What Every Educator Can Learn from School Social Workers
Missed the live event? Watch the recording here.
Practical strategies for connection, behavior, family partnership, and helping students be ready to learn.
The first weeks of school can tell us a lot.
Some students walk through the door ready to connect and learn. Others arrive carrying challenges we may never see—stress at home, mental health concerns, difficult relationships, attendance struggles, past experiences, or simply the feeling that school isn’t a place where they belong.
School social workers are uniquely trained to look beyond the behavior in front of us and understand the bigger picture surrounding a student. And there is a lot every educator can learn from that perspective.
This Webinar aired live
Thursday September 10th, 2026
1:00 – 2:00 PM MT | 12 PT | 2 CT | 3 ET
Want to be informed of our next free webinar?
Join the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) and WhyTry
for a practical panel discussion with experienced school social work professionals about strategies educators can use to better understand students, strengthen relationships, respond to challenging behavior, and create the conditions students need to learn.
In this conversation, we’ll explore:
- Building trust before there’s a problem — simple ways to help students know there is an adult at school who sees them and cares about their success.
- Looking beyond the behavior — how understanding what may be happening underneath a student’s actions can change the way we respond.
- Strengthening family partnerships — approaches for communicating and collaborating with families, especially when relationships are difficult.
- Removing barriers to learning — recognizing the outside factors that can affect attendance, engagement, behavior, and academic performance.
- Creating greater connection at school — practical ways educators can help students feel safe, supported, and ready to participate.
You don’t have to be a school social worker to use these ideas.
About the School Social Work Association of America
The School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) is the national organization supporting and advancing the profession of school social work. School social workers play an important role in connecting students, families, schools, and community resources while helping schools address barriers that can affect student learning and success.
Want to be informed of our next free webinar?
💬 Know a colleague who’d benefit? Share the link—this is a conversation every educator should be part of.
Meet our panelists:
Ken Rautiola, EdD, MSW, LCSW, NCSSW
Ken Rautiola serves as a school social worker in a PK–3 school in Bangor, Maine. He is a National Certified School Social Worker and serves as Lead Reviewer for the NCSSW certification process. Ken has also served on the NASW-Maine Board, as well as committees for SSWAA and NASW. In addition, he serves the Maine Department of Education as a Mental Health Distinguished Educator.
Sheri Olson, MSW, LCSW
Ken Rautiola serves as a school social worker in a PK–3 school in Bangor, Maine. He is a National Certified School Social Worker and serves as Lead Reviewer for the NCSSW certification process. Ken has also served on the NASW-Maine Board, as well as committees for SSWAA and NASW. In addition, he serves the Maine Department of Education as a Mental Health Distinguished Educator.
Brenda Lindsey, EdD, MSW, PEL73, LCSW
Ken Rautiola serves as a school social worker in a PK–3 school in Bangor, Maine. He is a National Certified School Social Worker and serves as Lead Reviewer for the NCSSW certification process. Ken has also served on the NASW-Maine Board, as well as committees for SSWAA and NASW. In addition, he serves the Maine Department of Education as a Mental Health Distinguished Educator.
Kari Buttera, MSW, LCSW, PEL
Ken Rautiola serves as a school social worker in a PK–3 school in Bangor, Maine. He is a National Certified School Social Worker and serves as Lead Reviewer for the NCSSW certification process. Ken has also served on the NASW-Maine Board, as well as committees for SSWAA and NASW. In addition, he serves the Maine Department of Education as a Mental Health Distinguished Educator.
Jason Johnson
Jason Johnson is a licensed school psychologist and Director of Training & Research for WhyTry, where he consults and trains educators nationwide on resilience-based strategies to support student success. A nationally recognized expert in resilience education, he has spoken at hundreds of conferences and led WhyTry program implementations in schools, healthcare, corporate settings, and the U.S. Military. Passionate about helping students overcome challenges, Jason is dedicated to creating a culture of resilience in education.