This week, we're excited to celebrate each of our fantastic School Social Workers! Today, let's meet Stephanie Anderson! But be sure to check back on our page throughout the week for special spotlights on all the amazing Social Workers here at OCSD!

Mrs. Anderson is an esteemed alumnus of Oneida High School, graduating in 2002. She pursued her education at LeMoyne College, where she majored in Psychology with a minor in Political Science, before earning her Master’s in Social Work from Syracuse University.

She served as a Senior Staff Social Worker at Madison County Mental Health from 2011 to 2018; she also held the position of Children’s SPOA Coordinator for Madison County during the 2016-2018 period. Currently, Mrs. Anderson is in her seventh year as a School Social Worker at Oneida High School. Additionally, she operates a private practice where she provides therapy to adolescents and adults.

Mrs. Anderson emphasizes the crucial role social workers play within the school system: "I'd like the community to understand that Social Workers are the only licensed mental health professionals in the school. We have a broad and unique skill set that can be utilized to support students, families, and colleagues in a variety of ways. Our skill set includes the treatment of mental health, de-escalation of crisis situations, assessing risk, skill development, advocacy, relationship building, conflict resolution, program development, and more. Social workers are a helpful addition to the faculty, as we possess strong problem-solving and analytical skills, and we are always up to problem-solving with our teams and finding creative solutions for any challenge."

While social workers often operate behind the scenes due to the confidential nature of their work, Mrs. Anderson has found the most fulfillment in her career through the simple acknowledgments of gratitude she has received from her students and their families.

"Throughout the years, I have received cards, emails, handwritten notes, drawings, handmade gifts, etc., from students and parents thanking me for helping them overcome their challenges and for believing in them. Those gestures mean more to me than anything else; they remind me that the work I’m doing is valued and important, and they motivate me to continue doing this very challenging work."

Mrs. Anderson values the relationships she has built with students, families, and colleagues.

"To be trusted by another person to walk with them through the hardest and darkest times of their lives is an incredible honor. I know that I have truly connected with a student or a family when they contact me years later after they’ve moved on to a new chapter in their lives, for guidance and support when they are struggling. To know that we have built that trust is such an amazing feeling."

Residing in Sherrill, NY, Mrs. Anderson enjoys family life with her husband and their two children, ages 11 and 8. Outside of work, she dedicates her time to her family and friends, with camping being their favorite activity. During the spring, summer, and fall, they travel to various destinations in their camper, cherishing quality time and creating new adventures together. Additionally, they have a passion for visiting Disney World, aiming to go every year and often planning future trips before completing their current one. In her leisure time, Mrs. Anderson also enjoys calligraphy and hand lettering, finding these activities to be excellent stress relievers and coping mechanisms.