from those responsible for creating and organizing the Collaborative, had the opportunity to network with their colleagues, and enjoyed some lunch throughout the day.
We asked a few students where they’d be placed and why they were so excited to act as school social workers. Here’s what they said:
Madison Bruch
Placement location: Union Square
“I’m really excited to connect with the students and be at a high school level. I was used to teaching middle school before this, so it should be a really great learning experience to be able to connect with faculty and students in the area.”
Olinecy Pozo
Placement location: The Bronx
“The thing I am most excited about is meeting the kids!”
Jacob Mercado
Placement location: The Bronx
“I am most excited to work with all the students.”
Kelly Dyer
Placement location: Brooklyn
“I’m most excited to get to know the kids as part of a larger system. Get to know the parents, the families, basically get to know everyone who contributes to how the kids show up at school. I’m exited to figure out those systems.”
Alicia Echevarria-Smith
Placement location: The Bronx
“I chose to do this because I wanted to work with children. I have three of my own, and while they were in the school systems, I had opportunities to meet the school social workers. I saw the important work that they did, the jobs they completed, and the help that they’ve given me and my children. It made me want to change careers, and I’m really excited to be able to do this on my own.”
